Saturday, February 14
Cedar Falls, Iowa
8 p.m.
West Virginia University
23
at
13
No. 15 Northern Iowa
WVU Earns First Top 15 Win Under Flynn, Knocks Off No. 15 Northern Iowa on the Road
February 14, 2026 10:43 PM | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 18 West Virginia University wrestling team defeated No. 15 Northern Iowa, 23-13, on Saturday at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
With the victory, West Virginia (10-5, 5-3 Big 12) eclipsed 10 dual wins for the fourth consecutive season, for the first time since 1985-88, and just the second time in program history. The win also marks the highest-ranked win for the Mountaineers under head coach Tim Flynn.
Furthermore, it is West Virginia's first win in 10 tries against Northern Iowa in a series dating back to 1982.
Starting the match at 141 pounds, redshirt senior Jordan Titus was the first Mountaineer to hit the mat. He battled with No. 26 Max Brady, earning the upset with a win by decision for his 90th career victory.
In the 149-pound bout, graduate student Willie McDougald returned to the mat to face Ethan Basile. In just his second dual appearance in 2026, McDougald was in control throughout. Two takedowns in the opening period proved to be the difference, as he won by decision, 7-3.
Following McDougald, redshirt sophomore No. 7 Ty Watters rebounded from a loss against Iowa State on Friday to win by major decision.
Northern Iowa would go on to take the next two bouts to get on the board as West Virginia led, 10-7, halfway through the dual. Over the course of the next five bouts, West Virginia earned three victories to lock up the dual.
Redshirt junior No. 22 Ian Bush wrapped up his weekend with his second victory. He defeated No. 21 Nick Fox, marking his fourth win over a ranked opponent and his fifth against a Big 12 wrestler.
The tide turned for the Mountaineers in the 197-pound bout with a disqualification for Northern Iowa's Carson Babcock. An illegal slam gave redshirt sophomore No. 14 Rune Lawrence the victory and earned six team points for West Virginia.
Following a loss by decision for graduate student No. 8 Jett Strickenberger to No. 23 Trever Anderson, the Mountaineers turned to the sensational freshman, No. 16 Gunner Andrick, to finish the night.
Andrick left no doubt, scoring three takedowns and a four-point nearfall to win by major decision over No. 17 Julian Farber, 15-1. Andrick improves to 8-2 in the Big 12 and has seven wins over ranked wrestlers.
Full Results
141: Jordan Titus (WVU) over No. 26 Max Brady (UNI) (Dec 8-5)
149: Willie McDougald (WVU) over Ethan Basile (UNI) (Dec 7-3)
157: No. 7 Ty Watters (WVU) over Cael Rahnavardi (UNI) (MD 14-2)
165: No. 6 Ryder Downey (UNI) over Sasha Gavronsky (WVU) (MD 12-1)
174: No. 14 Jared Simma (UNI) over No. 17 Brody Conley (WVU) (Dec 8-5)
184: No. 22 Ian Bush (WVU) over No. 21 Nick Fox (UNI) (Dec 8-2)
197: No. 14 Rune Lawrence (WVU) over Carson Babcock (UNI) (DQ)
HWT: No. 28 Adam Ahrendsen (UNI) over Brock Kehler (WVU) (Dec 8-3)
125: No. 23 Trever Anderson (UNI) over No. 8 Jett Strickenberger (WVU) (Dec 8-7)
133: No. 16 Gunner Andrick (WVU) over No. 17 Julian Farber (UNI) (MD 15-1)
West Virginia finishes the regular season on the road against Lock Haven on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m.
With the victory, West Virginia (10-5, 5-3 Big 12) eclipsed 10 dual wins for the fourth consecutive season, for the first time since 1985-88, and just the second time in program history. The win also marks the highest-ranked win for the Mountaineers under head coach Tim Flynn.
Furthermore, it is West Virginia's first win in 10 tries against Northern Iowa in a series dating back to 1982.
In the 149-pound bout, graduate student Willie McDougald returned to the mat to face Ethan Basile. In just his second dual appearance in 2026, McDougald was in control throughout. Two takedowns in the opening period proved to be the difference, as he won by decision, 7-3.
Following McDougald, redshirt sophomore No. 7 Ty Watters rebounded from a loss against Iowa State on Friday to win by major decision.
Northern Iowa would go on to take the next two bouts to get on the board as West Virginia led, 10-7, halfway through the dual. Over the course of the next five bouts, West Virginia earned three victories to lock up the dual.
Redshirt junior No. 22 Ian Bush wrapped up his weekend with his second victory. He defeated No. 21 Nick Fox, marking his fourth win over a ranked opponent and his fifth against a Big 12 wrestler.
The tide turned for the Mountaineers in the 197-pound bout with a disqualification for Northern Iowa's Carson Babcock. An illegal slam gave redshirt sophomore No. 14 Rune Lawrence the victory and earned six team points for West Virginia.
Following a loss by decision for graduate student No. 8 Jett Strickenberger to No. 23 Trever Anderson, the Mountaineers turned to the sensational freshman, No. 16 Gunner Andrick, to finish the night.
Andrick left no doubt, scoring three takedowns and a four-point nearfall to win by major decision over No. 17 Julian Farber, 15-1. Andrick improves to 8-2 in the Big 12 and has seven wins over ranked wrestlers.
Full Results
141: Jordan Titus (WVU) over No. 26 Max Brady (UNI) (Dec 8-5)
149: Willie McDougald (WVU) over Ethan Basile (UNI) (Dec 7-3)
157: No. 7 Ty Watters (WVU) over Cael Rahnavardi (UNI) (MD 14-2)
165: No. 6 Ryder Downey (UNI) over Sasha Gavronsky (WVU) (MD 12-1)
174: No. 14 Jared Simma (UNI) over No. 17 Brody Conley (WVU) (Dec 8-5)
184: No. 22 Ian Bush (WVU) over No. 21 Nick Fox (UNI) (Dec 8-2)
197: No. 14 Rune Lawrence (WVU) over Carson Babcock (UNI) (DQ)
HWT: No. 28 Adam Ahrendsen (UNI) over Brock Kehler (WVU) (Dec 8-3)
125: No. 23 Trever Anderson (UNI) over No. 8 Jett Strickenberger (WVU) (Dec 8-7)
133: No. 16 Gunner Andrick (WVU) over No. 17 Julian Farber (UNI) (MD 15-1)
West Virginia finishes the regular season on the road against Lock Haven on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m.
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