
Watters Wrestles at 165 Pounds, No. 17 West Virginia Rallies to Beat Lock Haven
February 21, 2026 08:19 PM | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 17 West Virginia University wrestling team defeated Lock Haven, 21-15, to finish the regular season on Saturday at Thomas Fieldhouse in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.
Despite losing the first three bouts, West Virginia (11-5, 5-3 Big 12) rallied to earn its 11th win of the regular season, marking the team's most wins in a season under head coach Tim Flynn. West Virginia also has its most wins in a single season since 2014. After a rough start, West Virginia turned it around in the heavyweight bout, leaning on freshman Brock Kehler.
After seven minutes, Kehler was tied with Kade Sottolano to send it to overtime. In the final seconds of the first overtime period, Kehler scored a takedown to win the battle. That began a streak for the Mountaineers as they won at 125 and 133 pounds.
In the 125-pound bout, redshirt sophomore Louie Gill earned a win by decision over Curtis Nelson, 11-6. A late takedown by Nelson stole a major decision from Gill, only cutting West Virginia's deficit to three instead of two.
In the final dual of the regular season, freshman No. 15 Gunner Andrick flashed the talent he has shown all season. In just two minutes of action, Andrick won by fall for the third time this year to give West Virginia its first lead at 12-9. Andrick ends the regular season winning eight consecutive bouts.
Back-to-back wins for Lock Haven put it ahead, 15-12, with just two bouts remaining. Freshman Cole Evans took the mat for the Mountaineers for just the second time this season in a dual at 157 pounds.
Taking advantage of a takedown and a two-point nearfall in the third period, Evans earned the win by major decision, 9-0, to put the Mountaineers ahead, 16-15.
Needing a win in the final bout to secure the most wins in a single season in over a decade for WVU, Flynn turned to the stellar redshirt sophomore Ty Watters.
Wrestling at 165 pounds for the first time this year, Watters faced Nick Kunstek. Despite a different weight class, Watters didn't blink. He scored six takedowns to win by technical fall, 20-4, locking up the victory for the Mountaineers.
After stumbling with two losses before the winter break, West Virginia returned to competition in 2026, finishing 6-3 down the stretch.
Full Results
174: No. 31 Avery Bassett (LH) over No. 17 Brody Conley (WVU) (Dec 12-5)
184: Sam Gautreau (LH) over No. 21 Ian Bush (WVU) (Dec 14-8)
197: Tucker Hogan (LH) over Brian Finnerty (WVU) (Dec 2-0)
285: Brock Kehler (WVU) over Kade Sottolano (LH) (SV-1 4-1)
125: Louie Gill (WVU) over Curtis Nelson (LH) (Dec 11-6)
133: No. 15 Gunner Andrick (WVU) over Sean Logue (LH) (Fall 2:00)
141: No. 28 Wyatt Henson (LH) over No. 31 Jordan Titus (WVU) (Dec 5-0)
149: Lucas Kapusta (LH) over Willie McDougald (WVU) (SV-1 6-5)
157: Cole Evans (WVU) over Chase Burke (LH) (MD 9-0)
165: Ty Watters (WVU) over Nick Kunstek (LH) (TF 20-4 6:43)
The Mountaineers will compete at the 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 6-7.
Despite losing the first three bouts, West Virginia (11-5, 5-3 Big 12) rallied to earn its 11th win of the regular season, marking the team's most wins in a season under head coach Tim Flynn. West Virginia also has its most wins in a single season since 2014. After a rough start, West Virginia turned it around in the heavyweight bout, leaning on freshman Brock Kehler.
After seven minutes, Kehler was tied with Kade Sottolano to send it to overtime. In the final seconds of the first overtime period, Kehler scored a takedown to win the battle. That began a streak for the Mountaineers as they won at 125 and 133 pounds.
In the 125-pound bout, redshirt sophomore Louie Gill earned a win by decision over Curtis Nelson, 11-6. A late takedown by Nelson stole a major decision from Gill, only cutting West Virginia's deficit to three instead of two.
In the final dual of the regular season, freshman No. 15 Gunner Andrick flashed the talent he has shown all season. In just two minutes of action, Andrick won by fall for the third time this year to give West Virginia its first lead at 12-9. Andrick ends the regular season winning eight consecutive bouts.
Back-to-back wins for Lock Haven put it ahead, 15-12, with just two bouts remaining. Freshman Cole Evans took the mat for the Mountaineers for just the second time this season in a dual at 157 pounds.
Taking advantage of a takedown and a two-point nearfall in the third period, Evans earned the win by major decision, 9-0, to put the Mountaineers ahead, 16-15.
Needing a win in the final bout to secure the most wins in a single season in over a decade for WVU, Flynn turned to the stellar redshirt sophomore Ty Watters.
Wrestling at 165 pounds for the first time this year, Watters faced Nick Kunstek. Despite a different weight class, Watters didn't blink. He scored six takedowns to win by technical fall, 20-4, locking up the victory for the Mountaineers.
After stumbling with two losses before the winter break, West Virginia returned to competition in 2026, finishing 6-3 down the stretch.
Full Results
174: No. 31 Avery Bassett (LH) over No. 17 Brody Conley (WVU) (Dec 12-5)
184: Sam Gautreau (LH) over No. 21 Ian Bush (WVU) (Dec 14-8)
197: Tucker Hogan (LH) over Brian Finnerty (WVU) (Dec 2-0)
285: Brock Kehler (WVU) over Kade Sottolano (LH) (SV-1 4-1)
125: Louie Gill (WVU) over Curtis Nelson (LH) (Dec 11-6)
133: No. 15 Gunner Andrick (WVU) over Sean Logue (LH) (Fall 2:00)
141: No. 28 Wyatt Henson (LH) over No. 31 Jordan Titus (WVU) (Dec 5-0)
149: Lucas Kapusta (LH) over Willie McDougald (WVU) (SV-1 6-5)
157: Cole Evans (WVU) over Chase Burke (LH) (MD 9-0)
165: Ty Watters (WVU) over Nick Kunstek (LH) (TF 20-4 6:43)
The Mountaineers will compete at the 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 6-7.
Players Mentioned
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