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.

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
Competing in the freestyle senior level, Echemendía lost to Evan Henderson in November, 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.

2021
Making his collegiate wrestling debut, Echemendía was defeated by his teammate Dylan D'Emilio at the OSU wrestle-offs in January. 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.

In the next season, Echemendía also failed to take the varsity spot, losing to Jordan Decatur at the OSU wrestle-offs in October. He then decided to redshirt, and went 2–0 at an open tournament in November.

2022
After legal issues, Echemendía entered the NCAA transfer portal in March. During his sophomore campaign, he competed unattached, wrestling at five open tournaments and winning three of them between late 2022 and early 2023.

2023
Echemendía then transferred to the Iowa State University, and in October, he defeated teammates Carter Fousek and NCAA qualifier Casey Swiderski to take the varsity spot at 149 pounds. 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.

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
! colspan="7"| Senior Freestyle matches ! Res. !  Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event ! Location ! style=background:white colspan=7 |FloWrestling RTC Cup 5th for Ohio RTC at 65 kg 🇺🇸 Austin, Texas ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2018 Cuban National Championships at 61 kg ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2017 U23 Cuban National Championships at 57 kg ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2017 Cuban National Championships at 57 kg
 * Loss
 * 0–2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 James Green
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 4–14
 * style="font-size:88%" |December 4, 2020
 * style="font-size:88%" |FloWrestling RTC Cup
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2|
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2|
 * Loss
 * 0–1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Evan Henderson
 * style="font-size:88%"|3–8
 * style="font-size:88%"|November 14, 2020
 * style="font-size:88%"|FloWrestling: Burroughs vs. Valencia
 * style="font-size:88%"|FloWrestling: Burroughs vs. Valencia

NCAA record
! colspan="8"| NCAA Division I Record ! Res. !  Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event ! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |End of 2023–2024 Season (junior year) ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2024 NCAA Championships 5th at 141 lbs ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2024 Big 12 Conference at 141 lbs ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2023 Cliff Keen Invitational 7th at 141 lbs ! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |Start of 2023–2024 Season (junior year) ! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |End of 2022–2023 Season (sophomore year) ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2023 Last Chance Open at 149 lbs ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2023 North Country Open at 149 lbs ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2022 Soldier Salute Open at 149 lbs ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2022 UNI Open at 149 lbs ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2022 Grand View Open 4th at 149 lbs ! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |Start of 2022–2023 Season (sophomore year) ! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |End of 2021–2022 Season (redshirt year) ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2021 Michigan State Open DNP at 141 lbs ! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |Start of 2021–2022 Season (redshirt year) ! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |End of 2020–2021 Season (freshman year) ! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |Start of 2020–2021 Season (freshman year)
 * Win
 * align=left| Lachlan McNeil
 * style="font-size:88%"|FF
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|March 21–23, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|2024 NCAA Division I National Championships
 * Loss
 * 47–9
 * align=left| Real Woods
 * style="font-size:88%"|0–4
 * Loss
 * 47–8
 * align=left| Jesse Mendez
 * style="font-size:88%"|4–6
 * Win
 * 47–7
 * align=left| Ryan Jack
 * style="font-size:88%"|5–3
 * Win
 * 46–7
 * align=left| Josh Edmond
 * style="font-size:88%"|8–2
 * Win
 * 45–7
 * align=left| Greyson Clark
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 20–4
 * align=left| Josh Edmond
 * style="font-size:88%"|8–2
 * Win
 * 45–7
 * align=left| Greyson Clark
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 20–4
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 20–4
 * Win
 * 44–7
 * align=left| Cael Happel
 * style="font-size:88%"|4–2
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|March 9–10, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2024 Big 12 Conference Championships
 * Win
 * 43–7
 * align=left| Jordan Titus
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 14–4
 * Win
 * 42–7
 * align=left| Cole Brooks
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 21–5
 * Win
 * 41–7
 * align=left| Garrett Kuchan
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 17–2
 * Win
 * 40–7
 * align=left| Josh Edmond
 * style="font-size:88%"|10–9
 * style="font-size:88%"|February 25, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%"|Missouri - Iowa State Dual
 * Win
 * 39–7
 * align=left| Cael Happel
 * style="font-size:88%"|9–6
 * style="font-size:88%"|February 11, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%"|Northern Iowa - Iowa State Dual
 * Loss
 * 38–7
 * align=left| Tagen Jamison
 * style="font-size:88%"|SV–1 1–4
 * style="font-size:88%"|January 27, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Oklahoma State Dual
 * Win
 * 38–6
 * align=left| Kaden Smith
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 23–7
 * style="font-size:88%"|January 26, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Oklahoma Dual
 * Win
 * 37–6
 * align=left| Haiden Drury
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 17–3
 * style="font-size:88%"|January 12, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%"|Utah Valley - Iowa State Dual
 * Win
 * 36–6
 * align=left| Emilio Trujillo-Deen
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 20–4
 * style="font-size:88%"|January 7, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Cal Baptist Dual
 * Win
 * 35–6
 * align=left| Cody Foote
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 20–4
 * style="font-size:88%"|January 5, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Arizona State Dual
 * Win
 * 34–6
 * align=left| Vince Cornella
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 13–4
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|December 19, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Cornell Dual
 * Win
 * 33–6
 * align=left| Brennan Van Hoecke
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 19–6
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Little Rock Dual
 * Win
 * 32–6
 * align=left| Cole Matthews
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 12–3
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Pittsburgh Dual
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|December 19, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Cornell Dual
 * Win
 * 33–6
 * align=left| Brennan Van Hoecke
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 19–6
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Little Rock Dual
 * Win
 * 32–6
 * align=left| Cole Matthews
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 12–3
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Pittsburgh Dual
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 12–3
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Pittsburgh Dual
 * Win
 * 31–6
 * align=left| Vince Cornella
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 13–3
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|December 2–3, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|2023 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
 * Loss
 * 30–6
 * align=left| Cael Happel
 * style="font-size:88%"|3–9
 * Win
 * 30–5
 * align=left| Jason Miranda
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 17–3
 * Loss
 * 29–5
 * align=left| Lachlan McNeil
 * style="font-size:88%"|6–9
 * Win
 * 29–4
 * align=left| Cleveland Belton
 * style="font-size:88%"|Fall
 * Win
 * 28–4
 * align=left| Devin Matthews
 * style="font-size:88%"|7–3
 * Loss
 * 27–4
 * align=left| Real Woods
 * style="font-size:88%"|SV–1 1–4
 * style="font-size:88%"|November 26, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa - Iowa State Dual
 * Win
 * 27–3
 * align=left| Felix Lettini
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 21–6
 * style="font-size:88%"|November 19, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%"|Wisconsin - Iowa State Dual
 * Win
 * 26–3
 * align=left| Tyler McKnight
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 22–5
 * style="font-size:88%"|November 12, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%"|Davidson - Iowa State Dual
 * Win
 * 25–3
 * align=left| Douglas Terry
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 24–7
 * style="font-size:88%"|November 5, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Cleveland State Dual
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 22–5
 * style="font-size:88%"|November 12, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%"|Davidson - Iowa State Dual
 * Win
 * 25–3
 * align=left| Douglas Terry
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 24–7
 * style="font-size:88%"|November 5, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Cleveland State Dual
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Cleveland State Dual
 * Win
 * 24–3
 * align=left| Theo Cha
 * style="font-size:88%"|Fall
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|February 19, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2023 Last Chance Open
 * Win
 * 23–3
 * align=left| Danny Sheen
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 23–8
 * Win
 * 22–3
 * align=left| Gable Fox
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 14–4
 * 22–3
 * align=left| Gable Fox
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 14–4
 * Win
 * 21–3
 * align=left| Trae Thilmony
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 22–6
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|January 22, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2023 North Country Open
 * Win
 * 20–3
 * align=left| Max Petersen
 * style="font-size:88%"|11–4
 * Win
 * 19–3
 * align=left| Gabriel Schumm
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 14–4
 * 19–3
 * align=left| Gabriel Schumm
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 14–4
 * Win
 * 18–3
 * align=left| Wil Guida
 * style="font-size:88%"|4–3
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|December 29, 2022
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2022 Soldier Salute Open
 * Win
 * 17–3
 * align=left| Danny Fongaro
 * style="font-size:88%"|7–3
 * Loss
 * 16–3
 * align=left| Caleb Rathjen
 * style="font-size:88%"|3–4
 * Win
 * 16–2
 * align=left| Wil Guida
 * style="font-size:88%"|11–10
 * Win
 * 15–2
 * align=left| Matthew Williams
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 17–5
 * Win
 * 15–2
 * align=left| Matthew Williams
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 17–5
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 17–5
 * Win
 * 14–2
 * align=left| Drew Roberts
 * style="font-size:88%"|4–2
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|December 10, 2022
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2022 UNI Open
 * Win
 * 13–2
 * align=left| Blaine Brenner
 * style="font-size:88%"|6–2
 * Win
 * 12–2
 * align=left| Nate Pulliam
 * style="font-size:88%"|11–6
 * 12–2
 * align=left| Nate Pulliam
 * style="font-size:88%"|11–6
 * Win
 * 11–2
 * align=left| Drayden Morton
 * style="font-size:88%"|3–1
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|November 12, 2022
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|2022 Grand View Open
 * Win
 * 10–2
 * align=left| Dallas Koelzer
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 14–4
 * Win
 * 9–2
 * align=left| Jack Latimer
 * style="font-size:88%"|13–7
 * Loss
 * 8–2
 * align=left| Cam Robinson
 * style="font-size:88%"|8–11
 * Win
 * 8–1
 * align=left| Cole Ferguson
 * style="font-size:88%"|10–4
 * Win
 * 7–1
 * align=left| Ian Heath
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 15–6
 * style="font-size:88%"|10–4
 * Win
 * 7–1
 * align=left| Ian Heath
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 15–6
 * style="font-size:88%"|MD 15–6
 * Win
 * 6–1
 * align=left| Nico Bolivar
 * style="font-size:88%"|8–3
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|November 6, 2021
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2021 Michigan State Open
 * Win
 * 5–1
 * align=left| Caleb Brooks
 * style="font-size:88%"|4–2
 * align=left| Caleb Brooks
 * style="font-size:88%"|4–2
 * Loss
 * 4–1
 * align=left| Jaydin Eierman
 * style="font-size:88%"|Fall
 * style="font-size:88%"|February 7, 2021
 * style="font-size:88%"|Iowa - Ohio State Dual
 * Win
 * 4–0
 * align=left| Danny Bertoni
 * style="font-size:88%"|8–6
 * style="font-size:88%"|January 31, 2021
 * style="font-size:88%"|Ohio State - Maryland Dual
 * Win
 * 3–0
 * align=left| Jake Spiess
 * style="font-size:88%"|6–3
 * style="font-size:88%"|January 29, 2021
 * style="font-size:88%"|Michigan State - Ohio State Dual
 * Win
 * 2–0
 * align=left| Dominic Dentino
 * style="font-size:88%"|11–5
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|January 17, 2021
 * style="font-size:88%"|Ohio State Wisconsin Extra
 * Win
 * 1–0
 * align=left| Trey Escobar
 * style="font-size:88%"|11–7
 * style="font-size:88%"|Ohio State - Wisconsin Dual
 * Win
 * 1–0
 * align=left| Trey Escobar
 * style="font-size:88%"|11–7
 * style="font-size:88%"|Ohio State - Wisconsin Dual

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
 * rowspan=2|Ohio State University
 * rowspan=2|141
 * 2–0
 * 100.00%
 * 2021
 * Freshman
 * DNQ
 * 4–1
 * 80.00%
 * colspan=5 bgcolor="LIGHTGREY"|Career
 * bgcolor="LIGHTGREY"|47–9
 * bgcolor="LIGHTGREY"|83.93%
 * 4–1
 * 80.00%
 * colspan=5 bgcolor="LIGHTGREY"|Career
 * bgcolor="LIGHTGREY"|47–9
 * bgcolor="LIGHTGREY"|83.93%
 * bgcolor="LIGHTGREY"|83.93%