MORGANTOWN – The No. 22 West Virginia University wrestling team fell to the No. 18 Pittsburgh Panthers as the Backyard Brawl hit the mat in Morgantown for a Sunday matinee inside the WVU Coliseum.
The Panthers defeated the Mountaineers 25-17, winning six of the ten bouts in the match.
WVU held an 11-0 advantage after winning the opening three matches of the night at 125, 133, and 141 pounds. But the Panthers rallied to win six out of the final seven bouts, overtaking the Mountaineers in the penultimate match at 197 pounds and sealing the deal in the finale at heavyweight.
“The match started great for us at those lighter weights, and a few of those guys picked up good wins,” WVU head coach Tim Flynn said. “Jett (Strickenberger), Mason (Kernan), and Jordan (Titus) all showed what they are capable of against quality opponents. Overall, Pitt was a little bit better today. They’re a good team and a good program, which shows in how they compete.”
The Mountaineers picked up wins, with senior Jett Strickenberger earning his second-consecutive victory over a ranked opponent to begin the contest at 125 pounds.
Freshman Mason Kernan put on an impressive performance at 133 pounds with a 12-1 major decision victory over Pitt’s Matt Marlow.
Redshirt junior No. 32 Jordan Titus got himself back in the win column by defeating Anthony Santaniello by decision in the 141-pound bout.
Pitt then earned a major decision victory at 149 pounds and a technical fall at 157 pounds to cut the Mountaineer lead to 11-9.
WVU fifth-year senior Peyton Hall ranked third in the country in the 165-pound weight class, got WVU back on the board with an opening-round pin. The victory was Hall’s 20th win of the season and the 120th of his WVU career, moving him into a tie for second all-time in program history for wins.
“I’m just taking it one match at a time, trying to take everything in as it comes and have fun,” Hall said. “Making sure to enjoy my last year is important to me and we still have a lot of wrestling in front of us.”
The Mountaineers will return to action on the road against Oklahoma on Friday, January 17, at 7:00 p.m.
Full Results
125: Jett Strickenberger (WVU) major dec. No. 19 Nick Babin (PITT),9-0
133: Mason Kernan (WVU) major dec. Matt Marlow (PITT), 12-1
141: No. 32 Jordan Titus WVU) dec. Anthony Santaniello (PITT), 3-1
149: Kade Brown (PITT) major dec. Sam Hillegas (WVU), 21-11
157: No. 27 Dylan Evans (PITT) tech. fall over Sasha Gavronsky (WVU), 21-6
165: No. 3 Peyton Hall (WVU) won by fall over Jared Keslar (PITT) [T – 2:46]
174: No. 18 Luca Augustine (PITT) dec. No. 29 Brody Conley (WVU), 4-2
184: No. 12 Reece Heller (PITT) dec. No. 23 Dennis Robin (WVU), 11-4
197: No. 14 Mac Stout (PITT) major dec. Ian Bush (WVU), 13-3
HWT: No. 15 Dayton Pitzer (PITT) won by fall over Michael Wolfgram (WVU) [T – 5:33]
