MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Jan. 12, 2025) – The No. 22 West Virginia University wrestling team lost to No. 18 Pitt, 25-17, on Sunday at the WVU Coliseum.
West Virginia (7-3, 1-2 Big 12) lost to its second consecutive ranked opponent after falling to No. 13 Iowa State on Jan. 8.
The attendance for the match was 2,220, marking the fifth-largest crowd in program history and the largest crowd since 1,884 people attended West Virginia’s match against No. 5 Oklahoma State on Jan. 14, 2024.
The Mountaineers opened the match, winning the first three matches to jump out to an 11-0 lead. Senior Jett Strickenberger earned his second straight ranked win, defeating Pitt’s No. 19 Nick Babin by major decision, 9-0, in the 125-pound match.
Freshman Mason Kernan picked up an impressive win in the 133-pound match, beating Matt Marlow by major decision, 12-1.
Redshirt junior No. 32 Jordan Titus ended his losing skid by beating Anthony Santaniello by decision in the 141-pound match.
Back-to-back losses by the Mountaineers put Pitt on the board. Heading into the 165-pound match, WVU held an 11-9 lead.
Fifth-year No. 3 Peyton Hall pinned Jared Keslar to get his 20th win of the season. The win also ties Hall for second all-time in WVU history with 120 career wins.
The Mountaineers lost the next four matches as Pitt secured the win. To finish the day, fifth-year Michael Wolfgram was pinned by No. 15 Dayton Pitzer in the 285-pound match.
Full Results
125: Jett Strickenberger (WVU) major dec. No. 19 Nick Babin (PITT),9-0
133: Mason Kernan (WVU) major dec. Matt Marlow (PITT), 12-1
141: No. 32 Jordan Titus WVU) dec. Anthony Santaniello (PITT), 3-1
149: Kade Brown (PITT) major dec. Sam Hillegas (WVU), 21-11
157: No. 27 Dylan Evans (PITT) tech. fall over Sasha Gavronsky (WVU), 21-6
165: No. 3 Peyton Hall (WVU) won by fall over Jared Keslar (PITT) [T – 2:46]
174: No. 18 Luca Augustine (PITT) dec. No. 29 Brody Conley (WVU), 4-2
184: No. 12 Reece Heller (PITT) dec. No. 23 Dennis Robin (WVU), 11-4
197: No. 14 Mac Stout (PITT) major dec. Ian Bush (WVU), 13-3
HWT: No. 15 Dayton Pitzer (PITT) won by fall over Michael Wolfgram (WVU) [T – 5:33]
West Virginia will face Oklahoma on the road in Norman, Oklahoma, on Friday, Jan. 17. The match will begin at 7 p.m.
Press Release Courtesy of West Virginia University Athletics Communications
