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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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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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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]
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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.[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
Despite unofficially committing to the Iowa State Cyclones, Echemendía ended up at the Ohio State University.[9][10]
2020–2021
Competing in the freestyle senior level, Echemendía lost to Evan Henderson in November 2020, 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]
Making his collegiate wrestling debut, Echemendía was defeated by his teammate Dylan D'Emilio at the OSU wrestle-offs in January 2021.[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]
2021–2022
In the next season, Echemendía also failed to take the varsity spot, losing to Jordan Decatur at the OSU wrestle-offs in October 2021.[18] He then decided to redshirt, and went 2–0 at an open tournament in November.[19]
After the season and legal issues, Echemendía entered the NCAA transfer portal in March 2022.[20]
2022–2023
During his sophomore campaign, Echemendia competed unattached, wrestling at five open tournaments and winning three of them during regular season.[21] Echemendía then transferred to the Iowa State University.[22]
2023–2024
In his junior and first year as a Cyclone, Echemendia started off defeating teammates Carter Fousek and NCAA qualifier Casey Swiderski to take the varsity spot at 149 pounds in October.[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]
2024–2025
In his senior and final year, Echemendía currently holds a 6–3 record and placed fourth at the Cliff Keen Invitational.[26]
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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.[27] He entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to time served (four days).[28]
Echemendía's life story has been featured in documentaries by FloSports and the Big Ten Network.[29] Since defecting from Cuba in 2018, Echemendía, was not able to see his family until 2023, when he visited his native country.[30]
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Stats
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