Connor Euton is Iowa State’s lowest-ranked wrestler in the starting lineup at #25. 

But the dynamic 165-pound junior nonetheless possesses that “it” factor for the Cyclones.

So why is that?

“Raw sex appeal,” Euton joked at a recent media interview session. 

“I’m just kidding,” the two-time Ohio state high school champ added.

Still, Euton’s no joke when it comes to the #4 Cyclones’ stacked lineup. He went 20-4 while wrestling mostly in open tournaments as a redshirt freshman, then, after earning a spot in the starting lineup last season, competed just times before joining several teammates in suffering a season-ending injury. Euton’s knee gave out just as he seemed poised for a breakout 2024-25 campaign. It buckled as he battled with Iowa’s three-time All-American, Michael Caliendo, in the Cy-Hawk match. The Westerville, Ohio, native eventually lost that bout, 12-7, as his season ended painfully and abruptly. Caliendo went on to earn runner-up honors at 165 in the 2025 NCAA Championships — and to say the time off lit a special kind of fire under Euton would be an understatement.

“I’d say I’m just about as ready as I can be,” Euton said. “I think as far as that term ready, that’s kind of a never-ending thing. Because you can always be more ready. You could always be slacking or something. It just kind of depends, but I try my best to prepare and be at my best, and do what I can to make sure I’m healthy. I’ve got to be a lot smarter than I used to be. I don’t have the knees I used to have.”

Euton does, however, have the so-called “want-to” to excel on the mat, no matter his ranking, no matter his status.

“He’s a real competitor and I think he’s probably turned himself into a fan favorite already,” said Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser, whose team earned an NCAA trophy in 2024 before the injuries helped undo its hopes in 2025. “Anybody (who) wrestles that hard and tries to score that many points? If we can keep that guy healthy, and right now, he’s very healthy, he’s really gonna make a name for himself this year. I see it. We see it in the room. It translates over. He chases guys around.” 

Just as he chases greatness — no matter the pain, no matter the opponent.

“Whoever steps in front of me, it’s time to go,” the often-underestimated and bespectacled Euton said. “It’s time to go regardless of outside factors.”

Cutting Crew 

Last season, Evan and Jacob Frost became the Cyclones’ first pair of brothers to concurrently qualify for the NCAAs since Gabe and Michael Moreno accomplished the feat in 2015. An injury helped quash Evan’s quest to become a two-time All-American at 133 last season, but Jacob evaded the injury bug and finished seventh at 141 at national to attain All-American status for the first time.

Now the identical twins are working on dialing in to compete in their respective weight classes — as Evan is slated to wrestle at 133 again, and Jacob’s aiming for 149 — and they’re both progressing nicely.

“They're doing great,” Dresser said. “I mean, both of them had to weigh in, I think, for the progression down in two weeks. I think Evan had to weigh 137 and I think we just had Jacob weigh, like, 151, so he’s gonna be back in the hunt at ’49, so we’ve gotta figure out some things there.”

Here’s the thing there …

Iowa State’s Paniro Johnson is ranked #4 by Flo at 149, and he’s impressed Dresser and his staff with his discipline and unwavering dedication this season.

Johnson’s a two-time NCAA qualifier and a two-time Big 12 champion.

“Real, real tough room,” Johnson said recently during his team’s media day. “One (mindset is), it's too tough. Are they bringing (in) all these people, everybody trying to take my spot? That's messed up. Or two, they bring in all these people, and that’s helped me get closer to my goals and helped me become (a) national champ, or wherever, whatever you want to do. These are things that help you get better, you know? And the team's real close, and even guys at the same weight — we’re obviously fighting for the same job right now, but we’re family and we’re helping each other get better.”

That team-wide bond, even among competitors fighting tenaciously for the same spot, has impressed Dresser early this season, and helps stoke the fire to get back into trophy territory this March.

“I think we’re in pretty good shape,” Dresser said after Iowa State’s 37-3 win over Nebraska-Kearney last Friday. “I can’t say that one guy went out there and fell off the cliff at the end of the match. So I really liked our shape overall. (Backup heavyweight McCrae) Hagarty threw up in the trash can afterwards, but he wrestled really hard and beat the national champ from Division II. So we gave him permission to throw up.”

Next Up 

The Cyclones will face #3 Iowa in their annual in-state rivalry dual on Nov. 30 at Hilton Coliseum. Iowa State hasn’t beaten the Hawkeyes since the 2004-05 season, but the last three meetings have been decided by six or fewer points.