Two wrestlers from West Virginia University claimed individual titles as the No. 18 Mountaineers finished fourth at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, marking their best performance at the event since 2002. The tournament took place at the Westgate Hotel Paradise Event Center.
Graduate student and No. 4 seed Jett Strickenberger won the 125-pound title after two victories on Saturday. He defeated Iowa State’s top-seeded Stevo Poulin in an overtime decision, 7-4, during the semifinals. In the finals, Strickenberger secured a win over Oregon State’s No. 6 seed Maximo Renteria by decision, 8-6, using a reversal in the third period.
In the 157-pound category, redshirt sophomore and No. 1 seed Ty Watters remained undefeated for the season. Watters advanced to the finals by pinning Purdue’s No. 4 seed Stoney Buell in the semifinals. In the final round, Iowa State’s No. 3 seed Vinny Zerban medically forfeited, giving Watters the title.
Four other Mountaineers also reached podium positions: freshman Gunner Andrick finished fifth at 133 pounds; redshirt freshmen Shawn Taylor (165) and Rune Lawrence (197) placed seventh and sixth respectively; and redshirt junior Brody Conley ended up sixth in the 174-pound bracket after a late injury forced him to default in both his consolation semifinal and fifth-place match.
This is the first time two West Virginia wrestlers have won individual titles at a single Las Vegas Invitational and marks consecutive years with an individual champion for West Virginia following Peyton Hall’s victory last season in the 165-pound division.
West Virginia’s fourth-place team finish is its second-highest ever at this invitational; it previously placed second in 2002.
The Mountaineers will compete next against No. 21 North Carolina on Friday, December 12, in Chapel Hill.
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