Anthony Echemendia Explained

Anthony Echemendía
Headercolor:Gold
Fullname:Anthony Luis Echemendía Orduña
Birth Date:September 10, 1999
Birth Place:Cabaiguán, Cuba
Height:1.68m (05.51feet)
Sport:Wrestling
Weight Class:141lb
Event:Freestyle and Folkstyle
Collegeteam:Cyclones
Coach:Kevin Dresser
Medaltemplates: Iowa State Cyclones
Show-Medals:yes

Anthony Luis Echemendía Orduña (born September 10, 1999) is a Cuban freestyle and folkstyle wrestler.[1] 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.[2] [3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7] He also beat Josh Saunders at Who's Number One in a freestyle bout.[8]

College

Despite unofficially committing to the Iowa State Cyclones, Echemendía ended up at the Ohio State University.[9] [10]

2020

Competing in the freestyle senior level, Echemendía lost to Evan Henderson in November, at FloWrestling: Burroughs vs. Valencia.[11] 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.[12] [13]

2021

Making his collegiate wrestling debut, Echemendía was defeated by his teammate Dylan D'Emilio at the OSU wrestle-offs in January.[14] However, the starting spot went back–and–forth throughout the regular season.[15] In February, Tom Ryan decided to start D'Emilio for the post-season, as Echemendía was battling an injury.[16] He finished the season with a 4–1 record, with his lone loss coming in hands of top–ranked Jaydin Eierman from Iowa.[17]

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.[18]

2022

After legal issues, Echemendía entered the NCAA transfer portal in March.[19] During his sophomore campaign, he competed unattached, wrestling at five open tournaments and winning three of them between late 2022 and early 2023.[20]

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.[21] [22] 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.[23] 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.[24]

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.[25] He entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to time served (four days).[26]

Personal life

Echemendía's life story has been featured in documentaries by FloSports and the Big Ten Network.[27] Since defecting from Cuba in 2018, Echemendía, was not able to see his family until 2023, when he visited his native country.[28]

Freestyle record

! colspan="7"| Senior Freestyle matches|-! Res.! Record! Opponent! Score! Date! Event! Location|-! style=background:white colspan=7 ||-|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| Austin, Texas|-|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=background:white colspan=7 ||-! style=background:white colspan=7 ||-! style=background:white colspan=7 ||-

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|-|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|-! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2024 Big 12 Conference at 141 lbs|-|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=background:white colspan=6 | 2023 Cliff Keen Invitational 7th at 141 lbs|-|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=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|-|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|-! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2023 North Country Open at 149 lbs|-|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|-! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2022 Soldier Salute Open at 149 lbs|-|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|-! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2022 UNI Open at 149 lbs|-|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|-! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2022 Grand View Open 4th at 149 lbs|-|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=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|-|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|-! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |Start of 2021–2022 Season (redshirt year)|-! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |End of 2020–2021 Season (freshman year)|-|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|-! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |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|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%

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020-08-13. Anthony Echemendia. 2020-09-02. Ohio State Buckeyes. en-US.
  2. Web site: ISU Places Three on Podium During Medal Round . 2024-03-24 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
  3. Web site: He won six gold medals for Cuba. Now he wants one for the United States. July 25, 2019. Miami Herald. May 7, 2020.
  4. Web site: Luchador cubano quiere ganar medalla olímpica para EE.UU.. Cubano. Periódico. 2019-07-25. PERIÓDICO CUBANO. es. 2020-05-07.
  5. Web site:
    1. FreestyleFriday: Echemendia defects from Cuba to chase American Dream
    . November 15, 2019. Team USA. May 7, 2020.
  6. Web site: Wrestling: Anthony Echemendia, national champ from Arizona, signs with Iowa State. 2020-05-07. www.msn.com.
  7. Web site: Morales . Javier . 2019-07-16 . Former Sunnyside Wrestler Anthony Echemendia Wins 145-Pound National Championship . 2020-05-07 . ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com . en-US.
  8. Web site: Wrestling: Sunnyside's Jesse Ybarra claims Who's Number 1 championship . 2020-05-07 . www.azpreps365.com . en.
  9. Web site: 2019-09-20. Cyclones Add Fargo Champion Anthony Echemendia. 2020-05-07. iawrestle.com. en-US.
  10. Web site: Mayhorn. Patrick. Cuban Connection Drove Anthony Echemendia To Ohio State. 2020-05-07. Buckeye Sports Bulletin. en-US.
  11. Web site: November 14, 2020 . Burroughs rallies to defeat Valencia in FloWrestling Main event . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20201121113036/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/November/14/Burroughs-rallies-to-beat-Valencia . November 21, 2020 . Team USA.
  12. Web site: December 4, 2020 . Spartan Combat RTC and Cliff Keen WC advance to semifinals on FloWrestling's RTC Cup . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118143746/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/December/04/RTC-Cup-1 . January 18, 2021 . Team USA.
  13. Web site: Cliff Keen WC, Spartan Combat RTC finish unbeaten on Day 1 of RTC Cup . 2020-12-24 . InterMat.
  14. Web site: January 9, 2021. Ohio State Wrestling on Twitter: "Dylan D'Emilio edges out Anthony Echemendia 6-4. WOW. What a scramble.. Twitter.
  15. Web site: 2021-02-06. Wrestling: No. 8 Ohio State to square off with top-ranked Iowa and Purdue in tri-meet Sunday. 2021-02-11. The Lantern. en-US.
  16. Web site: 2021-02-06. Wrestling: No. 8 Ohio State to square off with top-ranked Iowa and Purdue in tri-meet Sunday. 2021-04-16. The Lantern. en-US.
  17. Web site: 2021-02-07 . Wrestling: No. 8 Ohio State falls to Iowa before bouncing-back against . 2021-02-11 . The Lantern . en-US.
  18. Web site: Anthony Echemendia (Ohio State) Profile WrestleStat . 2021-01-18 . www.wrestlestat.com.
  19. Web site: 2022 NCAA D1 Off-Season Transfer Tracker - FloWrestling . 2023-11-20 . www.flowrestling.org . en.
  20. Web site: WrestleStat Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State) Profile . 2023-11-20 . www.wrestlestat.com.
  21. Web site: Cyclones Set For Final Wrestle-Offs . 2023-11-20 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
  22. Web site: Results: Iowa State Wrestle-Offs . 2023-11-20 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
  23. Web site: No. 10 Iowa State Dominates No. 18 Wisconsin . 2023-11-20 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
  24. Web site: Iowa State Wins First Big 12 Title Since 2009 . 2024-03-12 . Iowa State University Athletics . en.
  25. Web site: 2021-11-10. Ohio State Wrestler Anthony Echemendia Arrested for Felonious Assault. 2021-11-16. Eleven Warriors. en.
  26. Web site: 2023-05-30. State of Ohio v Echemendia-Orduna 21 CR 004734. Franklin County Clerk of Courts. en.
  27. Web site: 2021-02-12. Watch: From Cuba to Columbus: Anthony Echemendia's Journey to the Buckeyes Big Ten Wrestling On the Mat. 2021-02-25. Yardbarker. en.
  28. Web site: Morales. Javier. 2020-05-09. Sunnyside Wrestling Champ Anthony Echemendia In FloWrestling Documentary About Defection from Cuba ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com. 2021-02-25. allsportstucson.com. en-US.

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