Redshirt freshman Rune Lawrence has earned an at-large bid to compete in the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships, West Virginia University announced on March 10.
Lawrence joins five other Mountaineer wrestlers who will participate in this year’s championship. The group includes graduate student Jett Strickenberger (125 pounds), freshman Gunner Andrick (133), redshirt senior Jordan Titus (141), redshirt sophomore Ty Watters (157), and redshirt junior Ian Bush (184). Titus becomes only the 16th wrestler from West Virginia to qualify for the NCAA Championships four times. Strickenberger is making his third career appearance, while Watters returns after finishing fourth at 149 pounds in 2024. Both Lawrence and Andrick are making their first appearances at the national tournament.
The NCAA Wrestling Championships will take place from March 19 to March 21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Brackets and seeding information are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 11, at 8 p.m.
The participation of six athletes highlights West Virginia’s continued presence on the national wrestling stage. The announcement marks a significant achievement for both seasoned competitors and newcomers representing the university.