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AMES — Brutal. Intense. Gut-wrenching.

All of these words and many more aptly describe the many collegiate matches between Iowa State’s Yonger Bastida and former Missouri wrestler Rocky Elam.

“It was just a battle,” Elam said.

Now the formerly bitter rivals at 197 pounds are Cyclone teammates standing shoulder to shoulder Tuesday at media day — and have swiftly morphed from being fierce foes to fast friends.

“In the match is one thing, outside the match is another thing,” said Bastida, a former All-American who saw a promising 2024-25 season as a heavyweight snuffed out because of a knee injury. “But it’s a good connection with him. He’s a great guy.”

In more ways than one.

Elam attained

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