Ty Watters Makes it to Quarterfinals for WVU Wrestling at NCAA Championships

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No. 5 first-year Ty Watters continues to excel for WVU wrestling, making the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships at T-Mobile Center on Thursday.

Watters, who is coming off a Big 12 title at 149 pounds in his first season of collegiate wrestling, defeated No. 28 Missouri redshirt junior Logan Gioffre in the Round of 32, 19-4 (5:21) on technical fall. This is his second win over him, as he defeated his Big 12 foe back on Jan. 26 in a 6-1 decision. 

He then faced No. 21 Oklahoma redshirt junior Willie McDougald (18-9) in the Round of 16 later tonight. He lost to McDougald back in December on an 8-5 decision.

Watters would get revenge, dominating McDougald on a 9-0 major decision after riding time. He faces No. 4 Virginia Tech sophomore Caleb Henson (27-2) in the Quarterfinals Friday morning.

No. 14 Stanford sophomore Nico Provo (19-6) defeated No. 19 WVU junior Jett Strickenberger (20-8) in a 13-4 major decision after riding time in the Round of 32 at 125 pounds.

Strickenberger took on No. 30 California Baptist redshirt sophomore Elijah Griffin (20-12) in the Consolations and Griffin pinned him at 1:41, ending his time at the NCAA Championships.

No. 20 Virginia Tech sophomore Tom Crook got revenge on No. 13 WVU Jordan Titus (20-9) at 141 pounds by winning a 4-1 decision.

Titus faced No. 30 South Dakota State senior Clay Carlson (17-8) in the consolations. He defeated Carlson in a 6-5 decision back on March 9 in the Big 12 Championships.

He would defeat Carlson again, on a 5-3 decision to stay active in the NCAA Championships. He faces No. 14 Arizona State junior Jesse Vasquez (10-3) Friday morning.

WVU wrestling No. 9 senior Peyton Hall dominated No. 24 Purdue redshirt sophomore Stoney Buell (17-12) in the Round of 32 at 165 pounds, winning 17-2 on technical fall in their first ever matchup.

No. 8 Nebraska first-year Antrell Taylor (21-7) served as his opponent in the Round of 16 Thursday night.

Taylor took an early lead, 5-0, with a takedown and back points. Hall would make a comeback and got it close, but Taylor held on for the 11-9 victory.

Hall goes into the Consolation Rounds and takes on No. 26 Campbell sophomore Domonic Baker (20-8) Friday morning.

No. 20 redshirt first-year Brody Conley (24-9) had a tough challenge in No. 13 Virginia graduate student Justin McCoy (18-6) in the Round of 32 at 174 pounds . McCoy defeated Conley back in late December at the Midlands Championships in an 11-6 decision.

McCoy got the better of Conley once again this time around, defeating him in an 8-4 decision.

Conley battled No. 29 NC State fifth-year Alex Faison (13-13) in the Consolations, with Faison winning a slim 4-3 decision. Conley is done at the NCAA Championships.