West Virginia has had a great winter season. Some were surprises, but others matched the expectations made before the season began.
Let us begin with the best sport West Virginia currently has. The Rifle team is #1 in the nation, with their most recent win being against third-ranked Kentucky 4749-4716. This victory gave the Mountaineers their 16th GARC title after finishing the year with a perfect 5-0 record in conference play.
The team is led by Lauri Syrja, who just became the 10th WVU Athlete to score a perfect 600 in a match. Their next match will be the NCAA tournament qualifiers on Feb. 22, where the Mountaineers are projected to come out on top.
When talking about meeting expectations made before the season. WVU wrestling has done that this year. They are currently the 20th-ranked team in the country but have struggled in conference matches in recent weeks. The Mountaineers are 3-6 in conference play after their tough loss at the hands of Wyoming on Saturday night.
WVU is led by Peyton Hall, who is currently the 6th-ranked 165-pounder in the nation. The wrestling program has had its ups and downs the last 5 years but has the chance this year to have one of their best finishes in tournament play.
The Men’s and Women’s basketball teams have had different seasons, each with their own expectations before the year began.
Head Coach Mark Kellogg and the lady Mountaineers have matched expectations set before the season. After a tough loss to Caitlin Clark in the NCAA tournament last season, WVU came into this year ranked as a top 25 team in the country. After recent struggles on the road in conference play the Mountaineers find themselves on the bubble of this ranking.
The Lady Mountaineers are 19-5, currently ranked 6th in the Big 12. They are still looking for that signature victory to boost them in the rankings. WVU is led by JJ Quinerly who is averaging 19.5 points per game, and is making a case for All-Big 12 honors.
The Men’s basketball team has easily exceeded expectations so far this season. They began the year defeating No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 24 Arizona in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. They have also had key victories over No. 7 Kansas and No. 2 Iowa State in conference play.
The Mountaineers currently hold a 15-9 record and are led by Jevon Small who scores 18.9 points per game. Small has emerged as a leader for this team and one of the best players in the Big 12.
Even with recent struggles, the Mountaineers have done an incredible job in head coach Darian DeVries’s first year. The team was projected to finish last in the Big 12 to open the year, and now find themselves in the middle of the pack, and on the bubble for the NCAA tournament.
Last but certainly not least, the WVU gymnastics team has had a great season thus far. They just recently scored a season-high 195.47 in their last meet and have shown improvement all year. They are led by fifth-year senior Trinity Macy’s, who dominates on bars and vault for the Mountaineers.
West Virginia winter sports has had a great season so far. With multiple teams ranked in the top 25 and multiple right on the bubble. This is shaping up to be an entertaining end of the year for all sports and fans as tournament play approaches.
