MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 22 West Virginia University wrestling team renews the Backyard Brawl against the No. 18 Pitt Panthers on Sunday, Jan. 12, at the WVU Coliseum at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
The match will serve as the team's Coal Rush as fans are encouraged to wear black.


 
"We have a big match on Sunday," head coach Tim Flynn said. "A highly ranked team and it's a rivalry. It can't get much bigger than that."
 
West Virginia (7-2, 1-2 Big 12) is coming off a 24-18 loss to No. 13 Iowa State on Jan. 8. In the loss, fifth-year No. 3 Peyton Hall won his 19^th match of the season to lead the Mountaineers.
 
This will be West Virginia's first meeting with Pitt since 2023. That year, the Mountaineers defeated then-No. 21 Pitt, 24-11, in Pittsburgh.
 
West Virginia has not hosted Pitt since 2020, losing to then-No. 10 Pitt, 29-6. In the last seven meetings with Pitt, the Panthers have been ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 10 in 2020.
 
West Virginia's Probable Starting Lineup
Weight          Ranking         Name 
125                                    Jace Schafer  
Or                                      Jett Strickenberger   
133                                    Tommy Maddox      
Or                                      Mason Kernan                       
141               No. 32           Jordan Titus
149                                    Michael Dolan       
Or                                      Sam Hillegas
157                                    Sasha Gavronsky     
165               No. 3             Peyton Hall   
174               No. 29           Brody Conley
184               No. 23           Dennis Robin
Or                                      Ian Bush       
197                                    Rune Lawrence       
HWT                                  Michael Wolfgram   
 
Pitt's Probable Starting Lineup
Weight          Ranking         Name
125               No. 19           Nick Babin
133                                    Tyler Chappell
Or                                      Matt Marlow
141                                    Anthony Santaniello
Or                                      Briar Priest
149               No. 27           Finn Solomon
Or                                      Kade Brown
157               No. 27           Dylan Evans
165                                    Jared Keslar
174               No. 18           Luca Augustine
184               No. 12           Reece Heller
197               No. 14           Mac Stout
HWT             No. 15           Dayton Pitzer

Support the Wrestling Sport Enhancement Fund to help make a difference in the experience provided to our student-athletes and coaches! Our teams rely on these donations for equipment purchases, team travel, ever-increasing recruiting costs, and other operational expenses. Invest in champions today!
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on X, Instagram and Facebook.