No. 18 WVU Wrestling Faces Tough Road Tests Against No. 4 Iowa State, No. 15 Northern Iowa

The Mountaineers look to bounce back from a Big 12 loss as they take on two ranked opponents in Iowa this weekend.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The No. 18 West Virginia University wrestling team will face a challenging road trip this weekend, taking on the No. 4 Iowa State Cyclones on Friday and the No. 15 Northern Iowa Panthers on Saturday. The Mountaineers are coming off a loss against then-No. 20 Missouri in their last Big 12 Conference match, but multiple WVU wrestlers have had strong seasons so far, including No. 8 Jett Strickenberger, No. 16 Gunner Andrick, and No. 7 Ty Watters.

Why it matters

These matches against highly ranked opponents will be a crucial test for the Mountaineers as they look to bounce back from their recent conference defeat and solidify their standing in the national rankings. The outcomes could have significant implications for West Virginia's postseason prospects.

The details

West Virginia (9-4, 4-2 Big 12) will face the Cyclones on Friday at 8 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, on ESPN+. On Saturday, WVU will take on the Panthers at 8 p.m. at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on FloWrestling. The Mountaineers have faced seven ranked teams so far this season, going 2-4 against them. Several WVU wrestlers have had strong individual performances, including Strickenberger, Andrick, and Watters.

  • The matches against Iowa State and Northern Iowa will take place this Friday, February 14, 2026 and Saturday, February 15, 2026, respectively.
  • West Virginia's last match was a loss against then-No. 20 Missouri.

The players

West Virginia University

The No. 18 ranked wrestling team from West Virginia University.

Iowa State Cyclones

The No. 4 ranked wrestling team from Iowa State University.

Northern Iowa Panthers

The No. 15 ranked wrestling team from the University of Northern Iowa.

Jett Strickenberger

A graduate student wrestler for West Virginia University who is ranked No. 8 nationally and has 6 ranked wins this season.

Gunner Andrick

A freshman wrestler for West Virginia University who is ranked No. 16 nationally and leads the team with 19 wins this year.

Ty Watters

A redshirt sophomore wrestler for West Virginia University who is ranked No. 7 nationally and is undefeated against ranked opponents at 7-0.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The outcomes of these matches against Iowa State and Northern Iowa will be crucial in determining West Virginia's standing in the national rankings and their prospects for the postseason.

The takeaway

This weekend's road trip against two highly ranked opponents will be a major test for the No. 18 West Virginia wrestling team as they look to bounce back from their recent conference loss and solidify their position among the nation's elite programs.