Iowa State Media Relations
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser announced the signing of two high-impact senior upper weights Thursday afternoon. Rocky Elam, a 197-pound four-time All-American transfer from Missouri, and Isaac Dean, a 184-pound NCAA Qualifier transfer from Rider, put pen to paper to become Cyclones earlier this week.
“Rocky and Isaac are great additions to bolster the upper half of our lineup,” Dresser said. “They are high-quality individuals on and off the mat and they will bring great competition and depth to our room. We’re looking forward to getting these guys to Ames and getting to work.”
Rocky Elam
Year: Senior
Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
High School/Previous School: Staley/Missouri
Weight Class: 197
Elam brings a long list of wrestling credentials with him to Ames. He is a four-time NCAA All-American (5-4-3-6), two-time conference champion (2023 Big 12; 2021 MAC) and a 2021 Junior World Champion.
The Kansas City, Missouri native owns a 70-17 career record, including a 29-7 mark in duals, and has 25 bonus-point victories to his name (5 pins, 4 tech falls, 16 major decisions).
Elam redshirted the 2024-25 season as he recovered from injuries suffered late in the 2023-24 season. He reached the national semifinals as the No. 12 seed in 2024 while wrestling with a substantial shoulder injury and would go on to place sixth.
He registered the best finish of his career as a sophomore by placing third at the 2023 NCAA Championships following a semifinal appearance. As a true freshman, Elam lost his first match at the 2022 NCAA Championships before winning five-consecutive matches to finish as an All-American (fifth place).
Elam is a two-time NWCA Scholar All-American and a three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection.
Isaac Dean
Year: Senior
Hometown: Medford, N.J.
High School/Previous School: Shawnee/Rider
Weight Class: 184
Dean has shown steady improvement throughout his entire career and made a significant jump last season, finishing with a 25-9 record and a 2025 MAC championship. He nearly doubled his win total from his sophomore to junior season after registering 13 wins in 2023-24 and 25 wins in 2024-25.
The Medford, New Jersey native qualified for the 2025 NCAA Championships as the No. 7 seed at 184 pounds and reached the Round of 16. Both of his losses in the national tournament came in tiebreakers.
Dean registered notable ranked wins over No. 6 Jaxon Smith (Maryland), No. 8 Bennett Berge (SDSU), No. 16 Reece Heller (Pitt) and No. 23 Nick Fine (Columbia) last season.
He owns a 45-42 career record and finished the 2024-25 season ranked No. 14 nationally at 184 pounds by FloWrestling.
Dean did not start wrestling until eighth grade but still managed a 2021 state runner-up finish and a 94-24 prep record in New Jersey.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser announced the signing of two high-impact senior upper weights Thursday afternoon. Rocky Elam, a 197-pound four-time All-American transfer from Missouri, and Isaac Dean, a 184-pound NCAA Qualifier transfer from Rider, put pen to paper to become Cyclones earlier this week.
“Rocky and Isaac are great additions to bolster the upper half of our lineup,” Dresser said. “They are high-quality individuals on and off the mat and they will bring great competition and depth to our room. We’re looking forward to getting these guys to Ames and getting to work.”
Rocky Elam
Year: Senior
Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
High School/Previous School: Staley/Missouri
Weight Class: 197
Elam brings a long list of wrestling credentials with him to Ames. He is a four-time NCAA All-American (5-4-3-6), two-time conference champion (2023 Big 12; 2021 MAC) and a 2021 Junior World Champion.
The Kansas City, Missouri native owns a 70-17 career record, including a 29-7 mark in duals, and has 25 bonus-point victories to his name (5 pins, 4 tech falls, 16 major decisions).
Elam redshirted the 2024-25 season as he recovered from injuries suffered late in the 2023-24 season. He reached the national semifinals as the No. 12 seed in 2024 while wrestling with a substantial shoulder injury and would go on to place sixth.
He registered the best finish of his career as a sophomore by placing third at the 2023 NCAA Championships following a semifinal appearance. As a true freshman, Elam lost his first match at the 2022 NCAA Championships before winning five-consecutive matches to finish as an All-American (fifth place).
Elam is a two-time NWCA Scholar All-American and a three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection.
Isaac Dean
Year: Senior
Hometown: Medford, N.J.
High School/Previous School: Shawnee/Rider
Weight Class: 184
Dean has shown steady improvement throughout his entire career and made a significant jump last season, finishing with a 25-9 record and a 2025 MAC championship. He nearly doubled his win total from his sophomore to junior season after registering 13 wins in 2023-24 and 25 wins in 2024-25.
The Medford, New Jersey native qualified for the 2025 NCAA Championships as the No. 7 seed at 184 pounds and reached the Round of 16. Both of his losses in the national tournament came in tiebreakers.
Dean registered notable ranked wins over No. 6 Jaxon Smith (Maryland), No. 8 Bennett Berge (SDSU), No. 16 Reece Heller (Pitt) and No. 23 Nick Fine (Columbia) last season.
He owns a 45-42 career record and finished the 2024-25 season ranked No. 14 nationally at 184 pounds by FloWrestling.
Dean did not start wrestling until eighth grade but still managed a 2021 state runner-up finish and a 94-24 prep record in New Jersey.
