The West Virginia University wrestling team is set to compete in the 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships, taking place March 6-7 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event begins with the first session at 11 a.m. ET on Friday, followed by an evening session at 6 p.m. Saturday’s competition resumes at 1 p.m., with finals scheduled for 8 p.m. All sessions will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
West Virginia enters the tournament after achieving its most successful regular season since head coach Tim Flynn took over eight years ago. The Mountaineers posted an 11-5 overall record and went 5-3 in Big 12 matches, winning more duals than any season since 2014 and defeating three ranked opponents for the first time under Flynn’s leadership.
The team finished No. 16 in the final National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll, marking the third straight year West Virginia has ended the season ranked in this poll.
Leading West Virginia’s lineup are two defending conference champions: graduate student Jett Strickenberger at 125 pounds and redshirt sophomore Ty Watters at 157 pounds. Strickenberger captured his first career conference title last year, while Watters won at 149 pounds during the previous championship.
Other returning placers include Oklahoma transfer Willie McDougald, who finished as high as second place in his previous trips to Tulsa; redshirt senior Jordan Titus, who placed sixth last year at 141 pounds; redshirt junior Brody Conley, fifth place finisher in 2024; and Ian Bush, who was fourth at last year’s championships.
Six Mountaineers have earned seeds within their weight classes. Strickenberger is seeded third at 125 pounds.
West Virginia’s projected lineup features opening matchups that include:
– No. 3 Jett Strickenberger vs. Bryson Valdez (Northern Colorado) at 125 lbs
– No. 4 Gunner Andrick vs. No. 5 Julian Farber (Northern Iowa) or Carter Schmidt (Oklahoma) at 133 lbs
– Jordan Titus vs. No. 8 Jesse Vasquez (California Baptist) at 141 lbs
– Willie McDougald vs. No.1 Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State) at 149 lbs
– No.4 Ty Watters vs. Drayden Morton (California Baptist) at 157 lbs
– Sasha Gavronsky vs. No.2 Ryder Downey (Northern Iowa) at 165 lbs
– No.7 Brody Conley vs.Max Magayna (NDSU) at174 lbs
– No.4 Ian Bush vs.No .5 Nick Fox (UNI) or Mahroni Rushton (Northern Colorado)at184 lbs
– No .7 Rune Lawrence vs.No .2 Joey Novak(Wyoming )or Eli Sheeren(CBU )at197 lbs
– Brock Kehler vs.No .1 Yonger Bastida(Iowa State )in heavyweight
Coach Tim Flynn expressed optimism about his team’s prospects following a strong regular season performance.