MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University wrestling workforce spends the weekend in Oklahoma for a pair of Big 12 street duals, starting in Norman in opposition to Oklahoma at McCasland Field House on Friday, Jan. 20, earlier than colliding with No. 12 Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Sunday, Jan. 22.
Fans can catch all this weekend’s motion on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and observe together with stay stats on Trackwrestling. Times introduced are 8 p.m. ET on Friday and three p.m. on Sunday.
“We are just excited to wrestle two of the most storied programs in college wresting,” fifth yr coach Tim Flynn stated. “Oklahoma was the Big 12 Champion a year or two ago, and Oklahoma State has the most national championships in Division I history, so whenever you can compete against two great programs, it’s an opportunity to step up from where you are.”
Coming off a 22-16 win at Chattanooga, West Virginia (7-1, 1-1 Big 12) appears for its first victory in opposition to the Sooners since 2018, when it doubled up then-No. 18 Oklahoma 24-12 in Morgantown. Oklahoma (6-3, 0-1 Big 12) at present holds a 11-2 benefit in the all-time sequence after West Virginia claimed the primary battle again in 1986.
In the final assembly, then-No. 17 Oklahoma scored a 28-10 victory in WVU’s house opener in November of 2021. A trio of WVU grapplers earned victories in the loss – junior Peyton Hall (165) and redshirt juniors Anthony Carman (184) and Michael Wolfgram (HWT). Wolfgram scored the lone win over a ranked opponent, because the York, Pennsylvania, native outlasted then-No. 17 Josh Heindselman by a 3-2 choice. Heindselman got here again to defeat Wolfgram 5-4 on the Big 12 Championship in March. The pair will seemingly collide as soon as extra at heavyweight on Friday.
The Sooners are led by seventh-year head coach Lou Rosselli, who has guided OU to a 53-44 report and a share of the Big 12 Championship in 2021. Rosselli’s workforce went 3-1 on the forty third version of the Virginia Duals final weekend, with double-digit wins over Campbell, Ohio, and Navy.
Two days later, WVU challenges No. 12 Oklahoma State (6-1, 2-0 Big 12) in the primary assembly since 2020.
Sunday’s contest marks West Virginia’s third in opposition to a nationally ranked opponent and its third Big 12 Conference matchup of the season. The Mountaineers are additionally in search of their first victory over the Cowboys, who maintain a 15-0 report in the all-time sequence since 1927, when OSU competed as Oklahoma A&M.
The Cowboys are led by Thirty second-year coach John Smith, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the second winningest coach in Division I wrestling historical past (468), in addition to the chief amongst lively coaches with coach Flynn sitting thirty eighth and sixth, respectively (251). Smith’s squad has jumped out to a 6-1 report, which features a 25-6 victory over No. 14 Lehigh in their season opener.
In the polls, West Virginia strikes as much as No. 23 in this week’s NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll. The program made its debut in the ballot final week at No. 24, which was its first look in the NWCA Top 25 because the halfway level of the 2015-16 season (January 12, 2016).
Seven Mountaineers stay ranked in the thirteenth version of this season’s FloWrestling rankings – No. 7 Killian Cardinale (125), honorable point out Jordan Titus (141), No. 22 Sam Hillegas (149), No. 8 Peyton Hall (165), honorable mentions Anthony Carman (184) and Austin Cooley (197) and No. 20 Michael Wolfgram (HWT), whereas senior Alex Hornfeck (157) checks in InterMat’s rankings at No. 28.
Eight Sooners enter the twin ranked by FloWrestling – No. 22 Joey Prata (125), honorable point out Wyatt Henson (133), No. 24 Mosha Schwartz (141), No. 23 Mitch Moore (149), No. 17 Gerrit Nijenhuis (165), No. 21 Darrien Roberts (174), honorable point out Keegan Moore (184), and No. 18 Josh Heindselman (HWT), whereas all ten possible starters for the Cowboys are ranked as effectively, together with No. 15 Trevor Mastrogiovanni (125), No. 2 Daton Fix (133), No. 17 Carter Young (141), honorable point out Victor Voinovich (149), No. 11 Kaden Gfeller (157), No. 21 Wyatt Sheets (165), No. 5 Dustin Plott (174), No. 12 Travis Wittlake (184), and honorable mentions Luke Surber (197) and Konner Doucet (HWT).
Of be aware, WVU’s 7-1 total report matches the 1950, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1972, and 1990 Mountaineer squads for one of the best begin by means of eight duals.
For extra information on the Mountaineers, go to WVUsports.com and observe WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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