Three wrestlers from West Virginia University have secured spots at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships following the first day of competition at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Five Mountaineers remain in contention for third place as the tournament continues.
The event, held at the BOK Center and presented by Allstate, was briefly interrupted due to a tornado warning that forced athletes and spectators to shelter inside for nearly an hour. Competition resumed after safety protocols were followed.
Redshirt sophomore Ty Watters, seeded fourth, reached the semifinals in his weight class after two major decision victories. In his semifinal match against top-seeded Kaleb Larkin, Watters took an early lead with a takedown but ultimately lost after Larkin secured a late takedown in the final period.
In the 184-pound division, redshirt junior Ian Bush advanced to his first career semifinal after defeating Nick Fox of Northern Iowa by decision. Bush faced Missouri’s Aeoden Sinclair in the semifinals but was defeated 6-2.
Bush, Watters, graduate student Jett Strickenberger, redshirt senior Jordan Titus and freshman Gunner Andrick are all still competing for third place as they move into day two of the championships. Additionally, Bush, Titus and Andrick have qualified for their respective weight classes at the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Titus has become only the 16th wrestler from West Virginia University to qualify four times for the NCAA Championships.
“Round One Results
125: No. 3 Jett Strickenberger over Bryson Valdez (Northern Colorado) (TF 17-2)
141: Jordan Titus over No. 8 Jesse Vasquez (California Baptist) (Dec 12-11)
149: No. 1 Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State) over Willie McDougald (Dec 2-1)
157: No. 4 Ty Watters over Drayden Morton (California Baptist) (MD 11-0)
165: No. 2 Ryder Downey (Northern Iowa) over Sasha Gavronsky (Fall 5:40)
174: No. 7 Brody Conley over Max Magayna (NDSU) (TF 15-0)
HWT: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (Iowa State) over Brock Kehler (TF 24-6)
Quarterfinal Results
125: No. 6 Ezekiel Witt (NDSU) over No. 3 Jett Strickenberger (Dec 9-6)
133: No. 5 Julian Farber (Northern Iowa) over No. 4 Gunner Andrick (Dec 2-1)
141: No. 1 Sergio Vega (OSU) over Jordan Titus (MD 16-3)
157: No. 4 Ty Watters over No. 5 Gavin Drexler (NDSU) (MD 14-3)
174: No. 2 Carter Schubert (OU) over No.7 Brody Conley(Dec3–1TB–1)
184:No .4 Ian BushoverNo .5 Nick Fox(UNI)(Dec7–1 )
197 :No .2 Joey Novak(Wyoming )overNo .7 Rune Lawrence(Dec7–6 )
Consolations Round One Results
165:Sasha GavronskyoverBoeden Greenely(NDSU )(MD11–3 )
HWT:Brock KehleroverNo .8 Adam Ahrendsen(UNI )(Dec11–5 )
Semifinal Results
157 :No .1 Kaleb Larkin(ASU )overNo .4 Ty Watters(Dec9–8 )
184 :No .1 Aeoden Sinclair(Missouri )overNo .4 Ian Bush(Dec6–2 )
Consolations Round Two Results
125 :No .3 Jett StrickenbergeroverSefton Douglass(WYO )(TF18–3 )
133 :No .4 Gunner AndrickoverRichard Murillo(CBU )(TF19–1 )
141 :Jordan TitusoverMax Brady(UNI )(Dec9–5 )
149 :Willie McDougaldoverNo .7 Paul Kelly(CBU )(Dec4–2 )
165 :No .8 Marcus Espinoza-Owens(SDSU )overSasha Gavronsky(Dec4–2 )
174 :No .8 Cael Valencia(ASU )overNo .7 Brody Conley(Dec8–6 )
197 :Colton Hawks(ASU )overNo .7 Rune Lawrence(Dec14–9 )
HWT :No .7 Jarrett Stoner(Missouri )overBrock Kehler(Dec7–2 )
Consolations Round Three Results
125 :No .3 Jett StrickenbergeroverNo .8 Tucker Owens(USAFA )(Dec8 –6 )
133 :No .4 Gunner AndrickoverNo .8 Cale Seaton(SDSU )(MD9 –0 )
141 :Jordan TitusoverNo .5 Pierson Manville(ASU )(Dec8 –5 SV –1 )
149 :No .3 David Evans(UVU )overWillie McDougald(Dec8 –5 )
Ninth Place Semifinal Match Result
197 :No .7 Rune Lawrenceo verJohn Gunderson(D ec2 –1 )”
West Virginia is scheduled to resume competition on Saturday at 1 p.m ET with matches available for streaming on ESPN+.