The West Virginia University gymnastics (4-6, 0-2 Big 12) and wrestling teams (10-5, 2-5 Big 12) returned to the WVU Coliseum for the Beauty and The Beast meet on Sunday.
Gymnastics hosted Big 12 rivals Denver and Iowa State, while wrestling competed against Glenville State. WVU wrestling picked up a dominant win, while gymnastics lost, but posted a season-high team score.
Both teams competed simultaneously, with the No. 17 Mountaineer wrestling team secured a win of 42-3 over Glenville, but the gymnastics team fell third with a total score of 195.20.
No. 22 Jett Strickenberg opened for wrestling, putting the Mountaineers on the board with a 16-1 tech fall over So. Hunter Ross (GSU). Further performances from No. 7 Ty Watters and No 8. Peyton Hall at 149 and 165, furthered the team to a 20-point lead.
The Mountaineers strong overall performance was solidified in the last two matches by Jr. Austin Cooley and r-Sr. Michael Wolfgram, both winning by major decision.
Suffering a different outcome, the gymnastics team fell last in their conference meet but managed to achieve a season high team score. Fifth-year Abbie Pierson and Jr. Amber Lowe accomplished career highs on the floor, both scoring above a 9.8.
Although strong performances in both the vault and beam events, the Mountaineers fell short to both No. 7 Denver and No. 24 Iowa State. In this week’s Road to Nationals rankings, the West Virginia gymnastics team is currently ranked No. 52, with a season average of 194.454.
West Virginia achieved a season-high on floor, with a score of 49.250, but bars is where the Moiuntaineers cost themselves the most, with a team score of 48.475. WVU’s team score finished third at 195.250, behind Iowa State at 195.675, and then Denver in first at, 197.350.
With both the gymnastics and wrestling regular seasons in their latter stages, the wrestling team is next in action at the Big 12 Championship on Mar. 9, while the gymnastics team faces No. 15 Minnesota on Mar. 17.
