Friday, January 16
Pittsburgh, Pa.
7 p.m.
West Virginia University
15
at
17
No. 15 Pitt
No. 22 West Virginia Loses to No. 15 Pitt, 17-15
January 16, 2026 09:22 PM | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 22 West Virginia University wrestling team narrowly lost to No. 15 Pitt, 17-15, in the Backyard Brawl at Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh on Friday.
With the loss, West Virginia (7-3, 2-1 Big 12) has dropped two consecutive matches against the Panthers.
The Mountaineers began the night hot, winning the first three matches. Graduate student No. 9 Jett Strickenberger (125) kicked off the battle with a win by decision, 9-2, over Matt Marlow.
In the second bout, freshman No. 17 Gunner Andrick (133) forced overtime against Evan Tallmadge as the two were locked in a 1-1 tie. Andrick scored a takedown in the overtime period to win, 4-1. Redshirt senior Jordan Titus followed Andrick with a narrow win by decision, 2-0, in the 141-pound bout.
Pitt scored its first takedown of the evening in the 149-pound bout as TJ Langley faced No. 24 Kade Brown. This proved to be one of the biggest moments of the evening as the Panthers earned a major decision, 12-3.
In the 157-pound bout, redshirt sophomore No. 4 Ty Watters squared off against No. 15 Dylan Evans to mark the biggest matchup of the evening. The two grappled for three periods, with a takedown in the second period ultimately settling the match in favor of Watters. He won by decision, 5-1, to remain undefeated against ranked opponents this season (6-0).
A narrow loss by freshman Leo Contino (165) gave Pitt its second victory of the night as the Panthers trailed, 12-7.
Redshirt junior No. 21 Brody Conley (174) was ultimately the last Mountaineer to win on the night. He earned a late takedown in the final seconds of the third period to defeat No. 19 Luca Augustine by decision, 4-1.
Pitt went on to win the next three bouts to secure the match.
Full Results
125: No. 9 Jett Strickenberger (WVU) over Matt Marlow (PITT) (Dec 9-2)
133: No. 17 Gunner Andrick (WVU) over Evan Tallmadge (PITT) (Dec 4-1 SV-1)
141: Jordan Titus (WVU) over Briar Priest (PITT) (Dec 2-0)
149: No. 24 Kade Brown (PITT) over TJ Langley (WVU) (MD 12-3)
157: No. 4 Ty Watters (WVU) over No. 15 Dylan Evans (PITT) (Dec 5-1)
165: Jared Keslar (PITT) over Leo Contino (WVU) (Dec 3-2)
174: No. 21 Brody Conley (WVU) over No. 19 Luca Augustine (PITT) (Dec 4-1)
184: No. 29 Chase Kranitz (PITT) over No. 22 Ian Bush (WVU) (Dec 4-2)
197: No. 9 Mac Stout (PITT) over No. 20 Rune Lawrence (WVU) (Dec 4-1)
HWT: No. 14 Dayton Pitzer (PITT) over Brock Kehler (WVU) (MD 12-1)
West Virginia hosts No. 16 Oklahoma on Sunday at Hope Coliseum at 1 p.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on X, Instagram and Facebook.
With the loss, West Virginia (7-3, 2-1 Big 12) has dropped two consecutive matches against the Panthers.
The Mountaineers began the night hot, winning the first three matches. Graduate student No. 9 Jett Strickenberger (125) kicked off the battle with a win by decision, 9-2, over Matt Marlow.
In the second bout, freshman No. 17 Gunner Andrick (133) forced overtime against Evan Tallmadge as the two were locked in a 1-1 tie. Andrick scored a takedown in the overtime period to win, 4-1. Redshirt senior Jordan Titus followed Andrick with a narrow win by decision, 2-0, in the 141-pound bout.
Pitt scored its first takedown of the evening in the 149-pound bout as TJ Langley faced No. 24 Kade Brown. This proved to be one of the biggest moments of the evening as the Panthers earned a major decision, 12-3.
In the 157-pound bout, redshirt sophomore No. 4 Ty Watters squared off against No. 15 Dylan Evans to mark the biggest matchup of the evening. The two grappled for three periods, with a takedown in the second period ultimately settling the match in favor of Watters. He won by decision, 5-1, to remain undefeated against ranked opponents this season (6-0).
A narrow loss by freshman Leo Contino (165) gave Pitt its second victory of the night as the Panthers trailed, 12-7.
Redshirt junior No. 21 Brody Conley (174) was ultimately the last Mountaineer to win on the night. He earned a late takedown in the final seconds of the third period to defeat No. 19 Luca Augustine by decision, 4-1.
Pitt went on to win the next three bouts to secure the match.
Full Results
125: No. 9 Jett Strickenberger (WVU) over Matt Marlow (PITT) (Dec 9-2)
133: No. 17 Gunner Andrick (WVU) over Evan Tallmadge (PITT) (Dec 4-1 SV-1)
141: Jordan Titus (WVU) over Briar Priest (PITT) (Dec 2-0)
149: No. 24 Kade Brown (PITT) over TJ Langley (WVU) (MD 12-3)
157: No. 4 Ty Watters (WVU) over No. 15 Dylan Evans (PITT) (Dec 5-1)
165: Jared Keslar (PITT) over Leo Contino (WVU) (Dec 3-2)
174: No. 21 Brody Conley (WVU) over No. 19 Luca Augustine (PITT) (Dec 4-1)
184: No. 29 Chase Kranitz (PITT) over No. 22 Ian Bush (WVU) (Dec 4-2)
197: No. 9 Mac Stout (PITT) over No. 20 Rune Lawrence (WVU) (Dec 4-1)
HWT: No. 14 Dayton Pitzer (PITT) over Brock Kehler (WVU) (MD 12-1)
West Virginia hosts No. 16 Oklahoma on Sunday at Hope Coliseum at 1 p.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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