WVU’s Killian Cardinale to Wrestle in 7th Place Match at NCAA Wrestling Championships

TULSA, Okla. — No. 28 fifth-year Killian Cardinale made it to the Seventh Place match for his work at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at the BOK Center on Friday night.

Cardinale (13-3) won his first match Friday night in a 3-2 decision against No. 15 Cornell’s Brett Ungar (17-12). Cardinale accomplished a takedown in first period and used riding time from the second period to earn him that victory that countered Ungar scoring two back points in the third period.

The 35th All-American in program history.

Killian Cardinale is him. #HailWV pic.twitter.com/jJjGLjnxiy

— WVU Wrestling (@WVUWrestling) March 18, 2023

Cardinale then wrestled No. 8 Lock Haven’s Anthony Noto (33-3) in the next match. Noto made three takedowns and used riding time to win an 8-3 decision against Cardinale, who he dominated the entire match otherwise.

After the match, Cardinale said that Noto outwrestled him, but that his work through some injuries he has dealt with has placed him in a great position as an All-American.

“I’ve been battling injuries all year,” Cardinale said. “Injuries that most people would have had them sidelined. That means a lot to me. Personally, pushing through all that shit and coming out and getting the [All-American nod].”

That loss puts Cardinale in the Seventh Place match Saturday morning at 11 a.m. EST against rival No. 27 Virginia Tech’s Eddie Ventresca.

Mountaineers head coach Tim Flynn is proud of Cardinale’s progress in his final season and that he is excited to see him compete in his final match.

“A win,” Flynn said about what he wants to see from Cardinale in that Seventh Place match. “I just want him to compete well. He’s had a long year. He’s been beat up a little bit this year. I just want to see him compete to the best of his abilities.”