Having a unique perspective when covering the Iowa State Cyclones is the advantage of being a reporter who doubles as a photographer. For seven years, I’ve watched Kevin Dresser in his coach’s corner, up close and personal. Sitting across the mat, I’ve kept one eye on the action and the other on him.
Over time, I’ve come to recognize his mood just by his posture. Is he leaning forward, focused and intense? Is he slumped back, arms crossed and calculating? Are his veins popping with frustration, or does his emotion flicker only in his eyes? Understanding Dresser in these moments has become second nature: the signs are always there if you know where to look.
After the dual, Dresser admitted he had to bring himself down from big emotions to focus on analyzing his team. “I really sat there and I was more of an evaluator than anything. I really took that role tonight. I’m like, ‘Okay, how are you going to calm down, Dresser?’ Because it’s easy to get caught up in this crazy shit here. How are you going to calm down? I said, ‘You know what? I’m just going to be an evaluator.'”
Watching him throughout the night felt like a case study in his coaching style — angry and hungry during some matches, analytical and calm during others.
The dual began with freshman Adrian Meza putting the Cyclones on the board with a strong 5-1 decision at 125 pounds. Dresser’s shoulders were square, his body language relaxed. But by the time Evan Frost gave up two takedowns in the 133-pound match, Dresser leaned forward, his mouth pressed tight in frustration.
The top-10 showdown between No. 7 Anthony Echemendia and No. 4 Kyle Parco turned into a controversial match, riddled with challenges and rulings that earned Iowa an advantage. Dresser sat upright, his hands in his lap, visibly puzzled. His reactions mirrored the Cyclones’ rollercoaster of momentum throughout the night.
When Iowa State took a 12-6 lead following Paniro Johnson’s win by injury default at 157 pounds, Dresser seemed more focused than ever, his gaze sharp as he watched Connor Euton face No. 2 Michael Caliendo at 165 pounds. Euton’s aggressive start quieted the sellout crowd but an injury slowed him down, leading to a 12-7 loss. Dresser, however, kept a genuine smile on his face when breaking down the loss: “He’s pretty good. That was a good match.”
The middleweights shifted momentum away from Iowa State. At 174 pounds, Aiden Riggins, a Hawkeye transfer, was outmatched by Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy, giving up a major decision.
Drama is a staple of the Cy-Hawk dual, and it unfolded when Iowa substituted freshman Angelo Ferrari for No. 7 Gabe Arnold at 184 pounds. Even Ferrari admitted the decision was last-minute. Asked about the switch post-dual, Dresser said, “I was surprised he came out, yeah. I knew he was good. He’s a little better than I thought he was.” Ferrari’s dominance left Evan Bockman unable to find his offense, leading to an 8-2 loss.
At 197 pounds, Christian Carroll faced No. 2 Stephen Buchanan in a critical match but looked tentative. Dresser’s frustration was visible as Carroll stalled repeatedly and failed to score, losing decisively.
By the heavyweight match, Iowa State’s chances were gone. The Cyclones fell for the 20th consecutive time in the Cy-Hawk dual.
Dresser entered the press conference followed by a police officer, pausing for a drink of water before addressing the media. It made me wonder what kind of post-dual message he delivered in the locker room before the team boarded the bus back to Ames.
For seven years, I’ve not only been across the mat from Dresser but also across the media room from him in post-dual press conferences. Will he stride in, greeting everyone with a clap of his hands? Will he launch into an opening statement, or fix an intense gaze across the room and invite reporters to dive straight into questions?
His anger can simmer just beneath the surface — controlled but unmistakable. Saturday night was no exception. Dresser provided detailed insights on each match, as he always does, making him a fantastic interview. But there were moments when his frustration cracked through his half-smiles, laced with humor that felt more biting than lighthearted.
For example, when asked at what point during Carroll’s match he knew things were going south, his blunt reply landed with precision: “Yeah, when he got ridden for the whole second period, I figured that wasn’t good.”
Dresser’s opening statement also revealed a lot about his mindset: “I mean, in the seven years that I’ve been at Iowa State now, that’s the best Iowa team that we’ve faced, by far. You know, so credit to Coach Brands and the donor base. I mean, that’s the world we live in, right? So let’s just say it, right, congratulations to all of the people involved. That was their best team.”
Some on social media took this as genuine praise for Iowa. But knowing Dresser, I heard something more layered. Yes, he was crediting Iowa’s roster, but it wasn’t without throwing a few jabs about NIL and the transfer portal’s impact on college wrestling.
Even in defeat, it’s clear Dresser has a vision for his team and a determination to make adjustments. Soon enough, Cyclone fans will see the return of Dresser’s triumphant smile, throwing fists in the air as he has done so many times before.
