The West Virginia University wrestling team, ranked No. 21 nationally, will compete against Arizona State in its first Big 12 Conference road match of the season. The meet is scheduled for Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona, and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
West Virginia enters the contest with a 5-2 overall record and is seeking its first conference win after losing to No. 5 Oklahoma State on December 14. Six Mountaineers are currently ranked in their respective weight classes by FloWrestling.
Redshirt sophomore Ty Watters leads the team as the No. 2 wrestler at 157 pounds and holds an undefeated record of 12-0 this season. Graduate student Jett Strickenberger is ranked ninth at 125 pounds, while freshman Gunner Andrick stands at No. 16 in the 133-pound class. Redshirt juniors Brody Conley (174) and Ian Bush (184) are ranked No. 20 and No. 23 respectively, with redshirt freshman Rune Lawrence listed as No. 22 at 197 pounds.
Watters last competed against North Carolina on December 12 and shares the team lead for ranked wins with Strickenberger; both have four victories over ranked opponents this season.
Brody Conley, redshirt freshman TJ Langley, and redshirt sophomore Louie Gill each have a team-high thirteen wins so far this year. Conley remains undefeated in dual matches (5-0), although he has not wrestled since facing Rider on November 23.
Historically, West Virginia has won five times against Arizona State while losing six matchups overall. The Mountaineers secured a victory over the Sun Devils last season in Morgantown with a score of 24-13.
The projected lineup for West Virginia includes: Jett Strickenberger or Louie Gill (125), Gunner Andrick or Casen Roark (133), Jordan Titus (141), TJ Langley (149), Ty Watters (157), Shawn Taylor (165), Brody Conley or Leo Contino (174), Ian Bush (184), Rune Lawrence (197), and Brock Kehler (285).
For more details about the team, visit WVUsports.com or follow WVUWrestling on X, Instagram, and Facebook.