Bush Named Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year, First WVU Wrestler to Earn Award

Ian Bush at 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships

March 19, 2026 04:00 PM | Wrestling

By: Charles Montgomery

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Redshirt junior Ian Bush of the West Virginia University wrestling team has been named the Scholar Athlete of the Year for wrestling in the Big 12 Conference for the 2025-26 season.

Bush — a finance and accounting major with a 4.0 GPA — becomes the first Mountaineer wrestler to earn the honor.

His success in the classroom has only been met by his success on the mat. He earned five wins over a ranked opponent to headline a season where he won 20 matches.

Bush's most impressive victory this year came against Oklahoma's No 11 Brian Soldano, as he won by decision, 4-1. Bush also beat Northern Iowa's No. 21 Nick Fox by decision, 8-2, helping the Mountaineers earn their highest win over a ranked opponent under head coach Tim Flynn.

Bush finished third at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships, marking his highest career finish and earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Wrestling Championships.