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]
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Anthony Luis Echemendía Orduña | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | September 10, 1999 Cabaiguán, Cuba | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Cuba | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight class | 141 lb (64 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Freestyle and Folkstyle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Cyclones | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Kevin Dresser | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life and career in Cuba
editEchemendía 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
editHigh school
edit2018–2019
editEchemendía 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.[5] 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
editDespite unofficially committing to the Iowa State Cyclones, Echemendía ended up at the Ohio State University.[9][10]
2020
editCompeting 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
editMaking 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.[18] He then decided to redshirt, and went 2–0 at an open tournament in November.[19]
2022
editAfter legal issues, Echemendía entered the NCAA transfer portal in March.[20] During his sophomore campaign, he competed unattached, wrestling at five open tournaments and winning three of them between late 2022 and early 2023.[21]
2023
editEchemendía 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.[22][23] 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.[24] 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.[25][2]
Controversies
editAltercation with his wife
editOn 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.[26] He entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to time served (four days).[27]
Personal life
editEchemendía's life story has been featured in documentaries by FloSports and the Big Ten Network.[28] Since defecting from Cuba in 2018, Echemendía, was not able to see his family until 2023, when he visited his native country.[29]
Freestyle record
edit
NCAA record
editStats
editReferences
edit- ^ "Anthony Echemendia". Ohio State Buckeyes. 2020-08-13. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
- ^ a b "ISU Places Three on Podium During Medal Round". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
- ^ "He won six gold medals for Cuba. Now he wants one for the United States". Miami Herald. July 25, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ Cubano, Periódico (2019-07-25). "Luchador cubano quiere ganar medalla olímpica para EE.UU". PERIÓDICO CUBANO (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-05-07.
- ^ a b "#FreestyleFriday: Echemendia defects from Cuba to chase American Dream". Team USA. November 15, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2020.[dead link]
- ^ "Wrestling: Anthony Echemendia, national champ from Arizona, signs with Iowa State". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
- ^ Morales, Javier (2019-07-16). "Former Sunnyside Wrestler Anthony Echemendia Wins 145-Pound National Championship". ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
- ^ "Wrestling: Sunnyside's Jesse Ybarra claims Who's Number 1 championship". www.azpreps365.com. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
- ^ "Cyclones Add Fargo Champion Anthony Echemendia". iawrestle.com. 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
- ^ Mayhorn, Patrick. "Cuban Connection Drove Anthony Echemendia To Ohio State". Buckeye Sports Bulletin. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
- ^ "Burroughs rallies to defeat Valencia in FloWrestling Main event". Team USA. November 14, 2020. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020.
- ^ "Spartan Combat RTC and Cliff Keen WC advance to semifinals on FloWrestling's RTC Cup". Team USA. December 4, 2020. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021.
- ^ "Cliff Keen WC, Spartan Combat RTC finish unbeaten on Day 1 of RTC Cup". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
- ^ "Ohio State Wrestling on Twitter: "Dylan D'Emilio edges out Anthony Echemendia 6-4. WOW. What a scramble". Twitter. January 9, 2021.
- ^ "Wrestling: No. 8 Ohio State to square off with top-ranked Iowa and Purdue in tri-meet Sunday". The Lantern. 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- ^ "Wrestling: No. 8 Ohio State to square off with top-ranked Iowa and Purdue in tri-meet Sunday". The Lantern. 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "Wrestling: No. 8 Ohio State falls to Iowa before bouncing-back against". The Lantern. 2021-02-07. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- ^ "Finals Set for Varsity Wrestle-Offs Thursday", ohiostatebuckeyes.com/, 2021-10-27, retrieved 2021-11-16
- ^ "Anthony Echemendia (Ohio State) Profile | WrestleStat". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- ^ "2022 NCAA D1 Off-Season Transfer Tracker - FloWrestling". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b "WrestleStat | Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "Cyclones Set For Final Wrestle-Offs". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "Results: Iowa State Wrestle-Offs". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "No. 10 Iowa State Dominates No. 18 Wisconsin". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "Iowa State Wins First Big 12 Title Since 2009". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
- ^ "Ohio State Wrestler Anthony Echemendia Arrested for Felonious Assault". Eleven Warriors. 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ "State of Ohio v Echemendia-Orduna 21 CR 004734". Franklin County Clerk of Courts. 2023-05-30.
- ^ "Watch: From Cuba to Columbus: Anthony Echemendia's Journey to the Buckeyes | Big Ten Wrestling | On the Mat". Yardbarker. 2021-02-12. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
- ^ Morales, Javier (2020-05-09). "Sunnyside Wrestling Champ Anthony Echemendia In FloWrestling Documentary About Defection from Cuba | ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com". allsportstucson.com. Retrieved 2021-02-25.