Friday, January 9
Tempe, Ariz.
8:30 p.m.
West Virginia University
20
at
19
Arizona State
No. 21 West Virginia Defeats Arizona State to Earn First Big 12 Win
January 09, 2026 11:02 PM | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 21 West Virginia University wrestling team defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils, 20-19, to earn its first Big 12 Conference win of the season at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona, on Friday.
Redshirt freshman TJ Langley (149) had one of the most important victories of the night for West Virginia (6-2, 1-1 Big 12) as he used a late takedown to win the match by fall over Daniel Miranda.
Langley scored a late escape to break a tie with Miranda in the final seconds of the third period. With the win already secure due to riding time, Langley locked up the win by fall with less than five seconds remaining to earn six points for West Virginia.
It proved to be the difference as the Mountaineers split 10 individual bouts with the Sun Devils, winning five.
In the 125-pound match, redshirt sophomore Louie Gill earned his 14th win of the season with a dominant performance. He defeated Ane'e Vigil by major decision, 14-2, to begin the night for WVU.
Back-to-back wins by the Sun Devils put them in control early. In the 157-pound match, redshirt sophomore No. 2 Ty Watters battled Kaleb Larkin. Larkin, ranked No. 3 at 149 pounds by FloWrestling, moved up a weight class to face Watters.
Despite a late rally in the third period, Watters lost by decision to Larkin, 4-2. This is the first loss for Watters since the 2024 NCAA Tournament, as he was 12-0 this season.
West Virginia quickly rallied to win three of the next four matches. In his first dual match since Nov. 23, redshirt junior No. 20 Brody Conley (174) defeated Cael Valencia by decision, 2-0.
Redshirt junior No. 23 Ian Bush (184) earned his 13th win of the season, defeating Azizbek Fayzullaev by major decision, 13-1.
A win by decision by redshirt freshman No. 22 Rune Lawrence (197) was West Virginia's final victory on the night.
Final Results
125: Louie Gill (WVU) over Ane`e Vigil (ASU) (MD 14-2)
133: No. 5 Kyler Larkin (ASU) over No. 16 Gunner Andrick (WVU) (Dec 7-4)
141: No. 18 Pierson Manville (ASU) over Jordan Titus (WVU) (Dec 2-0)
149: TJ Langley (WVU) over Daniel Miranda (ASU) (Fall 6:58)
157: No. 3 (149) Kaleb Larkin (ASU) over No. 2 Ty Watters (WVU) (Dec 4-2)
165: No. 18 Nicco Ruiz (ASU) over Shawn Taylor (WVU) (TF 20-4 6:19)
174: No. 20 Brody Conley (WVU) over Cael Valencia (ASU) (Dec 2-0)
184: No. 23 Ian Bush (WVU) over Azizbek Fayzullaev (ASU) (MD 13-1)
197: No. 22 Rune Lawrence (WVU) over Colton Hawks (ASU) (Dec 9-2)
285: No. 19 David Szuba (ASU) over Brock Kehler (WVU) (TF 20-4 6:06)
West Virginia faces California Baptist on Sunday, January 11, at 5 p.m. in Walnut, California. The match will be streamed by FloWrestling.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Redshirt freshman TJ Langley (149) had one of the most important victories of the night for West Virginia (6-2, 1-1 Big 12) as he used a late takedown to win the match by fall over Daniel Miranda.
Langley scored a late escape to break a tie with Miranda in the final seconds of the third period. With the win already secure due to riding time, Langley locked up the win by fall with less than five seconds remaining to earn six points for West Virginia.
It proved to be the difference as the Mountaineers split 10 individual bouts with the Sun Devils, winning five.
Back-to-back wins by the Sun Devils put them in control early. In the 157-pound match, redshirt sophomore No. 2 Ty Watters battled Kaleb Larkin. Larkin, ranked No. 3 at 149 pounds by FloWrestling, moved up a weight class to face Watters.
Despite a late rally in the third period, Watters lost by decision to Larkin, 4-2. This is the first loss for Watters since the 2024 NCAA Tournament, as he was 12-0 this season.
West Virginia quickly rallied to win three of the next four matches. In his first dual match since Nov. 23, redshirt junior No. 20 Brody Conley (174) defeated Cael Valencia by decision, 2-0.
Redshirt junior No. 23 Ian Bush (184) earned his 13th win of the season, defeating Azizbek Fayzullaev by major decision, 13-1.
A win by decision by redshirt freshman No. 22 Rune Lawrence (197) was West Virginia's final victory on the night.
Final Results
125: Louie Gill (WVU) over Ane`e Vigil (ASU) (MD 14-2)
133: No. 5 Kyler Larkin (ASU) over No. 16 Gunner Andrick (WVU) (Dec 7-4)
141: No. 18 Pierson Manville (ASU) over Jordan Titus (WVU) (Dec 2-0)
149: TJ Langley (WVU) over Daniel Miranda (ASU) (Fall 6:58)
157: No. 3 (149) Kaleb Larkin (ASU) over No. 2 Ty Watters (WVU) (Dec 4-2)
165: No. 18 Nicco Ruiz (ASU) over Shawn Taylor (WVU) (TF 20-4 6:19)
174: No. 20 Brody Conley (WVU) over Cael Valencia (ASU) (Dec 2-0)
184: No. 23 Ian Bush (WVU) over Azizbek Fayzullaev (ASU) (MD 13-1)
197: No. 22 Rune Lawrence (WVU) over Colton Hawks (ASU) (Dec 9-2)
285: No. 19 David Szuba (ASU) over Brock Kehler (WVU) (TF 20-4 6:06)
West Virginia faces California Baptist on Sunday, January 11, at 5 p.m. in Walnut, California. The match will be streamed by FloWrestling.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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