WASHINGTON - The American University wrestling team fell to #21 West Virginia in the first dual meet of the 2025-26 season on Saturday afternoon, facing four ranked wrestlers from the Big 12 squad. Senior captain #26
Raymond Lopez and redshirt sophomore
Emmanuel Ulrich picked up wins for AU, as the Eagles took six points away from the day.
Notable
- Lopez came from behind to defeat Gunner Andrick, displaying patient and timely wrestling to win 8-5.
- Trailing 4-1 going into the third period, Lopez scored an escape and then a takedown to take a 5-4 lead with just under 90 seconds remaining.
- Andrick responded with an escape of his own to tie the score, but Lopez hustled for the bout-sealing takedown just seconds later. He rode Andrick out for the final 45 seconds of the period to win it 8-5.
- Gage Owen lost a tight matchup with TJ Langley 2-0, only allowing an escape and conceding a point to riding time.
- Austin Craft battled with Shawn Taylor in a match that required sudden victory.
- Both wrestlers scored a takedown and two escapes to be knotted at five points at the end of three periods. Taylor came up with the final takedown in the first sudden victory period to win the bout 8-5
- The heavyweight Ulrich earned his victory with a third period takedown that broke a 1-1 tie against Brock Kehler. The redshirt sophomore commanded the match, finishing the final 55 seconds on top of Kehler.
- Freshman Caleb Close made his collegiate debut at 197, falling to #26 Rune Lawrence.
- Lopez moves to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in duals, while Ulrich is 3-2 and overall and 1-0 duals.
West Virginia (L, 32-6 - Nov. 8, 2025)
- 125 - Louie Gill (WVU) dec. JJ Peace (AU), 7-1 (WVU 3-0)
- 133 - Raymond Lopez (AU) dec. Gunner Andrick (WVU), 8-5 (AU 3-3)
- 141- #29 Jordan Titus (WVU) tech. fall Elijah White (AU), 4:03 (WVU 8-3)
- 149- TJ Langley (WVU) dec. Gage Owen (AU), 2-0 (WVU 11-3)
- 157- #4 Ty Watters (WVU) tech. fall Kaden Milheim, 6:24 (WVU 16-3)
- 165- Shawn Taylor (WVU) dec. Austin Craft (AU) 8-5 SV (WVU 19-3)
- 174- #22 Brody Conley (WVU) tech. fall Hunter Hohman, 6:37 (WVU 24-3)
- 184- #18 Ian Bush(WVU) major dec. Caleb Campos 11-2 (WVU 28-3)
- 197- #26 Rune Lawrance (WVU) major dec. Caleb Close, 8-0 (WVU 32-3)
- 285- Emmanuel Ulrich (AU) dec. Brock Kehler 4-1 (WVU 32-6)
Next Up
- The Eagles are back in dual action next week when they travel to West Lafayette, Indiana for the Boilermaker Duals at Purdue. They'll face Northern Illinois, Buffalo, and Purdue all on Saturday, Nov. 15.
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