The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has released the 2025-26 schedule for its wrestling team. Head coach Tim Flynn will lead the program into his eighth season following a sixth-place finish at the 2025 Big 12 Championships and a tie for 18th place at the NCAA Championships. This marks the first time since the 2004-05 season that WVU has achieved back-to-back top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships.
Flynn will have three of last season’s five NCAA qualifiers returning, including redshirt sophomore Ty Watters, a 2023 NCAA All-American, who is coming back after an injury-shortened year. Graduate student Jett Strickenberger, who won last year’s Big 12 title at 125 pounds, will also return.
“We are excited for a very challenging schedule,” said Flynn. “We have some huge duals, and we compete in the top midseason tournament as well to highlight the year.”
The Mountaineers begin their season at the Southeast Open in Salem, Virginia on November 2. Their first dual meet is scheduled against American University in Washington, D.C., on November 8. The home opener is set for November 16 with the Mountaineer Quad, where WVU will compete against Princeton, Appalachian State, and Glenville State.
Additional matches include Rider on November 23 at Hope Coliseum and participation in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational from December 5-6. The team resumes dual competition against North Carolina in Chapel Hill before hosting Oklahoma State to start Big 12 play on December 14.
WVU’s first matches of the new year will be road contests against Arizona State on January 9 in Tempe and California Baptist on January 11 in Walnut. The Backyard Brawl with Pitt is scheduled for January 16 in Pittsburgh.
The Mountaineers then return home for three straight matches: Oklahoma on January 18, Wyoming on January 24, and Missouri on February 6. The regular season concludes with away matches at Iowa State (February 13), Northern Iowa (February 14), and Lock Haven (January 21).
Postseason events include the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa from March 6-7 and the NCAA Championships in Cleveland from March 19-21.
More information about West Virginia University wrestling can be found at WVUsports.com or by following WVUWrestling on X, Instagram, and Facebook.