Saturday, November 8
Washington, D.C.
Noon
West Virginia University
at
American
No. 21 West Virginia Faces American in Washington, D.C.
November 07, 2025 01:00 PM | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 21 West Virginia University wrestling team faces American to begin dual action at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C., on Saturday at noon.
This match will be streamed on ESPN+, and tickets are available for purchase.
This is the first meeting between the two programs as the Mountaineers begin the season on the road for the first time since 2020. Last year, the Mountaineers began 3-0 for the third consecutive season, and WVU has not lost a season opener since 2022.
Since Tim Flynn's tenure began in 2019, the Mountaineers have lost only two season openers.
West Virginia enters the 2025-26 season with a formidable lineup as seven Mountaineers begin the year ranked in the top-33 by FloWrestling. NCAA All-American redshirt sophomore Ty Watters and 2025 Big 12 champion graduate student Jett Strickenberger lead the roster.
Flynn also bolstered his lineup with the addition of three-time NCAA qualifier Willie McDougald from Oklahoma.
Watters began his season with a win at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Classic as he defeated Stanford's Daniel Cardenas in overtime by decision, 7-2.
Strickenberger (125) and McDougald (149) are ranked No. 6 and No. 14, respectively, in their weight classes. Redshirt senior Jordan Titus (141) is No. 29, redshirt juniors Brody Conley (174) and Ian Bush (184) are No. 22 and No. 18, respectively.
Watters is No. 4 at 157 pounds and redshirt freshman Rune Lawrence is No. 26 at 197 pounds.
West Virginia officially began the 2025-26 season at the Southeast Open last week as three Mountaineers won titles in their respective weight classes. Freshman Gunner Andrick took the title at 133 pounds in the freshman/sophomore division.
Freshman Leo Contino won at 165 pounds in the freshman/sophomore division, and Conley won at 174 pounds in his return after an injury late last season.
Projected WVU Lineup
125: No. 6 Jett Strickenberger or Louie Gill
133: Gunner Andrick
141: No. 29 Jordan Titus
149: No. 14 Willie McDougald or TJ Langley
157: No. 4 Ty Watters
165: Shawn Taylor or Leo Contino
174: No. 22 Brody Conley
184: No. 18 Ian Bush
197: No. 26 Rune Lawrence
HWT: Brock Kehler
Projected American Lineup
125: JJ Peace or Coen Bainey
133: No. 26 Raymond Lopez or Maximilian Leete
141: Jack Maida
149: Gage Owen
157: Kaden Milheim
165: Austin Craft
174 Hunter Hohman or Liam Packer
184: No. 28 Caleb Campos
197: Teage Calvin or Caleb Close
HWT: Emmanuel Ulrich
*Rankings according to FloWrestling
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on X, Instagram and Facebook.
This match will be streamed on ESPN+, and tickets are available for purchase.
This is the first meeting between the two programs as the Mountaineers begin the season on the road for the first time since 2020. Last year, the Mountaineers began 3-0 for the third consecutive season, and WVU has not lost a season opener since 2022.
Since Tim Flynn's tenure began in 2019, the Mountaineers have lost only two season openers.
West Virginia enters the 2025-26 season with a formidable lineup as seven Mountaineers begin the year ranked in the top-33 by FloWrestling. NCAA All-American redshirt sophomore Ty Watters and 2025 Big 12 champion graduate student Jett Strickenberger lead the roster.
Flynn also bolstered his lineup with the addition of three-time NCAA qualifier Willie McDougald from Oklahoma.
Watters began his season with a win at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Classic as he defeated Stanford's Daniel Cardenas in overtime by decision, 7-2.
Strickenberger (125) and McDougald (149) are ranked No. 6 and No. 14, respectively, in their weight classes. Redshirt senior Jordan Titus (141) is No. 29, redshirt juniors Brody Conley (174) and Ian Bush (184) are No. 22 and No. 18, respectively.
Watters is No. 4 at 157 pounds and redshirt freshman Rune Lawrence is No. 26 at 197 pounds.
West Virginia officially began the 2025-26 season at the Southeast Open last week as three Mountaineers won titles in their respective weight classes. Freshman Gunner Andrick took the title at 133 pounds in the freshman/sophomore division.
Freshman Leo Contino won at 165 pounds in the freshman/sophomore division, and Conley won at 174 pounds in his return after an injury late last season.
Projected WVU Lineup
125: No. 6 Jett Strickenberger or Louie Gill
133: Gunner Andrick
141: No. 29 Jordan Titus
149: No. 14 Willie McDougald or TJ Langley
157: No. 4 Ty Watters
165: Shawn Taylor or Leo Contino
174: No. 22 Brody Conley
184: No. 18 Ian Bush
197: No. 26 Rune Lawrence
HWT: Brock Kehler
Projected American Lineup
125: JJ Peace or Coen Bainey
133: No. 26 Raymond Lopez or Maximilian Leete
141: Jack Maida
149: Gage Owen
157: Kaden Milheim
165: Austin Craft
174 Hunter Hohman or Liam Packer
184: No. 28 Caleb Campos
197: Teage Calvin or Caleb Close
HWT: Emmanuel Ulrich
*Rankings according to FloWrestling
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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