WVU Wrestling Dominates Fairmont State for Third Consecutive Victory

The WVU wrestling team saved one of its best, if not the best, performances of 2023 for the final dual meet of the year.

The No. 20 Mountaineers picked up their third straight victory with a 56-0 romp over Fairmont State on Tuesday night inside the WVU Coliseum.

⛰️ Fairmont State vs. No. 20 WVU ⛰️

CUE COUNTRY ROADS!!

HWT | r-Sr., Michael Wolfgram (WVU) wins by forfeit

Mountaineers win the match!

WVU 56 | FSU 0#HailWV

— WVU Wrestling (@WVUWrestling) December 20, 2023

West Virginia, who is ranked within the Top 20 for the first time since 2016, improved to 22-8 all-time against Fairmont State while claiming seven of its first eight dual meets for the second consecutive year.

Five different Mountaineers recorded pinfall victories over the Fighting Falcons, adding two technical falls and two forfeit wins to come up just four team points shy of a complete sweep. Davin Rhoads defeated Fairmont State’s Nathan Pelesky by a 16-4 major decision at 133 pounds in the only match that went the full seven minutes.

Jace Schafer and Jack Blumer made their first appearances in a dual meet this season for West Virginia, with both recording pins. Schafer took down Brandan Myers in 1:22 to kick off the match at 125 pounds and Blumer finished off Nick Kelbaugh in 1:29 at 165.

Jordan Titus (141 pounds), Ty Watters (149) and Caleb Dowling (157) each also tallied wins via pinfall. Titus improved to 12-0 on the season, while Watters, a true freshman, grabbed his team-leading eighth pin out of his 11 victories. Dowling needed just 37 seconds to pin Esdras Castillo.

Rhoads’ victory at 133 and the five pinfall wins gave the Mountaineers a 34-0 lead, sealing the dual meet win through six matches.

Brody Conley then defeated Elijah Wellings-Osha by technical fall 18-1 at 174. Conley and Titus remain undefeated in the Mountaineers’ eight dual meets. Austin Cooley also won via technical fall 20-4 over Dwayne Johnson at 197.

Dennis Robin (184) and Michael Wolfgram (285) both received forfeit victories, giving Robin a team-high 15 wins on the season.

WVU wrestling (7-1, 2-1) will compete next in the Midlands Championships on Dec. 29 and 30 at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.