# Anthony Echemendia

Anthony Luis Echemendía Orduña (born September 10, 1999) is a Cuban freestyle and folkstyle wrestler. A two-time Cuban National medalist in freestyle, Echemendia was an NCAA Division I All-American and the Big 12 Conference champion in 2024 out of the Iowa State University.

## Early life and career in Cuba

Echemendía was born in Cabaigúan, Cuba. He started training gymnastics when he was four years old but ended up leaving the sport at the age of eight, following his father and brother's steps to start wrestling instead.
He attended and won his first U14 National Championship in 2012 and since then, he grabbed titles in U15, U17, U20 and U23. After a third-place finish in 2017, he reached the finals of the 2018 Senior National Tournament and then, while preparing for the U20 Nationals and Pan-American Championships with the U20 Cuban Pan American team in Guatemala, Echemendía defected from Cuba, sneaking away from his coaches and teammates to cross Guatemala, Belize and Mexico and finally get to the United States late in the year.

## Career in the United States
### High school
#### 2018–2019

Echemendía arrived to Tucson, Arizona in late 2018, where he attended Sunnyside High School as a senior, for one semester. He started competing in folkstyle shortly after the arrival and dominated on his way to a Division II state title at 152 pounds, compiling an unbeaten record of 22 wins and no losses. He graduated as a 2018–19 student.
Once the season ended, Echemendia went back to freestyle, and after winning the AZ state freestyle tournament, he claimed gold in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the U20 Fargo National Championships. He also beat Josh Saunders at Who's Number One in a freestyle bout.

### College

Despite unofficially committing to the Iowa State Cyclones, Echemendía ended up at the Ohio State University.

#### 2020–2021

Competing in the freestyle senior level, Echemendía lost to Evan Henderson in November 2020, at FloWrestling: Burroughs vs. Valencia. He then wrestled a match against World silver medalist James Green at the FloWrestling: RTC Cup, where he was tech'd in the last seconds after a near-upset.
Making his collegiate wrestling debut, Echemendía was defeated by his teammate Dylan D'Emilio at the OSU wrestle-offs in January 2021. However, the starting spot went back–and–forth throughout the regular season. In February, Tom Ryan decided to start D'Emilio for the post-season, as Echemendía was battling an injury. He finished the season with a 4–1 record, with his lone loss coming in hands of top–ranked Jaydin Eierman from Iowa.

#### 2021–2022

In the next season, Echemendía also failed to take the varsity spot, losing to Jordan Decatur at the OSU wrestle-offs in October 2021. He then decided to redshirt, and went 2–0 at an open tournament in November.
After the season and legal issues, Echemendía entered the NCAA transfer portal in March 2022.

#### 2022–2023

During his sophomore campaign, Echemendia competed unattached, wrestling at five open tournaments and winning three of them during regular season. Echemendía then transferred to the Iowa State University.

#### 2023–2024

In his junior and first year as a Cyclone, Echemendia started off defeating teammates Carter Fousek and NCAA qualifier Casey Swiderski to take the varsity spot at 149 pounds in October. After a 2–0 stint at the weight class, Echemendía dropped down to 141 pounds, improving to a 16–4 record and claiming a seventh-place finish at the Cliff Keen Invitational during regular season. In the post-season, Echemendia claimed the Big 12 Conference before becoming an All-American with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA tournament, closing out the year at 23–6.

#### 2024–2025

In his senior and final year, Echemendía currently holds a 6–3 record and placed fourth at the Cliff Keen Invitational.

## Controversies
### Altercation with his wife

On November 10, 2021, it was announced that Echemendía had been arrested due to an altercation with his wife, Lily Echemendía, in which he allegedly grabbed her by the neck with both hands until rendering her unconscious, leading to him being charged with felonious assault. He entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to time served (four days).

## Personal life

Echemendía's life story has been featured in documentaries by FloSports and the Big Ten Network. Since defecting from Cuba in 2018, Echemendía, was not able to see his family until 2023, when he visited his native country.

## Freestyle record

Senior Freestyle matches :
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | Location |
| FloWrestling RTC Cup at 65 kg – 5th for Ohio RTC |||||||
| Loss | 0–2 | James Green | TF 4–14 | December 4, 2020 | FloWrestling RTC Cup | Austin, Texas |
| Loss | 0–1 | Evan Henderson | 3–8 | November 14, 2020 | FloWrestling: Burroughs vs. Valencia | Austin, Texas |
| 2018 Cuban National Championships at 61 kg |||||||
| 2017 U23 Cuban National Championships at 57 kg |||||||
| 2017 Cuban National Championships at 57 kg |||||||

## NCAA record

NCAA Division I Record :
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event |
| End of 2023–2024 Season (junior year) ||||||
| 2024 NCAA Championships 5th at 141 lbs ||||||
| Win | | Lachlan McNeil | FF | March 21–23, 2024 | 2024 NCAA Division I National Championships |
| Loss | 47–9 | Real Woods | 0–4 | March 21–23, 2024 | 2024 NCAA Division I National Championships |
| Loss | 47–8 | Jesse Mendez | 4–6 | March 21–23, 2024 | 2024 NCAA Division I National Championships |
| Win | 47–7 | Ryan Jack | 5–3 | March 21–23, 2024 | 2024 NCAA Division I National Championships |
| Win | 46–7 | Josh Edmond | 8–2 | March 21–23, 2024 | 2024 NCAA Division I National Championships |
| Win | 45–7 | Greyson Clark | TF 20–4 | March 21–23, 2024 | 2024 NCAA Division I National Championships |
| 2024 Big 12 Conference at 141 lbs ||||||
| Win | 44–7 | Cael Happel | 4–2 | March 9–10, 2024 | 2024 Big 12 Conference Championships |
| Win | 43–7 | Jordan Titus | MD 14–4 | March 9–10, 2024 | 2024 Big 12 Conference Championships |
| Win | 42–7 | Cole Brooks | TF 21–5 | March 9–10, 2024 | 2024 Big 12 Conference Championships |
| Win | 41–7 | Garrett Kuchan | TF 17–2 | March 9–10, 2024 | 2024 Big 12 Conference Championships |
| Win | 40–7 | Josh Edmond | 10–9 | February 25, 2024 | Missouri - Iowa State Dual |
| Win | 39–7 | Cael Happel | 9–6 | February 11, 2024 | Northern Iowa - Iowa State Dual |
| Loss | 38–7 | Tagen Jamison | SV–1 1–4 | January 27, 2024 | Iowa State - Oklahoma State Dual |
| Win | 38–6 | Kaden Smith | TF 23–7 | January 26, 2024 | Iowa State - Oklahoma Dual |
| Win | 37–6 | Haiden Drury | MD 17–3 | January 12, 2024 | Utah Valley - Iowa State Dual |
| Win | 36–6 | Emilio Trujillo-Deen | TF 20–4 | January 7, 2024 | Iowa State - Cal Baptist Dual |
| Win | 35–6 | Cody Foote | TF 20–4 | January 5, 2024 | Iowa State - Arizona State Dual |
| Win | 34–6 | Vince Cornella | MD 13–4 | December 19, 2023 | Iowa State - Cornell Dual |
| Win | 33–6 | Brennan Van Hoecke | MD 19–6 | December 19, 2023 | Iowa State - Little Rock Dual |
| Win | 32–6 | Cole Matthews | MD 12–3 | December 19, 2023 | Iowa State - Pittsburgh Dual |
| 2023 Cliff Keen Invitational 7th at 141 lbs ||||||
| Win | 31–6 | Vince Cornella | MD 13–3 | December 2–3, 2023 | 2023 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational |
| Loss | 30–6 | Cael Happel | 3–9 | December 2–3, 2023 | 2023 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational |
| Win | 30–5 | Jason Miranda | MD 17–3 | December 2–3, 2023 | 2023 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational |
| Loss | 29–5 | Lachlan McNeil | 6–9 | December 2–3, 2023 | 2023 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational |
| Win | 29–4 | Cleveland Belton | Fall | December 2–3, 2023 | 2023 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational |
| Win | 28–4 | Devin Matthews | 7–3 | December 2–3, 2023 | 2023 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational |
| Loss | 27–4 | Real Woods | SV–1 1–4 | November 26, 2023 | Iowa - Iowa State Dual |
| Win | 27–3 | Felix Lettini | TF 21–6 | November 19, 2023 | Wisconsin - Iowa State Dual |
| Win | 26–3 | Tyler McKnight | TF 22–5 | November 12, 2023 | Davidson - Iowa State Dual |
| Win | 25–3 | Douglas Terry | TF 24–7 | November 5, 2023 | Iowa State - Cleveland State Dual |
| Start of 2023–2024 Season (junior year) ||||||
| End of 2022–2023 Season (sophomore year) ||||||
| 2023 Last Chance Open at 149 lbs ||||||
| Win | 24–3 | Theo Cha | Fall | February 19, 2023 | 2023 Last Chance Open |
| Win | 23–3 | Danny Sheen | TF 23–8 | February 19, 2023 | 2023 Last Chance Open |
| Win | 22–3 | Gable Fox | MD 14–4 | February 19, 2023 | 2023 Last Chance Open |
| 2023 North Country Open at 149 lbs ||||||
| Win | 21–3 | Trae Thilmony | TF 22–6 | January 22, 2023 | 2023 North Country Open |
| Win | 20–3 | Max Petersen | 11–4 | January 22, 2023 | 2023 North Country Open |
| Win | 19–3 | Gabriel Schumm | MD 14–4 | January 22, 2023 | 2023 North Country Open |
| 2022 Soldier Salute Open at 149 lbs ||||||
| Win | 18–3 | Wil Guida | 4–3 | December 29, 2022 | 2022 Soldier Salute Open |
| Win | 17–3 | Danny Fongaro | 7–3 | December 29, 2022 | 2022 Soldier Salute Open |
| Loss | 16–3 | Caleb Rathjen | 3–4 | December 29, 2022 | 2022 Soldier Salute Open |
| Win | 16–2 | Wil Guida | 11–10 | December 29, 2022 | 2022 Soldier Salute Open |
| Win | 15–2 | Matthew Williams | MD 17–5 | December 29, 2022 | 2022 Soldier Salute Open |
| 2022 UNI Open at 149 lbs ||||||
| Win | 14–2 | Drew Roberts | 4–2 | December 10, 2022 | 2022 UNI Open |
| Win | 13–2 | Blaine Brenner | 6–2 | December 10, 2022 | 2022 UNI Open |
| Win | 12–2 | Nate Pulliam | 11–6 | December 10, 2022 | 2022 UNI Open |
| 2022 Grand View Open 4th at 149 lbs ||||||
| Win | 11–2 | Drayden Morton | 3–1 | November 12, 2022 | 2022 Grand View Open |
| Win | 10–2 | Dallas Koelzer | MD 14–4 | November 12, 2022 | 2022 Grand View Open |
| Win | 9–2 | Jack Latimer | 13–7 | November 12, 2022 | 2022 Grand View Open |
| Loss | 8–2 | Cam Robinson | 8–11 | November 12, 2022 | 2022 Grand View Open |
| Win | 8–1 | Cole Ferguson | 10–4 | November 12, 2022 | 2022 Grand View Open |
| Win | 7–1 | Ian Heath | MD 15–6 | November 12, 2022 | 2022 Grand View Open |
| Start of 2022–2023 Season (sophomore year) ||||||
| End of 2021–2022 Season (redshirt year) ||||||
| 2021 Michigan State Open DNP at 141 lbs ||||||
| Win | 6–1 | Nico Bolivar | 8–3 | November 6, 2021 | 2021 Michigan State Open |
| Win | 5–1 | Caleb Brooks | 4–2 | November 6, 2021 | 2021 Michigan State Open |
| Start of 2021–2022 Season (redshirt year) ||||||
| End of 2020–2021 Season (freshman year) ||||||
| Loss | 4–1 | Jaydin Eierman | Fall | February 7, 2021 | Iowa - Ohio State Dual |
| Win | 4–0 | Danny Bertoni | 8–6 | January 31, 2021 | Ohio State - Maryland Dual |
| Win | 3–0 | Jake Spiess | 6–3 | January 29, 2021 | Michigan State - Ohio State Dual |
| Win | 2–0 | Dominic Dentino | 11–5 | January 17, 2021 | Ohio State Wisconsin Extra |
| Win | 1–0 | Trey Escobar | 11–7 | January 17, 2021 | Ohio State - Wisconsin Dual |
| Start of 2020–2021 Season (freshman year) ||||||

### Stats

| Season | Year | School | NCAA | Weight Class | Record | Win |
| 2024 | Junior | Iowa State University | 5th | 141 | 23–6 | 79.31% |
| 2023 | Sophomore | Unattached | DNQ | 149 | 18–2 | 90.00% |
| 2022 | Redshirt | Ohio State University | | 141 | 2–0 | 100.00% |
| 2021 | Freshman | Ohio State University | DNQ | 141 | 4–1 | 80.00% |
| Career | Career | Career | Career | Career | 47–9 | 83.93% |