Arnold’s Park, Ia (KICD) – Emerald Hills Golf Club hosted the Keith Abens Golf Memorial last Friday, benefitting the Cardinal and Gold Collective, the personal collective of the Iowa State Wrestling team. Coaches and athletes of the Cyclones attended as they get ready to train in the Lakes area.

That is Iowa State head Wrestling coach Kevin Dresser. David Carr capped off his college career this past winner with his 2nd National Title. He has now taken a position with the Cardinal and Gold Collective and helped out with this event.

Wrestling is pretty unique in the college landscape in that the top programs have their own Name, Image, and Likeness Collectives, rather than their athletic department’s main one. Coach Dresser talked about the growth of the Cardinal and Gold Collective.

Collectives help bring in revenue for a program to give to athletes via Name, Image, and Likeness deals. David Carr was a program changer for Iowa State, and he talked about the importance of the Cyclones continuing to bring in high level recruits.

One of those high level athletes is Yonger Baustida. A native of Cuba, Baustida spent much of last year ranked in the top 5 of the Heavyweight Division, and although his National Tournament ended in a dissapointing way, he will be aiming for the top spot on the podium in 2025.

Baustida has enjoyed coming up to the Lakes in past years and was excited to interact with the fans at the Keith Abens Golf Memorial.

The Cyclones reached heights this past season they have not since the late 2000s. Dresser is of course happy with the direction with the program, but not satisfied.