KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three members of the West Virginia University wrestling team advance to day two of the NCAA Championships in Kansas City, Missouri.
True freshman
Ty Watters, seeded No. 5 at 149 pounds, entered the second round to battle another Big 12 adversary in No. 21-seed Willie McDougald of Oklahoma, following a 19-4 tech. fall over No. 28-seed Logan Gioffre of Missouri in the first round.
The Imperial, Pennsylvania, native continued his dominance by shutting out McDougald for a 9-0 major decision to advance to the quarterfinals as well as avenge a 8-4 loss earlier in the season to the Sooner. Watters heads into his third consecutive rematch of the tournament against 2023 All-American and No. 4-seed Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech, who he previously met in the finals of the Southeast Open back in November, which also marked the Mountaineer's first competition sporting the Gold and Blue.
Additionally, redshirt freshman
Jordan Titus added a 5-3 decision over two-time All-American and No. 29-seed Clay Carlson of South Dakota State in the first round of consolations, while senior
Peyton Hall will compete in the consolation bracket at 165 pounds after wrestling No. 8-seed Antrell Taylor of Nebraska, where the Cornhusker escaped with a 11-9 decision.
Day two opens with the championship quarterfinals along with the second and third rounds of Wrestlebacks at 12 p.m. ET on ESPNU, before the semifinals take over the show at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
Championship Round 2
149: No. 5
Ty Watters (WVU) major dec. No. 21 Willie McDougald (Oklahoma), 9-0
165: No. 8 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) dec. No. 9
Peyton Hall (WVU), 11-9
Wrestlebacks Round 1
125: No. 30 Elijah Griffin (CBU) won by fall over No. 19
Jett Strickenberger (WVU), [T – 1:41]
141: No. 13
Jordan Titus (WVU) dec. No. 29 Clay Carlson (South Dakota State), 5-3
174: No. 29 Alex Faison (NC State) dec. No. 20
Brody Conley (WVU), 4-3
*No. Seed
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