Slow Start Dooms WVU Wrestling in Loss to Iowa State

The No. 22 ranked WVU wrestling team was unable to crawl out of an early hole in a 24-18 loss to No. 13 Iowa State in a Big 12 matchup Wednesday night inside the WVU Coliseum.

The Cyclones (5-3, 2-0 Big 12) took the meet’s first four bouts, including two pins, to build a 20-point advantage they would never squander. West Virginia, which snapped a four-match win streak, has not beaten Iowa State since 2017.

West Virginia also competed without starters Ty Watters (149 pounds) and Caleb Dowling (157), the weights where the Mountaineers suffered their defeats via pinfall. The pair have not been in action since West Virginia’s victory over Rider on Nov. 14.

The Mountaineers received victories from Peyton Hall (165), Brody Conley (174) and Ian Bush (197), all coming via major decision, as well as Michael Wolfgram at 285 and Jett Strickenberger at 125.

Hall, ranked No. 3 in the country at 165 pounds, improved to 19-0 this season after defeating Aiden Riggins 15-6 to cut Iowa State’s lead to 20-4. Conley, No. 29 at 174, won his seventh consecutive dual meet bout with a 13-2 victory over MJ Gaitan.

After Dennis Robin fell to Evan Brockman at 184 to increase the Cyclones’ lead to 24-8, Bush defeated Nathan Schon 13-2. Wolfgram then edged Daniel Herrera 5-3 to bring the Mountaineers within single digits, 24-15.

Strickenberger set the final by upsetting No. 14 Kysen Terukina via a 4-1 decision.

West Virginia (7-2, 1-2) will host No. 18 Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. Sunday for this season’s rendition of the Backyard Brawl. The Mountaineers defeated the Panthers 24-11 in the squads’ last meeting on Jan. 8, 2023.

Find more coverage of the WVU wrestling team at WV Sports Now.