Yonger Pauli Bastida Pomares (born September 19, 1999) is a Cuban freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at heavyweight for the Iowa State Cyclones. In freestyle, he is most notably a U23 and U20 World Championship medalist. In folkstyle, Bastida was a two-time NCAA Division I All-American out of the Iowa State University.
Early life and career in Cuba Born in Trinidad, Cuba, Bastida became one of the most promising prospects in his native country in 2019, when he broke into the international scene.
Bastida grabbed a silver medal at the Cerro Pelado International, notably defeating NCAA champion Kyven Gadson in the semifinals. Afterwards, he claimed a U20 Pan American Championship title, as well as a silver medal at the U20 World Championships. Lastly, Bastida claimed a bronze medal at the U23 World Championships.
In 2020, Bastida once again grabbed a silver medal at the Cerro Pelado International, notably defeating US National champion Hayden Zillmer before falling to two-time World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist J'den Cox.
Career in the United States
College
2020–2021 In November 2020, the Iowa State University announced they had recruited Bastida as an international student and a member of the wrestling team.
Bastida earned the varsity spot at 197 pounds when he defeated teammate Cody Fisher by major decision. As a freshman, he would record a 4–4 record during regular season, but would not be chosen as a starter for the post-season.
2021–2022 Showing notable improvements, Bastida recorded upsets over third and sixth-ranked Jacob Warner and Rocky Elam over the regular season. After a fifth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships, Bastida became an All-American with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA National Championships, pulling off multiple upsets and closing up the season with a 25–7 record.
2022–2023 Bastida earned the spot at 197 pounds by beating teammate Rowan Udell by major decision. After multiple duals during the regular season, Bastida placed sixth at the Big 12 Championships, but was not able to place at the NCAA National Championships, closing up the season with a 18–9 record.
2023–2024 Bastida made the move up to heavyweight, and started off the season by pinning teammate Xavier Bruening at the team's wrestle-offs. During regular season, Bastida amassed an undefeated 15–0 mark in dual meets and claimed the Cliff Keen Invitational title.
In the post-season, Bastida claimed the Big 12 Conference title with notable victories over All-Americans Wyatt Hendrickson and Zach Elam. At the NCAA tournament, Bastida reached the quarterfinals, where he was upset by two-time All-American Lucas Davison in a rematch from the Cliff Keen Invitational, and was pushed into the consolation bracket. In the blood-round, he was upset once again by Yaraslau Slavikouski, which eliminated him from the tournament, failing to place.
2026
Bastida lost to Shamil Sharipov by decision at RAF 10 on June 13, 2026.
Bastida is scheduled to face Greg Kerkvliet on October 23, 2026 at RAF 14.
Freestyle record
! colspan="7"| Senior Freestyle Matches |- ! Res. ! Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event ! Location |- |Loss |7–4 |align=left| Shamil Sharipov |style="font-size:88%"|3–5 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=1|June 13, 2026 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=1|RAF 10 |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=1| St. Louis, Missouri |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Loss |7–3 |align=left| J'den Cox |style="font-size:88%"|TF 1–11 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|February 14, 2020 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2020 Granma y Cerro Pelado |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3| Havana, Cuba |- |Win |7–2 |align=left| Hayden Zillmer |style="font-size:88%"|7–4 |- |Win |6–2 |align=left| Luis Miguel Pérez |style="font-size:88%"|TF 11–0 |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Win |5–2 |align=left| Demur Megeneishvili |style="font-size:88%"|6–2 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|October 28 - November 3, 2019 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2019 World U23 Wrestling Championship |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5| Budapest, Hungary |- |Loss |4–2 |align=left| Batyrbek Tsakulov |style="font-size:88%"|1–6 |- |Win |4–1 |align=left| Bendegúz Tóth |style="font-size:88%"|TF 13–2 |- |Win |3–1 |align=left| Sargis Hovsepyan |style="font-size:88%"|TF 11–0 |- |Win |2–1 |align=left| Michał Bielawski |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- ! style=background:white colspan=7 | |- |Loss |1–1 |align=left| Reineris Salas |style="font-size:88%"|TF 0–10 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|February 15–23, 2019 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2019 Granma y Cerro Pelado |style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2| Havana, Cuba |- |Win |1–0 |align=left| Kyven Gadson |style="font-size:88%"|
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 DNP at 285 lbs |- |Loss |71–22 |align=left| Yaraslau Slavikousk |style="font-size:88%"|3–8 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|March 21–22, 2024 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2024 NCAA Division I National Championships |- |Loss |71–21 |align=left| Lucas Davison |style="font-size:88%"|4–6 |- |Win |71–20 |align=left| Lewis Fernandes |style="font-size:88%"|TF 20–5 |- |Win |70–20 |align=left| Bennett Tabor |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2024 Big 12 Conference at 285 lbs |- |Win |69–20 |align=left| Wyatt Hendrickson |style="font-size:88%"|10–7 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|March 9–10, 2024 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2024 Big 12 Conference Championships |- |Win |68–20 |align=left| Zach Elam |style="font-size:88%"|MD 11–3 |- |Win |67–20 |align=left| Michael Wolfgram |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- |Win |66–20 |align=left| Xavier Doolin |style="font-size:88%"|Fall |- |Win |65–20 |align=left| Zach Elam |style="font-size:88%"|MD 13–4 |style="font-size:88%"|February 25, 2024 |style="font-size:88%"|Missouri - Iowa State Dual |- |Win |64–20 |align=left| Adam Ahrendson |style="font-size:88%"|TF 25–6 |style="font-size:88%"|February 11, 2024 |style="font-size:88%"|Northern Iowa - Iowa State Dual |- |Win |63–20 |align=left| Michael Wolfgram |style="font-size:88%"|TF 23–8 |style="font-size:88%"|February 2, 2024 |style="font-size:88%"|West Virginia - Iowa State Dual |- |Win |62–20 |align=left| Konner Doucet |style="font-size:88%"|7–2 |style="font-size:88%"|January 27, 2024 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Oklahoma State Dual |- |Win |61–20 |align=left| Josh Heindselman |style="font-size:88%"|MD 14–4 |style="font-size:88%"|January 26, 2024 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Oklahoma Dual |- |Win | |align=left| |style="font-size:88%"|FF |style="font-size:88%"|January 12, 2024 |style="font-size:88%"|Utah Valley - Iowa State Dual |- |Win |60–20 |align=left| Max Acciardi |style="font-size:88%"|TF 21–6 |style="font-size:88%"|January 7, 2024 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Cal Baptist Dual |- |Win |59–20 |align=left| Cohlton Schultz |style="font-size:88%"|4–3 |style="font-size:88%"|January 5, 2024 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Arizona State Dual |- |Win |58–20 |align=left| Lewis Fernandes |style="font-size:88%"|6–3 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|December 19, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Cornell Dual |- |Win |57–20 |align=left| Josiah Hill |style="font-size:88%"|MD 14–4 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Little Rock Dual |- |Win |56–20 |align=left| Dayton Pitzer |style="font-size:88%"|6–3 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Pittsburgh Dual |- ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2023 Cliff Keen Invitational at 285 lbs |- |Win |55–20 |align=left| Lucas Davison |style="font-size:88%"|5–3 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|December 2–3, 2023 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2023 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational |- |Win |54–20 |align=left| Grady Griess |style="font-size:88%"|TF 18–3 |- |Win |53–20 |align=left| Nick Feldman |style="font-size:88%"|MD 13–5 |- |Win |52–20 |align=left| Jack Jessen |style="font-size:88%"|11–4 |- |Win |51–20 |align=left| Peter Ming |style="font-size:88%"|TF 21–6 |- |Win |50–20 |align=left| Bradley Hill |style="font-size:88%"|MD 17–6 |style="font-size:88%"|November 26, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa - Iowa State Dual |- |Win |49–20 |align=left| Peter Christensen |style="font-size:88%"|TF 19–4 |style="font-size:88%"|November 19, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Wisconsin - Iowa State Dual |- |Win |48–20 |align=left| Jake Fernicola |style="font-size:88%"|TF 19–4 |style="font-size:88%"|November 12, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Davidson - Iowa State Dual |- |Win |47–20 |align=left| Daniel Bucknavich |style="font-size:88%"|TF 26–10 |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 (senior year) |- ! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 |End of 2022–2023 Season (junior year) |- ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2023 NCAA Championships DNP at 197 lbs |- |Loss |46–20 |align=left| Michael Beard |style="font-size:88%"|1–2 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|March 16–18, 2023 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2023 NCAA Division I National Championships |- |Win |46–19 |align=left| Andrew Davison |style="font-size:88%"|3–1 |- |Loss |45–19 |align=left| Ethan Laird |style="font-size:88%"|1–3 |- |Win |45–18 |align=left| Evan Bockman |style="font-size:88%"|5–2 |- ! style=background:white colspan=6 | 2023 Big 12 Conference 6th at 197 lbs |- |Loss |44–18 |align=left| Evan Bockman |style="font-size:88%"|2–3 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|March 4–5, 2023 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2023 Big 12 Conference Championships |- |Loss |44–17 |align=left| Owen Pentz |style="font-size:88%"|2–4 |- |Loss |44–16 |align=left| Rocky Elam |style="font-size:88%"|0–6 |- |Win |44–15 |align=left| Evan Bockman |style="font-size:88%"|9–5 |- |Win |43–15 |align=left| Tyce Raddon |style="font-size:88%"|TF 24–9 |- |Loss |42–15 |align=left| Rocky Elam |style="font-size:88%"|0–4 |style="font-size:88%"|February 15, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Missouri Dual |- |Loss |42–14 |align=left| Zach Braunagel |style="font-size:88%"|3–5 |style="font-size:88%"|February 12, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Illinois - Iowa State Dual |- |Win |42–13 |align=left| Wyatt Voelker |style="font-size:88%"|12–6 |style="font-size:88%"|February 10, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Northern Iowa Dual |- |Loss |41–13 |align=left| Nino Bonaccorsi |style="font-size:88%"|4–6 |style="font-size:88%"|February 4, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Pittsburgh Dual |- |Win |41–12 |align=left| Austin Cooley |style="font-size:88%"|MD 17–8 |style="font-size:88%"|February 3, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - West Virginia Dual |- |Win |40–12 |align=left| Luke Surber |style="font-size:88%"|7–2 |style="font-size:88%"|January 29, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Oklahoma State - Iowa State Dual |- |Win |39–12 |align=left| Evan Bockman |style="font-size:88%"|5–3 |style="font-size:88%"|January 14, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Utah Valley Dual |- |Win |38–12 |align=left| Jonathan Fagen |style="font-size:88%"|MD 24–11 |style="font-size:88%"|January 8, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Arizona State - Iowa State Dual |- |Win |37–12 |align=left| Guillermo Escobedo |style="font-size:88%"|MD 18–7 |style="font-size:88%"|January 7, 2023 |style="font-size:88%"|Wyoming - Iowa State Dual |- |Loss |36–12 |align=left| Max Dean |style="font-size:88%"|1–4 |style="font-size:88%"|December 20, 2022 |style="font-size:88%"|Iowa State - Penn State Dual |- |Win |36–11 |align=left| Lewis Fernandes |style="font-size:88%"|4–2 |style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|December 19, 2022 |style="font-size:88%"|Cornell - Iowa State Dual |- |Win |35–11 |align=left| Tanner Harvey |style="font-size:88%"|3–2