Big 12 Releases Seedings, Brackets for 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships

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The Big 12 Conference has released the brackets and seeds for the 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships presented by Allstate. Six wrestlers from West Virginia University earned seeds, led by No. 3 seed Jett Strickenberger at 125 pounds. Other seeded Mountaineers include Gunner Andrick (No. 5 at 133 pounds), Ty Watters (No. 4 at 157 pounds), Brody Conley (No. 7 at 174 pounds), Ian Bush (No. 4 at 184 pounds), and Rune Lawrence (No. 7 at 197 pounds). The championships will take place on March 6-7 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Why it matters

The Big 12 Wrestling Championships are a key event for the conference, determining individual champions and qualifying wrestlers for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. West Virginia University has a strong wrestling program, and these seedings indicate the Mountaineers have several contenders who could earn automatic bids to the national tournament.

The details

Six Mountaineers earned seeds for the 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships, with Jett Strickenberger leading the team as the No. 3 seed at 125 pounds. Other seeded Mountaineers include Gunner Andrick (No. 5 at 133 pounds), Ty Watters (No. 4 at 157 pounds), Brody Conley (No. 7 at 174 pounds), Ian Bush (No. 4 at 184 pounds), and Rune Lawrence (No. 7 at 197 pounds). Bush and Lawrence each earned a first-round bye, while Willie McDougald (149 pounds) and Brock Kehler (heavyweight) did not earn seeds and will face the No. 1 overall seeds in their respective weight classes.

• The 2026 Big 12 Wrestling Championships are slated for March 6-7, at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.