WVU Wrestling Claims 3 Victories at Knockout Christmas Classic

The No. 22 ranked WVU Wrestling team notched three dual meet wins at Saturday’s Knockout Christmas Classic inside the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Fla.

West Virginia was able to rebound from its first loss of the season at the hands of California Baptist in the squad’s Big 12 opener by defeating conference foe North Dakota State 22-21, Wisconsin 25-13 and Campbell 31-12.

3-0. 😊#HailWV https://t.co/WOyvEsgnA2 pic.twitter.com/6adN4mYOaE

— WVU Wrestling (@WVUWrestling) December 22, 2024

The Mountaineers overcame deficits at the midpoint in each of their first two matches to earn comeback victories.

Trailing North Dakota State 12-7, West Virginia received three consecutive wins from Peyton Hall (technical fall), Brody Conley (decision) and Dennis Robin (pinfall) to regain the lead 21-12. Despite the Mountaineers dropping the final two bouts to allow the Bison to tie the match at 21-all, West Virginia was awarded a team point and the victory due to tiebreakers.

West Virginia then fell behind Wisconsin 10-8 before Hall, Conley, Ian Bush and Rune Lawrence ran off four straight victories to put the Mountaineers back in front 21-10. Lawrence, a freshman, earned his first dual meet win, as the Mountaineers grabbed their first-ever victory over the Badgers in the teams’ first meeting since 2001.

A string of six consecutive wins broke a 6-all tie and give West Virginia an insurmountable 31-6 lead against Campbell.

Hall and Conley both went unbeaten in three matches, with all of Hall’s wins coming via technical fall to improve his record to 17-0 this season.

Lawrence, Robin and Sam Hillegas each picked up wins in both of their respective bouts. Hillegas also picked up two technical fall victories.

The WVU wrestling team (6-1, 1-1) will travel to Princeton for its next match on Jan. 4.