TABLE OF CONTENTS RIFLE 21-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Message from Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker.................. 2 2025-26 Athletics Year in Review..............................................................3 Coaching Awards and Recognition...........................................................4 Conference Major Award Winners............................................................4 Conference Scholar-Athlete Award Winner...............................................4 College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans...........................4 All-Americans...........................................................................................5 Draft Picks and Signings...........................................................................6 National and Regional Awards and Recognition.......................................6 Conference Award Winners.......................................................................7 NCAA Individual Qualifiers.......................................................................7 All-Conference Selections.........................................................................7 Academic Awards.....................................................................................8 WVU Athletics Posts Record Year............................................................12 WVU Coliseum Renamed Hope Coliseum................................................14 Baseball Caps Historic Season in College World Series............................16 WVU Serves as Host of Four NCAA Events..............................................18 Facilities Projects Progressing.................................................................20
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
Baseball.................................................................................................22 Cross Country.........................................................................................24 Football..................................................................................................26 Golf........................................................................................................28 Gymnastics.............................................................................................30 Men’s Basketball....................................................................................32 Men’s Soccer..........................................................................................34 Rifle........................................................................................................36 Rowing...................................................................................................38 Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving............................................40 Tennis.....................................................................................................44 Track and Field.......................................................................................46 Volleyball...............................................................................................48 Women’s Basketball...............................................................................50 Women’s Soccer.....................................................................................52 Wrestling................................................................................................54 Athletics Staff Listing..............................................................................56 WVUAthletics
@WVUSports
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A MESSAGE FROM
WREN BAKER
VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
West Virginia University Athletics turned in a special year in 2025-26, and it is with great pride that I present this Annual Report to Mountaineer fans all over the world. As you will see in the coming pages, our department had one of its biggest years in its history not only on the field, but in the classroom and in growing what is already a well-known, worldwide brand. Our student-athletes love to wear the West Virginia name and Flying WV on their uniforms; they know we represent Mountaineers all over the world, and they do not take this responsibility lightly. This report serves as a historical tool to document the yearly results of our athletic department and the accomplishments of our student-athletes. Below are some of the highlights. Rifle won a nation’s-best 21st national championship in the sport. Congratulations to coach Jon Hammond and his team on bringing the national championship trophy back home where it belongs for the second straight year. West Virginia baseball made an historic, first-ever appearance in the College World Series. What a great accomplishment for second-year coach Steve Sabins. With three Super Regional appearances in a row and two wins this year in the College World Series, Mountaineer baseball has brought a lot of pride to our University. For the first time ever, our department served as host of four NCAA Regionals with women’s soccer, men’s soccer, women’s basketball and baseball all bringing fans to our great state. The economic boon those NCAA regionals provided to the state and local economies cannot be overlooked as thousands upon thousands of fans showed up for postseason action. West Virginia University is a driving force for the state, and our department is proud to be a part of that momentum. We secured a naming rights deal for one of the most iconic buildings on campus with the renaming of the WVU Coliseum to Hope Coliseum. We found a great partner in Hope Gas that cares about our state and its well-being. We look forward to many years of success with Hope Gas beside us. We have also moved the needle on other facility projects in the last year. Premium seating is being added to Hope Coliseum in time for the 2026-27 campaign, and we are moving forward with a new press box tower at Milan Puskar Stadium with plans to begin construction after the 2026 football season. Both venues lack sufficient premium seating, and the two additions will provide new revenue streams that are vital in today’s world of college athletics.
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There is more growth and improvement to come. We continue to be committed to full revenue share that is permissible by the NCAA under the House settlement so we can provide our fans with the team success they deserve. I want to thank Mountaineer Nation for stepping up big time in helping us secure the best fundraising year in our department’s history. We will continue to work every day to make you proud Off the field on the academic side, our department continues to excel, matching its highest APR score ever (991) with a 96% graduate rate, which was second in the Big 12, and more than 100 student-athletes received academic all-conference accolades. It is also important to note that our department registered its highest cumulative GPA ever among our 18 varsity sports at 3.38, marking our 15th straight year with an overall department GPA greater than 3.0. Also, more than 400 student-athletes made the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and 127 earned their WVU degrees. No doubt there is a lot of new and positive energy in our department, and we must keep it going. I strongly believe that the 2025-26 athletic season will go down in history as a springboard for even more great athletic and academic success for years to come. Please take some time to look over this Annual Report. It was a great year, and I think you will enjoy reliving the success we all shared in 2025-26. Let’s Go!
Wren Baker Vice President and Director of Athletics West Virginia University
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
YEAR IN REVIEW BASEBALL:
47-17, 20-6 Big 12; College World Series Semifinalist MEN’S BASKETBALL:
21-14 overall, 9-9 Big 12, finished seventh in the Big 12, College Basketball Crown WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:
28-7 overall, 14-4 Big 12, Big 12 Conference Tournament champions, NCAA Second Round
RIFLE:
18-1, 5-0 GARC; National Champions; GARC Regular Season and Tournament Champions MEN’S SOCCER:
13-5-3, 7-0-2 Sun Belt; NCAA 2nd Round WOMEN’S SOCCER:
14-3-4, 8-0-3 Big 12; 2nd in Big 12; NCAA Second Round MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING:
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BIG 12 TOURNAMENT CHAMPS
CROSS COUNTRY: 3-2; 7th at Big 12 Championships
3rd at Big 12 Championships, 1st at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, 9th at WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND NCAA Championships DIVING: 3-4; 10th at Big 12 Championships FOOTBALL:
4-8, 2-7 Big 12
WOMEN’S TENNIS:
8-17, 2-11 Big 12; 15th in Big 12
GOLF: TRACK AND FIELD:
15th at Big 12 Championship; 8th at NCAA Marana Regional GYMNASTICS:
9-14, 1-5 Big 12; 6th at Big 12 Championship ROWING:
4th at Big 12 Championship
4th at Big 12 Indoor Championships; 13th at Big 12 Outdoor Championships VOLLEYBALL:
15-15, 3-15 Big 12 WRESTLING:
11-5, 5-3 Big 12; 5th at Big 12 Championships; T23rd at NCAA Championships
Team National Champions
Team Conference Champions
Final Team Rankings
NCAA Team Qualifiers
Rifle
Baseball (No. 4 in all major polls) Men’s Soccer (No. 16 United Soccer Coaches) Rifle (No. 4 CRCA) Women’s Basketball (No. 18 in AP Poll and No. 16 in Coaches Poll) Women’s Soccer (No. 19 United Soccer Coaches) Wrestling (No. 16 in the NWCA Coaches Poll)
Rifle (Regular Season and Tournament) Women’s Basketball (Tournament) Baseball Cross Country Golf Rifle Women’s Basketball Women’s Soccer Men’s Soccer Wrestling
ational Champions
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
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CONFERENCE MAJOR AWARD WINNERS
MARCUS CALDEIRA
JORDAN HARRISON
Men’s Soccer
Women’s Basketball
Sun Belt Player of Year and Offensive Player of the Year
COLLEGE SPORTS COMMUNICATORS ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
GRIFFIN LAKE
Rifle
Big 12 Defensive Player of GARC Championships the Year Most Outstanding Performerr
MAXX YEHL
Baseball Big 12 Pitcher of the Year
MARCUS CALDEIRA
Men’s Soccer First Team
IAN KORN
Baseball Second Team
EDWARD VESTERINEN
Football Second Team
SCHOLAR-AHLETES OF THE YEAR
MARCUS CALDEIRA
IAN BUSH
MARCUS CALDEIRA
JENNIFER KOCHER
Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year
CSC Academic AllAmerican of the Year
GARC Scholar-Athelte of the Year
Wrestling
Men’s Soccer
Rifle
COACHING HONORS AND AWARDS
SEAN CLEARY
STEVE SABINS
Mid-Atlantic Women’s Coach of the Year
NCBWA National Coach of the Year; ABCA East Region Coach of the Year
Cross Country/Indoor Track & Field
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Baseball
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
ALL-AMERICANS UNANIMOUS
CONSENSUS
FIRST TEAM
MAXX YEHL
GAVIN KELLY
MARCUS CALDEIRA
Baseball
Baseball
Men’s Soccer
SECOND TEAM
MERCY KINYANJUI
Outfoor Track & Field - 3,000 Meter Steeplechase
CHANSEN COLE
GAVIN KELLY
JENNIFE KOCHER
Baseball
Baseball
Rifle - Smallbore THIRD TEAM
MAXX YEHL
GRIFFIN LAKE
Rifle - Aggregate/ Smallbore/Air Rifle)
JOY NAUKOT
Cross Country; Indoor Track - 5,000 Meters; Outdoor Track 10,000 Meters
TY WATTERS
Wrestling - 157 pounds
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
ANNISHKA MCDONALD
MAXX YEHL
Outdoor Track & Field - Baseball High Jump
TAYLOR WHITE
MAXX YEHL
Women’s Soccer
Baseball
JENNIFER KOCHER
JACK OGOREUC
HONORABLE MENTION
ASHLYN BLAKE
CAMRYN CAMP
Rifle - Air Rifle
Rifle - Smallbore
WVUAthletics
Rifle- Air Rifle/ Aggregate
@WVUSports
Rifle - Smallbore
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AWARDS AND HONORS HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICANS
Ashlyn Blake,Rifle (Air Rifle) Camryn Camp, Rifle (Smallbore) Jennifer Kocher, Rifle (Air Rifle/Aggregate) Jack Ogoreuc, Rifle (Smallbore)
PROFESSIONAL DRAFT PICKS & SIGNINGS Reese Bassinger, Baseball (Free Agent, Toronto Blue Jays) Michael Coats Jr., Football (Free Agent, Cleveland Browns, NFL) Carston Estridge, Baseball (Free Agent, Houston Astros) Felix Ewald, Men’s Soccer (Free Agent, Real Monarchs, MLS Next Pro) Jordan Harrison, Women’s Basketball (Free Agent, Portland Fire, WNBA) Ian Korn, Baseball (10th Round/298th overall, San Francisco Giants, MLB) Dawson Montesas, Baseball (Competitive Balance-B Round/72nd overall, St. Louis Cardinals, MLB) Paul Schoenfeld, Baseball (Eighth Round/236th overall, Arizona Diamondbacks, MLB) Roxanne Vilain, Women’s Soccer (Free Agent, Le Mans FC, Ligue 1) Taylor White, Women’s Soccer (Free Agent, Racing Louisville FC, NWSL) Maxx Yehl, Baseball (Third Round/91st overall, Kansas City Royals, MLB)
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NATIONAL AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Jordan Harrison, Women’s Basketball (Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist, Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Midseason Watchlist) Gavin Kelly, Baseball, Golden Spikes Award Semifinalis; Dick Howser Tropy Semifinalist Griffin Lake, Rifle (NCAA Championships Most Outstanding Performer) Maxx Yehl, Baseball National Pitcher of the Year Finalist; Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist
Mercy Kinyanjui, Cross Country (All MidAtlantic Region Team) Maddie Levy, Women’s Soccer (United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region Fourth Team) Joy Naukot, Cross Country (USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Women’s Athlete of the Year, All Mid-Atlantic Region Team Pablo Pozos, Men’s Soccer (United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Second Team) Taylor White, Women’s Soccer (United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region First Team)
Maxx Yehl, Baseball (ABCA East All-Region First Team, NCWBA District Two CoPlayer of the Year))
CONFERENCE MAJOR AWARDS Marcus Caldeira, Men’s Soccer (Sun Belt Player of the Year, Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year) Jordan Harrison, Women’s Basketball (Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year) Griffin Lake, Rifle (GARC Championships Most Outstanding Performer) Maxx Yehl, Baseball (Big 12 Pitcher of the Year)
INDIVIDUAL NCAA REGION CHAMPION Joy Naukot, Cross Country
REGIONAL AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Emily Bryce, Cross Country (All MidAtlantic Region Team) Marcus Caldeira, Men’s Soccer (United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region First Team) Chansen Cole, Baseball (ABCA East AllRegion Second Team) Carlos Hernando, Men’s Soccer (United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Second Team) Honor Huff, Men’s Basketball (NABC East Region First Team) Nyema Ingleton, Women’s Soccer (United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region Third Team) Gavin Kelly, Baseball (ABCA East AllRegion Second Team, NCWBA District Two Co-Player of the Year) Ian Korn, Baseball (ABCA All-East Regiona Second Team)
JORDAN HARRISON
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
NCAA QUALIFIERS
Gunner Andrick, Wrestling Ian Bush, Wrestling Levi Hellmann, Men’s Swimming and Diving Mercy Kinyanjui, Outdoor Track and Field Rune Lawrence, Wrestling Amber Lowe, Gymnastics Annishka McDonald, Outdoor Track and Field Joy Naukot, Indoor Track and Field and Outdoor Track and FIeld Sophia Rice, Gymnastics Emerson Smith, Gymnastics Jett Strickenberger, Wrestling Jordan Titus, Wrestling Ty Watters, Wrestling
ALL-CONFERENCE (LEAGUE ONLY) FIRST TEAM
Levi Hellmann, Men’s Swimming and Diving Ashlyn Blake, Rifle (air rifle) Jennifer Kocher, Rifle (air rifle, smallbore, aggregate) Jordan Harrison, Women’s Basketball Taylor White, Women’s Soccer Joy Naukot, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field and Cross Country Mary Delaney, Indoor Track and Field Emily Bryce, Outdoor Track and Field and Cross Country Anastasia Chepkorir, Outdoor Track and Field Olivia Cress, Indoor Track and Field Lily Haught, Indoor Track and Field Annishka McDonald, Indoor Track and Field Kishay Rowe, Indoor Track and Field Mercy Kinyanjui, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field and Cross Country Chansen Cole, Baseball Gavin Kelly, Baseball Ian Korn, Baseball Maxx Yehl, Baseball
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
Marcus Caldeira, Men’s Soccer Pablo Pozos, Men’s Soccer SECOND TEAM
Ashlyn Blake, Rifle (combined) Camryn Camp, Rifle (air rifle) Anna Hauer, Women’s Soccer Carlos Hernando, Men’s Soccer Nyema Ingleton, Women’s Soccer Maddie Levy, Women’s Soccer Nacho Martinez, Men’s soccer Rafael Mimoso, Men’s Swimming and Diving Oceanne Mueller, Rifle (air rifle) Paul Schoenfeld, Baseball Trinity Sheridan, Volleyball Abigail Sullivan, Women’s Swimming and Diving Natasha Whittall, Women’s Swimming and Diving Jacob Wisman, Rifle (smallbore) FOURTH TEAM
Edward Vesterinen, Football FRESHMAN TEAM
Juan Alvarez, Men’s Soccer Ava Arnold, Women’s Soccer Kayla Smith, Gymnastics Sammie Walker, Men’s Soccer HONORABLE MENTION
Reese Bassinger, Baseball Camryn Camp, Rifle (smallbore, combined) Gia Cooke, Women’s Basketball Carson Estridge, Baseball Armani Guzman, Baseball Honor Huff, Men’s Basketball Matt Ineich, Baseball Oceanne Mueller, Rifle (smallbore, combined) Sean Smith, Baseball Lauri Syrja, Rifle (smallbore, air rifle, combined) Meme Wheeler, Women’s Basketball Jacob Wisman, Rifle (combined)
BIG 12 SPECIALITY TEAM
Scotty Fox Jr., Football (Offensive Freshman of the Year Honorable Mention) Jordan Harrison, Women’s Basketball (AllBig 12 Defensive Team/2x Big 12 Starting Five) Honor Huff, Men’s Basketball (Big 12 Starting Five) Nick Krahe, Football (Offensive Line Honorable Mention) Fred Perry, Football (Defensive Newcomer of the Year Honorable Mention) Sydney Shaw, Women’s Basketball (Big 12 Starting Five/Celsius Women’s 3-point Championship participant) Kayla Smith, Gymnastics (All-Big 12 AllAround Team) Edward Vesterinen, Football (Defensive Line Honorable Mention) Sydney Woodley, Women’s Basketball (Big 12 Starting Five)
ALL-TOURNAMENT PERFORMERS
Anna Barr, Volleyball, Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team LonDynn Betts, Volleyball Dolphin Classic MVP Chansen Cole, Baseball, Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team Gia Cooke, Women’s Basketball, Baha Mar All-Tournament Team Armani Guzman, Baseball, Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team, Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team Tyrus Hall, Baseball, Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team, Men’s College World Series All-Tournament Team Jordan Harrison, Big 12 Conference Championship Most Outstanding Performer and All-Tournament Team Nina Horning, Volleyball, Dolphin Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team, WVU Invitational All-Tournament Team WVUAthletics
HONOR HUFF
Honor Huff, Men’s Basketball, College Basketball Crown MVP Laila Ibrahim, Volleyball, Liberty Tournament All-Tournament Team Gavin Kelly, Baseball, Morgantown Regional Most Outstanding Player Brenen Lorient, College Basketball Crown All-Tournament Team Ben Lumsden, Baseball, Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team Maddy McGath, Volleyball, Quest for the Cown MVP, WVU Invitational AllTournament Team Dawson Montesa, Baseball, Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team Isaac Scheer, Men’s Soccer, Sun Belt AllTournament Team Sydney Shaw, Women’s Basketball, Big 12 Conference All-Tournament Team Trinity Sheridan, Volleyball, Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic MVP, and All_ Tournament Team, Quest for the Crown MVP @WVUSports
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LYLA BYERS
Sean Smith, Baseball, Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team Cassidy Tanton, Volleyball, WVU Invitational MVP Maxx Yehl, Baseball, Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team
COLLEGE SPORTS COMMUNICATORS ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Nina Horning, Volleyball Alexis Finnvold, Volleyball Eily Painter, Volleyball Delaney Cox, Women’s Swimming and Diving MJ Gilligan, Women’s Swimming and Diving Victoria Kidney, Women’s Swimming and Diving Abigail Sullivan, Women’s Swimming and Diving Max Nielsen, Men’s Swimming and DIving
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Patton Graziano, Men’s Swimming and Diving Jordan Harrison, Women’s Basketball Sydney Woodley, Women’s Basketball Celia Riviere, Women’s Basketball Anna Hauer, Women’s Soccer Nyema Ingleton, Women’s Soccer Gianna Koss, Women’s Soccer Maddie Levy, Women’s Soccer Sophia Nickel, Women’s Soccer Ajanae Respass, Women’s Soccer Jasper Floyd, Men’s Basketball Laura Villanueva Morillo, Tennis Lyla Byers, Tennis Audrey Moutama, Tennis Brody Conley, Wrestling Grace Terlion, Rowing Teegan Wendley, Rowing Addison Dobson, Rowing Raquel Iga, Rowing Alexis Mitchell, Rowing Nick Turowski, Golf Ryan Leach, Golf
Noah Braham, Football Oliver Straw, Football Edward Vesterinen, Football Walter Young Bear, Football Reese Bassinger, Baseball Chansen Cole, Baseball Armani Guzman, Baseball Gavin Kelly, Baseball Ian Korn, Baseball Marcus Caldeira, Men’s Soccer Constantinos Christou, Men’s Soccer Ethan Dekel Daks, Men’s Soccer Pablo Pozos, Men’s Soccer Bryce Swinehart, Men’s Soccer Thijs Veldhorst, Men’s Soccer
NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION HAMPSHIRE HONOR SOCIETY Jaden Bray, Football Reid Carrico, Football Kade Hensley, Football Carson Lee, Football Oliver Straw, Football Kekoura Tarnue, Football Edward Vesterinen, Football Jordan Walker, Football Chase Wilson, Football Walter Young Bear, Football
REID CARRICO
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
UNITED SOCCER COACHES SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
Marcus Caldeira, Men’s Soccer SECOND TEAM
Carlos Hernando, Men’s Soccer
INTERCOLLEGIATE TENNIS ASSOCIATION SCHOLARATHLETES
Julie Bousseau, Women’s Tennis Lyla Byers, Women’s Tennis Sosanna Malaak, Women’s Tennis Audrey Moutama, Women’s Tennis Lucia Tognoni, Women’s Tennis Laura Villanueva Morillo, Women’s Tennis
NATIONAL WRESTLING COACHES ASSOCIATION SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICANS Gunner Andrick, Wrestling Ian Bush, Wrestling Brock Kehler, Wrestling Casen Roark, Wrestling Luke Satriano, Wrestling
COLLEGE RIFLE COACHES ASSOCIATION SCHOLASTIC ALL-AMERICANS Camryn Camp, Rifle Maximus Duncan, Rifle Jennifer Kocher, Rifle Griffin Lake, RIfle Oceanne Mueller, Rifle Hana Strakusek, Rifle Jack Ogoreuc, Rifle Lauri Syrja, Rifle
COLLEGIATE ROWING COACHES ASSOCIATION SCHOLAR-ATHLETES Kate Conrad, Rowing Addison Dobson, Rowing
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
Grace Fay, Rowing Emma Higgins, Rowing Ksenia Kaludierovic, Rowing Alexis Mitchell, Rowing Lauren Mueller, Rowing Brooke Plummer, Rowing Grace Terlion, Rowing Teegen Wendley, Rowing
COLLEGE SWIMMING AND DIVING COACHES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICANS SECOND TEAM
Stevi Chalemou, Women’s Diving Natasha Whittall, Women’s Swimming Caden Oprandy, Men’s Swimming Joey Stebbins, Men’s Swimming
UNITED STATES TRACK & FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL-ACADEMIC ATHLETES Emily Bryce, Cross Country/Track & Field Olivia Cress, Cross Country/Track & Field Mercy Kinyanjui, Cross Country/Track & Field Lexi Lamb, Cross Country/Track & Field Annishka McDonald, Track & Field Joy Naukot, Cross Country/Track & Field Kishay Rowe, Track & Field
Audrey Hall, Cross Country Mercy Kinyanjui, Cross Country/Track & Field Alexis Lamb, Cross Country/Track & Field Tatiana Moura, Cross Country/Track & Field Joy Naukot, Cross Country/Track & Field Jennifer O’Palko, Cross Country Eva Rinker, Cross Country/Track & Field Clayton Ash, Football Xavier Bausley, Football Israel Boyce, Football Noah Braham, Football Jaden Bray, Football Reid Carrico, Football Nathaniel Flower, Football Ethan Head, Football Jaylen Henderson, Football Kade Hensley, Football Curtis Jones, Football Nicholas Krahe, Football Carson Lee, Football Landen Livingston, Football Hammond Russell, Football Oliver Straw, Football Kekoura Tarnue, Football Nick Taylor, Football
Edward Vesterinen, Football Jordan Walker, Football Ryan Ward, Football Khalil Wilkins, Football Jarel Williams, Football Chase Wilson, Football Ashton Woods, Football Walter Young Bear, Football Emily Akpebu, Women’s Soccer Anna Hauer, Women’s Soccer Bailey Herfurth, Women’s Soccer Nyema Ingleton, Women’s Soccer Gianna Koss, Women’s Soccer Maya Leoni, Women’s Soccer Maddie Levy, Women’s Soccer Sophia Nickel, Women’s Soccer Abbey Olexa, Women’s Soccer Jacey Rase, Women’s Soccer Alexis Re, Women’s Soccer Ajanae Respass, Women’s Soccer Alicia Riggins, Women’s Soccer Sydney Ritter, Women’s Soccer Christina Salama, Women’s Soccer Olivia Shertzer, Women’s Soccer Roxanne Vilain, Women’s Soccer LonDynn Betts, Volleyball
LONDYN BETTS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES HONOR COURT Jackson Fields, Men’s Basketball Jasper Floyd, Men’s Basketball Honor Huff, Men’s Basketball Chance Moore, Men’s Basketball Morris Ugusuk, Men’s Basketball
ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE Emily Bryce, Cross Country/Track & Field Mary Delaney, Cross Country/Track & Field
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(LEFT TOR RIGHT: JESSICA GASTON, LUCY PRATT, LAUREN KEYSER, MELISSE HUGUET AND GRETCHEN HAM
Lauren Bodily, Volleyball Quincey Coyle, Volleyball Maggie Elliott, Volleyball Alexis Finnvold, Volleyball Tally Grissom, Volleyball Nina Horning, Volleyball Chalina Lederer, Volleyball Madelin McGath, Volleyball Eily Painter, Volleyball Cassidy Tanton, Volleyball Jasper Floyd, Men’s Basketball Honor Huff, Men’s Basketball Chance Moore, Men’s Basketball Jordan Harrison, Women’s Basketball Loghan Johnson, Women’s Basketball Carter McCray, Women’s Basketball Celia Riviere, Women’s Basketball Sydney Woodley, Women’s Basketball Kaylei Adams, Gymnastics Karleigh DiCello, Gymnastics Brooke Irwin, Gymnastics Jurnee Lane, Gymnastics Amber Lowe, Gymnastics Jayden McDonnell, Gymnastics Carlee Nelson, Gymnastics Sophia Rice, Gymnastics Kaelyn Skeel, Gymnastics
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Emerson Smith, Gymnastics Miranda Smith, Gymnastics Taylor Tuohy, Gymnastics Eden Webster, Gymnastics Preston Bennett, Men’s Swimming and Diving Patton Graziano, Men’s Swimming and Diving Jamin Harlan, Men’s Swimming and Diving David Hatt, Men’s Swimming and Diving Adam McDonald, Men’s Swimming and Diving Jameson McEnaney, Men’s Swimming and Diving Ian McKinney, Men’s Swimming and Diving Max Nielsen, Men’s Swimming and Diving Noah Ott, Men’s Swimming and Diving Erik Petruzzi, Men’s Swimming and Diving Joey Stebbins, Men’s Swimming and Diving Parker Sterlitz, Men’s Swimming and Diving Christian Torres, Men’s Swimming and Diving Cas Verstegen, Men’s Swimming and Diving Zach Zornan Ferguson, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Amari Brown-Swint, Women’s Swimming and Diving Delaney Cox, Women’s Swimming and Diving MJ Gilligan, Women’s Swimming and Diving Victoria Kidney, Women’s Swimming and Diving Logan Leckner, Women’s Swimming and Diving Gabriela Martin, Women’s Swimming and Diving Madeline Smutny, Women’s Swimming and Diving Abigail Sullivan, Women’s Swimming and Diving Natasha Whittall, Women’s Swimming and Diving Makenna Wozny, Women’s Swimming and Diving Ian Bush, Wrestling Brody Conley, Wrestling Terry Langley, Wrestling Reese Bassinger, Baseball Chansen Cole, Baseball Creed Erdos, Baseball Carson Estridge, Baseball Matthew Graveline, Baseball Armani Guzman, Baseball David Hagen, Baseball Tyrus Hall, Baseball Matthew Ineich, Baseball Gavin Kelly, Baseball Ian Korn, Baseball Brodie Kresser, Baseball Ben Lumsden, Baseball Luke Lyman, Baseball Ryan Maggy, Baseball Ben McDougal, Baseball Maxwell Molessa, Baseball Dawson Montesa, Baseball Paul Schoenfeld, Baseball Sean Smith, Baseball Bryson Thacker, Baseball
Brock Wills, Baseball Maxx Yehl, Baseball Bryant Yoak, Baseball Aidan Dortch, Golf Ryan Leach, Golf Harrison Thompson, Golf Nick Turowski, Golf Kaleb Wilson, Golf Nicole Barringer, Rowing Erin Carmicle, Rowing Kate Conrad, Rowing Nikolina Djordjevic, Rowing Addison Dobson, Rowing Alanna Dunnigan, Rowing Grace Fay, Rowing Jessica Gaston, Rowing Greta Giuliano, Rowing Emma Higgins, Rowing Grace Holliday, Rowing Raquel Iga, Rowing Ksenia Kaludjerovic, Rowing Olivia Martens, Rowing Kelsey McTaggart, Rowing Alexis Mitchell, Rowing Lauren Mueller, Rowing Brooke Plummer, Rowing Lucille Pratt, Rowing Emerson Riley, Rowing Morgan Ryan, Rowing Samantha Spencer, Rowing Grace Terlion, Rowing Isabelle Totton, Rowing Claire Trevisani, Rowing Annabelle Wagner, Rowing Teegan Wendley, Rowing Mariella Renee Wilson, Rowing Julie Bousseau, Tennis Lyla Byers, Tennis Audrey Moutama, Tennis Laura Villanueva Morillo, Tennis Anastasia Chepkorir, Track and Field Olivia Cress, Track and Field Izayah Everett, Track and Field Audrey Hall, Track and Field
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
Lilian Haught, Track and Field Sierra Heisey, Track and Field Sabria Jones, Track and Field Tecla Lokrale, Track and Field Annishka McDonald, Track and Field Mae Nelson, Track and Field Cate Pickering, Track and Field Kishay Rowe, Track and Field Ella White, Track and Field
ACADEMIC ALL-ROOKIE Zahir Barjam, Baseball Weston Mazey, Baseball Wyatt Mosley, Baseball David Perez, Baseball Brayden Robinson, Baseball Colton Sims, Baseball Weston Smith, Baseball Jayden Forsythe, Men’s Basketball Amir Jenkins, Men’s Basketball Deandre Thomas, Men’s Basketball Madison Parrish, Women’s Basketball Wilnerson Telemaque, Football Cameron Torbor, Football Brody Burgess, Golf Jack Michael, Golf Gabe Schmitz, Golf Haley Mendoza, Gymnastics Auden Pederson, Gymnastics Kayla Smith, Gymnastics Mary Boone, Rowing Giada Fassacesia, Rowing Campbell Gettier, Rowing Grace Gonet, Rowing Emily Gubbins, Rowing Lydia Harris, Rowing Melisse Huguet, Rowing Lauren Jones, Rowing Lauren Keyser, Rowing Sara Knezevic, Rowing Josephine Mittner, Rowing Tessa Naldzin, Rowing Quinn Ray, Rowing
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
Mia Samardzija, Rowing Ava Arnold, Women’s Soccer Isabel Ceaser, Women’s Soccer Josie Johnson, Women’s Soccer Layla Thompson, Women’s Soccer Dragos Ghile, Men’s Swimming and Diving Caden Oprandy, Men’s Swimming and Diving Jake Salcedo, Men’s Swimming and Diving Oliver Stull, Men’s Swimming and Diving Gabriel Tortola, Men’s Swimming and Diving Felix Vicknair, Men’s Swimming and Diving Camryn Bair, Women’s Swimming and Diving Aubrey Briseno, Women’s Swimming and Diving Stavroula Chalemou, Women’s Swimming and Diving Giada Del Medico, Women’s Swimming and Diving Sezen Kalak, Women’s Swimming and Diving Tabitha Main, Women’s Swimming and Diving Delia Ostafi, Women’s Swimming and Diving Baylee Sloan, Women’s Swimming and Diving Maecy Wells, Women’s Swimming and Diving Madalyn Witt, Women’s Swimming and Diving Peyton Worman, Women’s Swimming and Diving Zuzana Kudlackova, Tennis Lucia Tognoni, Tennis Eva Craigie, Track and Field Aislinn Frazer, Track and Field/Cross Country Alyssa Sauro, Track and Field/Cross Country
Audrey Thomas, Track and Field Gunner Andrick, Wrestling Ramil Islamov, Wrestling Brock Kehler, Wrestling Daniel Roark, Wrestling Luke Satriano, Wrestling Lonzy Velma, Wrestling
DR. GERALD LAGE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD David Hagen, Baseball Nathaniel Flower, Football Gabriel Ryan, Football Jurnee Lane, Gymnastics Sophia Rice, Gymnastics Erin Carmicle, Rowing Greta Giuliano, Rowing Alexis Mitchell, Rowing Brooke Plummer, Rowing Anna Hauer, Women’s Soccer Nyema Ingleton, Women’s Soccer Gianna Koss, Women’s Soccer Ian McKinney, Men’s Swimming and Diving Owen Recker, Men’s Swimming and Diving Gabriel Tortola, Men’s Swimming and Diving
Zachary Zornan Ferguson, Men’s Swimming and Diving Delaney Cox, Women’s Swimming and Diving Michael Gilligan, Women’s Swimming and Diving Victoria Kidney, Women’s Swimming and Diving Audrey Moutama, Tennis Mary Delaney, Track and Field/Cross Country Mae Nelson, Track and Field Eva Rinker, Track and Field/Cross Country Wilson Spires, Wrestling
ACADEMIC TEAM AWARDS Baseball, ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award Golf, Platform Golf Team Academic Award Men’s Basketball, NABC Team Academic Excellence Award Men’s Soccer, United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award Women’s Soccer, United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award Tennis, ITA All-Academic Team Volleyball, AVCA, Team Academic Award
GUNNER ANDRICK
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ATHLETICS POSTS HISTORIC YEAR FUELED BY RECORD FUNDRAISING, FAN SUPPORT AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
As college athletics continues to change at a rapid pace, Mountaineer Nation answered the call like never before. Fueled by the generosity of thousands of supporters committed to Investing in Champions, the Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC), Gold & Blue Enterprises (GBE) and West Virginia Athletics celebrated the most successful fiscal year in department history during FY26. Record-breaking philanthropy, strong fan support and landmark corporate partnerships combined to position WVU Athletics for sustained success. The year was highlighted by a record $111 million in philanthropic support, nearly tripling the department’s previous single-year fundraising record of $38 million. Supported by a record 7,934 Mountaineer Athletic Club members, the milestone reflects an extraordinary commitment from Mountaineers who believe in the future of West Virginia Athletics. “The numbers speak for themselves, but what stands out most is the
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number of people who chose to support WVU Athletics,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “Whether through a major gift, annual giving, season tickets or one of our new initiatives, every investment strengthens our ability to support student-athletes and move this department forward. We’re incredibly grateful for that commitment.” The historic year comes at a pivotal time for intercollegiate athletics, as universities continue adapting to new revenue-sharing models, increased investment in student-athlete support and a rapidly changing competitive landscape. Through philanthropy, ticket sales and strategic partnerships, WVU Athletics strengthened its foundation while creating the additional resources needed to compete for championships in the years ahead.
MAC FY26 By The Numbers
Total Philanthropic Support: $111,044,89 Previous Record: $38 million MAC Members: 7,934 (all-time high)
Championship Resource Fund
Launched in August 2025, the Championship Resource Fund became the Mountaineer Athletic Club’s primary giving opportunity for supporters looking to directly strengthen WVU Athletics’ competitive position. As a key component of the record $111 million in philanthropic support highlighted above, the fund generated more than $5.5 million during its first year. Gifts to the Championship Resource Fund support the work of GBE, WVU’s in-house NIL agency, creating additional opportunities and resources for Mountaineer studentathletes while giving Mountaineer supporters a direct way to invest in NIL through the MAC. Total Raised: $5,539,636 Donors: 2,017 New Donors: 396
Ticket Sales
Mountaineer Nation’s investment extended well beyond philanthropy. Fans generated $20.7 million in ticket revenue during FY26, making it the first time in department history WVU Athletics surpassed $20 million in ticket revenue in consecutive years. The back-to-back milestone underscores the continued demand for Mountaineer Athletics and the strength of its fan base.
Strategic Partnerships
WVU Athletics’ corporate partnership portfolio also reached new milestones during FY26. In September, WVU Athletics and GBE announced a long-term partnership with Hope Gas, renaming the University’s iconic WVU Coliseum to Hope Coliseum. The agreement established an important recurring revenue stream while preserving one of the strongest home-court environments in college athletics and supporting future investments in the studentathlete and fan experience.
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
Building on that success, WVU Athletics and Learfield also secured one of the largest corporate sponsorship agreements in department history through a multi-year jersey patch partnership with Antero Resources. The monumental agreement further reflects the growing value of the Mountaineer brand while creating another sustainable revenue source for the department.
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
“College athletics requires us to think differently about how we generate revenue and support our programs,” Baker said. “The support we received this year from our donors, fans and corporate partners puts us in a stronger position moving forward. We’re thankful for their confidence in WVU Athletics, and we’re committed to being good stewards of that investment.”
The year concluded with unprecedented energy as the Mountaineer Athletic Club recorded its largest fundraising month in history during June through its Membership Matters campaign. The record-setting accomplishments of FY26 provide significant forward progress as WVU Athletics continues investing
WVUAthletics
in student-athlete resources, championship-caliber facilities and transformational experiences while preparing for the future. To learn more about supporting the Mountaineer Athletic Club, visit WVUMAC.com. To learn more about Gold and Blue Enterprises, visit WVUGBE.com.
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WVU COLISEUM GETS A NEW NAME: HOPE COLISEUM The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Gold & Blue Enterprises entered into a historic 10-year partnership with Hope Gas to rename one of the legendary college basketball arenas in the nation. The iconic WVU Coliseum is now now known as Hope Coliseum and marks the first name change in the 55-year history of the most visible building on the Evansdale campus. The extensive partnership covers naming rights, sponsorship and future donations to WVU Athletics and will solidify the Coliseum’s elite status for many years to come. The commitment from Hope Gas will generate a significant new annual revenue stream for WVU Athletics and its multimedia rights partner, Mountaineer Sports Properties, which is key to keeping the department relevant on the national stage in today’s ultracompetitive collegiate sports world.
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“I would like to thank WVU and Mountaineers across the state for this exciting opportunity to continue to invest in the future of West Virginia. For more than 125 years, Hope Gas has provided the energy needed for the people of West Virginia to warm their homes, operate their businesses and provide opportunities for economic development,” Hope President and CEO Morgan O’Brien said. “The people and businesses of West Virginia are driving a bright future for the state. Together, WVU and Hope Gas have served the Mountain State for a combined total of 285 years. Our roots and commitment to the state run deep. This partnership with WVU honors the proud heritage of West Virginia and will shine a spotlight on our future. Hope Coliseum is one example of the investments that Hope Gas is proud to make for the people, communities and future of West Virginia.” The Hope Coliseum will continue to be a multi-purpose arena hosting athletic events
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics and rifle as well as University functions and concerts. More than eight million spectators have passed through the building’s doors with the largest crowd of 16,704 seeing WVU’s 8277 victory over Pitt in 1982. “Hope Gas is a West Virginiabased company with West Virginia
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
values and aspirations to make West Virginia an even better place to live and work,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “This partnership is an important step in our department’s growth and stability as new revenue generation is vital to our future. Morgan O’Brien is a visionary leader, and we are proud to partner with him and the
entire team at Hope to build on a great athletics tradition and form a winning partnership.” “As we move into a new era at West Virginia University, what is now the Hope Coliseum — highlighting the University’s strong partnership with Hope Gas — stands as a powerful example of what higher education can accomplish in collaboration
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with businesses,” WVU President Michael T. Benson said. “The Hope Coliseum will remain a destination for generations of proud Mountaineer fans and a focal point for the University during times of celebration, including milestones like Commencement, thanks to this investment.”
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BASEBALL CAPS SEASON IN COLLEGE WORLD SERIES Four turned out to be the number for the 2026 West Virginia University baseball team following its top-four finish in this
ARMANI GUZMAN
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year’s Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Coach Steve Sabins’ 47-17 Mountaineers concluded an
historic campaign by finishing fourth in most of the major college baseball rankings, including the final USA Today Poll. That poll was conducted weekly throughout the regular season and relied on a panel of 31 Division I head coaches. Collectively, this season is just the 10th time in program history West Virginia has finished ranked in one of the major baseball polls, and the first time ever in the top five! Two wins over Troy in Omaha gave the Mountaineers a program-record 47 for the year. The Super Regional appearance was WVU’s third straight, and it marked the first time serving as a host. It also marked the first time since 1961-64 that WVU had made four consecutive regional trips. Record-breaking crowds packed Kendrick Family Ballpark all season long, culminating with
GAVIN KELLY
an all-time best 4,675 that saw the Mountaineers finish off a two-game sweep of Cal-Poly in
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
the Super Regionals to advance to the College World Series. Individual honors flowed in as well. Coach Sabins was the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Mike Martin National Coach of the Year and the American Baseball Coaches Association East Region Coach of the Year.
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
Maxx Yehl was a unanimous All-American and the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year. Gavin Kelly was a consensus All-American, picked at second base on four of the teams and as a catcher on a fifth. Pitchers Chansen Cole and Ian Korn were All-Big 12 First Team, along with Yehl and Kelly,
while infielders Armani Guzman, Sean Smith and Matt Ineich and pitchers Reese Bassinger and senior Carson Estridge were named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. Third baseman Tyrus Hall earned a spot on the College World Series All-Tournament team.
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In July, Yehl (Kansas City Royals), Korn (San Francisco Giants), Dawson Montesa (St. Louis Cardinals) and Paul Schoenfeld (Arizona Diamondbacks) were selected in the Major League Draft, and Bassinger (Toronto Blue Jays) and Estridge (Houston Astros) signed free agent deals.
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MORGANTOWN SERVES AS HOST TO FOUR NCAA REGIONALS Success in the regular season leads to opportunity in the postseason, and for four Mountaineer teams, that meant serving as hosts for NCAA regional events this season. Men’s and women’s soccer, women’s basketball and baseball parlayed outstanding regular seasons into events in Mountaineer facilities during 2025-26 marking the most ever in one year in school history. It started in the late fall with women’s soccer making its 24th NCAA appearance in 26 years. The Mountaineers’ first-round win over Wagner was their 31st NCAA match and 15th NCAA appearance in Morgantown dating back to the 2001 season. The men’s soccer team played its 14th NCAA match in its 11th NCAA appearance in Morgantown dating back to 1973 and registered a 4-3, come-from-behind win over St. John’s. For women’s basketball, years of near-misses and trips to play on the floors of lower seeded teams finally came to an end as
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the Mountaineers turned their Big 12 Tournament Championship into a No. 4 seed and the opportunity to host a regional. It marked the first time since 1992 that the WVU women were the hosts of an NCAA event, and Mountaineer fans showed up. A WVU-record 13,504 fans saw WVU handle Miami (Ohio) 82-54 in the first round, while 12,830 more came back for the second round, a 74-73 loss to Kentucky. Baseball made it four in the spring as a Regional host for the first time since 2019 and Super Regional host for the first time ever. In the regional round, the Mountaineers came out of the loser’s bracket to defeat Kentucky 6-5 in 10 innings to win their third consecutive regional title. In the Super Regional, the crowds came out and so did the Mountaineer bats. After WVU won game one 12-2 in front of 4,564 fans, a school-record 4,675 fans saw the Mountaineers bash CalPoly 17-1 to earn their first-ever trip to the College World Series.
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2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
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FACILITIES PROJECTS PROGRESSING West Virginia University Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker says he’s pleased with the progress being made on the estimated $150 million Milan Puskar Stadium West Tower Press Box project currently in the planning stages. The Athletics Department announced a partnership with Barton Malow and March-Westin to serve as construction managers on the project, tentatively set to begin following the conclusion of the 2026 football season. “You have seen renderings and some information on the West Press Box Tower project and that is going very well,” Baker said. “We are quietly doing the fundraising for that, and I will tell you that it has gone extremely well. “If all goes well, that project will be completed and open in time for the 2028 football season. Our facilities team, (senior deputy athletics director) Rob Alsop, our fundraising team – all those people deserve a lot of credit for how fast that project has moved forward.” The West Tower Press Box project was approved by West Virginia
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University’s Board of Governors and represents the latest refurbishment to the 46-year-old home of Mountaineer football, and probably the most significant in terms of revenue-generating capabilities. According to Baker, he believes when construction is completed, the Athletics Department will realize as much as $6 million per year in annual revenue from premium seating sales.
While still in the planning stages leading up to the beginning of construction, Baker indicated a lot is under consideration, particularly concerning the transition year in 2027 between initial construction in 2026 and the anticipated completion date in 2028. “(Senior associate athletics director) April Messerly, who is over our facilities team and works very
closely with Rob and our architects and outside consultants, they are exploring those options,” he mentioned. “Early on, there are some temporary structures that could be erected that could have certain parts of the game day in there. Potentially, we could start the demolition after this upcoming football season, and if it opens in ‘28, that leaves ‘27. I think we can look at where would we build some temporary suites in the stadium so that people are not displaced totally, and to be completely candid, it allows us to keep the revenue and not go a year without (suite) revenue. “We are exploring a lot of (options) and we’re not quite there yet in terms of what that looks like and where we would put all of those structures, but we definitely plan to make some temporary
Renderings are conceptual and subject to change.
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
accommodations for some of our best donors and business supporters.” Baker indicated the stadium capacity should not be altered significantly when the new tower is completed. Presently, Milan Puskar Stadium’s capacity is officially listed at 60,000. The stadium tower construction initiative falls in line with Baker’s philosophy of concentrating on revenue-generating capital projects, although he did indicate Hope Coliseum’s apron is in desperate need of replacing. It’s something that has been on his radar screen since his hiring in the late fall of 2022. “Generally, if a project is not revenue-producing, we’re not tracking on it very much right now; the one exception to that is the apron around the Coliseum, which I think is one of our greatest eyesores,” he admitted. “Those of us who live it every day, maybe don’t recognize it as much, but I remember the first time I walked into that building I was like, ‘Oh man,’ and it has gotten way worse since then. That’s a project I feel pretty passionately about because I think it’s a bad representation for us and for our state.” Baker mentioned the estimate to complete that project is approximately $1.5 million, and a potential donor has been identified to help foot the bill. Presently, the Coliseum is undergoing premium seating upgrades that he says when
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
Renderings are conceptual and subject to change.
completed will bring in additional yearly revenue for the department. The new premium seating options are designed to deliver an upgraded game-day experience, bringing a higher level of comfort, convenience and luxury to the building that will be entering its 56th year of operation on West Virginia University’s Evansdale Campus. The addition of Loge seating will feature in-game food and drink wait service, cushioned swivel chairs, refrigerators, televisions and special cabinetry. Ledge seating contains in-game food and drink wait service, cushioned swivel chairs and televisions. The two options are designed to take the game-day excitement and enjoyment to a new level. Additionally, two Loge Suites with upscale amenities will also be added to complete the premium space renovations for next season.
“We have been discussing and researching these premium options for some time, and they will be a valuable upgrade to Hope Coliseum,” Baker said. “You will find premium seating like this in all newer arenas, and this gives us a chance to modernize parts of the seating area, while upgrading the viewing experience. “We have a great home-court advantage, but our fans have asked for additional premium seating options to go along with our courtside seats on the floor. Loge and Ledge seating is the logical next step, and the feedback from prospective buyers has been very positive.” Another significant financial benefit of the West Press Box Tower project is the possibility of making Milan Puskar Stadium suitable to host large outdoor concerts during WVUAthletics
the offseason like what other schools in the Big 12 are doing. “We’ve got some things we’ve got to work through like how many people can we have on the field given the number of exits, ramps and stairwells?” Baker says of hosting major outdoor concerts. “Both of our venues have challenges in terms of loading and unloading staging material, so we’re looking at working on one of our tunnels where we can at least get semi-trucks all the way to the field and not have to forklift, crate by crate, and take days to get everything on the field. We are designing and retrofitting our facilities to host some of those types of events. “Knowing in ‘28 is when we’ll be fully open, we are looking at some bigger shows in the stadium,” he concluded.
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BASEBALL 47-17/21-9 BIG 12 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
» Finished the season with a 47-17 overall record and 21-9 mark in Big 12 play in Steve Sabins’ second season as head coach » Advanced to the Men’s College World Series for the first time in program history » Earned the American Baseball Coaches Asspciation Team Academic award » Won the NCAA Morgantown Regional and NCAA Morgantown Super Regional en route to its trip to Omaha. It was the third straight Super Regional appearance for the Mountaineers and first time they have ever hosted the Super Regional round » First time since 1961-64 that WVU has made four straight regional appearances » In the regional, went 4-1, defeating Binghamton in the opener before falling to Kentucky. WVU bounced back by advancing through the loser’s bracket, defeating Wake Forest and Kentucky twice to win the regional title. » In the Super Regional, defeated Cal Poly in two games, outscoring the Mustangs 29-3 to advance to the College World Series » In Omaha, defeated Troy in the opening round before falling to No. 5 North Carolina. WVU stayed alive by defeating Troy again before being eliminated by the Tar Heels » Set a new program record with 47 wins, surpassing the mark of 44 set in 2025 » For the 10th consecutive season, ranked in the Top 25 and finished the season ranked 4th in all the major polls » Offensively, finished top 40 in batting average (.307, 27th), doubles (132, 15th), hits (679, 6th), OBP (.409, 33rd), runs (492, 16th), stolen bases (126, 29th), and triples (20, 6th); Also finished 12th in the country with 339 walks which set a new single-season program record
» Junior Armani Guzman, grad student Sean Smith, sophomore Matt Ineich, graduate student Reese Bassinger, and senior Carson Estridge were named AllBig 12 Honorable Mention, meaning they received at least one vote from other Big 12 coaches » Yehl was a unanimous All-American, honored by all six major publications – Perfect Game (1st Team), College Baseball Foundation (1st), D1Baseball (1st), NCBWA (2nd), Baseball America (3rd), and ABCA (3rd)
» Defensively, ranked 31st in fielding percentage (.978) and sixth in double plays (55)
» Kelly was a consensus All-American, landing on five teams – D1Baseball (1st Team), College Baseball Foundation (1st), NCBWA (2nd), Baseball America (2nd), Perfect Game (2nd)
» In the Big 12, had the top mark in multiple categories, including double plays, ERA, fielding percentage, hits, hits allowed per nine innings, sacrifice bunts, shutouts, stolen bases, triples and WHIP
» Kelly was named an All-American at second base by four of the teams and as a catcher by Baseball America
» Redshirt junior Maxx Yehl was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year after going 9-3 with a 2.13 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 97.0 innings
» Yehl and Kelly were Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists while Kelly was also a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist
» On the mound, finished top 40 in the ERA (3.84, 7th), hits allowed per nine innings (7.78, 12th), shutouts (7, 3rd), K/BB (2.51, 32nd), and WHIP (1.29, 11th)
» Sophomore Chansen Cole (10-2, 3.43 ERA, 109 Ks) and graduate student Ian Korn (6-1, 3.39 ERA, 70 Ks) were also named to the All-Big 12 First Team » Sophomore Gavin Kelly was named All-Big 12 First Team at catcher after hitting .382 with 19 home runs and 63 RBI
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» Senior Paul Schoenfeld hit .327 with four home runs, 52 RBI, and 26 stolen bases to earn a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team
» Yehl was one of five National Pitcher of the Year Finalists
» Cole was named to the NCBWA AllAmerica Second Team » Yehl was named ABCA East All-Region First Team while Kelly, Cole and Korn were named to the second team » Yehl and Kelly were named NCBWA District Two Co-Players of the Year » Korn was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team » Korn, Kelly, Cole, Bassinger, and Guzman were named CSC Academic All-District » Kelly was named the NCAA Morgantown Regional MVP after hitting .400 with three doubles, three home runs, eight RBI and nine runs scored in five games » Guzman, Cole, senior Ben Lumsden, junior Dawson Montesa and junior Tyrus Hall were also on the Morgantown Regional All-Tourney Team » Hall was named to the CWS AllTournament Team » Smith, Yehl, and Guzman were named to the Big 12 Championship AllTournament Team. » Sabins was ABCA East Region Coach of the Year for the second straight season
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» Kelly tied the WVU single season record with 19 home runs » Guzman set a new single-season program record with 43 stolen bases » Ineich set the WVU single-season record with 56 walks
ZAHIR BARJAM
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
REESE BASSINGER
» All-Big 12 Honorable Mention » CSC Academic All-District » NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List » Academic All-Big 12 Team
CHANSEN COLE
» All-Big 12 First Team » NCBWA All-America Second Team » ABCA All-East Region Second Team » Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team » Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (May 4th) » 2x WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (Feb. 23rd, May 4th) » National Pitcher of the Year semifinalist » Academic All-Big 12 Team
CREED ERDOS
» Academic All-Big 12 Team
CARSON ESTRIDGE
» All-Big 12 Honorable Mention » Academic All-Big 12 Team
MATTHEW GRAVELINE » Academic All-Big 12 Team
ARMANI GUZMAN
» All-Big 12 Honorable Mention » Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team » Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team
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» CSC Academic All-District » Academic All-Big 12
DAVID HAGEN
» Academic All-Big 12 Team » Dr. Gerald Lage Award
TYRUS HALL
» Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team » Men’s College World Series AllTournament Team » Academic All-Big 12 Team
MATT INEICH
» All-Big 12 Honorable Mention » Brooks Wallace Award semifinalist » Academic All-Big 12 Team
GAVIN KELLY
» D1 Baseball All-America First Team (2B) » College Baseball Foundation AllAmerica First Team (2B) » Baseball America All-America Second Team (C) » Perfect Game All-America Second Team (2B) » NCBWA All-America Second Team (2B) » ABCA All-East Region Second Team (C) » NCBWA District 2 Co-Player of the Year » All-Big 12 First Team (C) » USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Invitee » 2x Big 12 Player of the Week (March 2, May 11) » 2x Baseball America Team of the Week (March 31, May 12) » Buster Posey Award Watch List » Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist » Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist » Morgantown Regional Most Outstanding Player » CSC Academic All-District » Academic All-Big 12 Team
IAN KORN
» All-Big 12 First Team » College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team » CSC Academic All-District » ABCA All-East Region Second Team » Academic All-Big 12 Team
BRODIE KRESSER
» Big 12 All-Academic Team
BEN LUMSDEN
» Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team » Academic All-Big 12 Team
COLTON SIMS
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
SEAN SMITH
» All-Big 12 Honorable Mention » Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team » Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (April 13) » WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (April 13) » Academic All-Big 12 Team
WESTON SMITH
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
LUKE LYMAN
BRYSON THACKER
RYAN MAGGY
BROCK WILLS
» Academic All-Big 12 Team
» Academic All-Big 12 Team » Academic All-Big 12 Team » Weston Mazey » Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
BEN MCDOUGAL
» Academic All-Big 12 Team
MAXWELL MOLESSA » Academic All-Big 12 Team
DAWSON MONTESA
» Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (March 2) » Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team » Academic All-Big 12 Team
DAVID PEREZ
» NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List » Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
BRAYDEN ROBINSON
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
PAUL SCHOENFELD
» All-Big 12 Second Team » Academic All-Big 12 Team
» Academic All-Big 12 Team
MAXX YEHL
» Unanimous All-American » D1 Baseball All-America First Team » College Baseball Foundation AllAmerica First Team » Perfect Game All-America First Team » NCBWA All-America Second Team » ABCA All-America Third Team » Baseball America All-America Third Team » Big 12 Pitcher of the Year » All-Big 12 First Team » National Pitcher of the Year Finalist » Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist » Baseball America Pitcher of the Year Watch List » 2x Big 12 Pitcher of the Week (March 16, May 11) » 2x Baseball America Team of the Week (March 17, May 12) » WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (May 11) » Academic All-Big 12 Team
BRYANT YOAK
» Academic All-Big 12 Team
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CROSS COUNTRY
3RD BIG 12 • MID-ATLANTIC REGION CHAMPS » Competed in five regular season meets, as well as the Big 12 Cross Country Championship, NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals and NCAA Championships » Finished third out of sixteen teams at the Big 12 Cross Country Championship in Lawrence, Kansas on Oct. 31 » Joy Naukot, Mercy Kinyanjui and Emily Bryce earned All-Big 12 honors at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships » Won second consecutive NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Nov. 14 » Finished ninth at the NCAA Championships in Columbia, Missouri » Naukot led the Mountaineers at the NCAA Championships finishing 12th overall with a time of 18:59.6, earning All-American honor » Naukot, Kinyanjui, Bryce and Lexi Lamb earned All Mid-Atlantic Region honors after finishing within the top-25 of women’s runner in the 6k at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional
EMILY BRYCE
» Coach Sean Cleary was named USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year » Naukot added to her accolades after being named USTFCCA Mid-Atlantic Woman’s Athlete of the Year » Nine student athletes were named to the Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team including Bryce, Mary Delaney, Audrey Hall, Kinyanjui, Lamb, Tatiana Moura, Naukot, Jennifer O’Palko and Eva Rinker » West Virginia claimed first place at the 24th Swags Louisville Classic on Oct. 4
EMILY BRYCE
» All Big-12 First Team » All Mid-Atlantic Region » Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
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WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
MARY DELANEY
JENNIFER O’PALKO
MERCY KINYANJUI
EVA RINKER
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» All Big-12 First Team » All Mid-Atlantic Region » Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
LEXI LAMB
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
AUDREY HALL
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
TATIANA MOURA
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
JOY NAUKOT
JOY NAUKOT
» All-Big 12 First Team » All Mid-Atlantic Region » Mid-Atlantic Regional Individual Champion » All-American honors » USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Women’s Athlete of the Year » Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MERCY KINYANJUI
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FOOTBALL 6-7/5-4 BIG 12
SCOTTY FOX JR.
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» Ranks No. 1 among Big 12 in all-time total victories » West Virginia defeated No. 22/22 Houston on the road » Were No. 2 in the Big 12 in team tackles for loss, No. 4 in team sacks, No. 6 in the Big 12 in punt return defense (6.1) and turnovers gained (20) » Ranked No. 15 nationally in tackles for loss (6.7), No. 23 nationally in fumbles recovered (9) and No. 42 in sacks (2.33) » Finished with 625 yards of total offense against Robert Morris, tied for No. 18 top total offense mark in school history » Against Arizona State, West Virginia had two scoring plays of 75 or more yards in the same game for the first time since Nov. 30, 2013 (vs. Iowa State) » Since 2019, WVU has reached 100 yards on the ground 54 times » In that span, the Mountaineers are 36-18 when rushing for at least 100 yards » Has surpassed 140 yards on the ground in 40 of the last 49 games » Had 393 yards rushing against Robert Morris, ranking No. 16 on the school’s all-time list for rushing yards in a game » Rich Rodriguez moved into second place on the WVU all-time wins list with 64. His 194 total victories moved him into No. 3 on the active all-time wins list. » Scotty Fox Jr. completed one of the greatest freshman seasons in program history throwing for 1,276 yards and seven touchdowns on 101 completions in 10 games » Fox Jr. broke the passing yards record for any Mountaineer freshman in a single season (1,276), had the most passing yards in a game by a freshman (352), tied the record for most rushing touchdowns in a game by a true freshman (2), tied for most total touchdowns in a game by a true freshman (3), tied for the most passing touchdowns in a game by a true freshman (2) and threw for the most passing yards in a game by any Mountaineer under Rich Rodriguez (352) » Fox Jr. surpassed Major Harris to become the all-time leader in passing yards by a freshman quarterback with 1,276 yards and ranked No. 32 nationally in passing yards per completion (12.6) » Kade Hensley ranked No. 25 nationally in field goal percentage, hitting 91% of his field goal attempts (10/12) » Fred Perry was tied for No. 14 nationally in fumbles recovered (2) » Twenty-six members of the 2025 football team have already graduated with their bachelor’s degrees: Grayson Barnes (TE), Caden Biser (LB), Jackson Biser (DL), Jarod Bowie (WR), Jaden Bray (WR), Reid Carrico (LB), Mickel Clay (OL), Ty’Kieast Crawford (OL), Will Davis (N/S), Preston Fox (WR), Devin Grant (DL), Jaylen Henderson (QB), Kade Hensley (K), Tyler Jacklich (RB), Carson Lee (OL), Oluwaseyi Omotosho (DL), Logan Ramper (WR), Hammond Russell IV (DL), Justin Smith-Brown (WR), Braden Siders (BAN), Oliver Straw (P), Kekoura Tarnue (S), Edward Vesterinen (DL), Jordan Walker (S), Jarel Williams (WR) and Chase Wilson (LB) » Sixteen additional student-athletes on the football team graduated in December 2025 with their bachelor’s degrees: Max Brown (QB), Derek Carter Jr. (S), Jason Chambers (CB), Michael Coats Jr. (CB), William Davis (S), Greg Genross (TE), Scott Kean (QB), RJ Kocan (K), Kimo Makane’ole (OL), Nicco Marchiol (QB), Macguire Moss (LS), Fred Perry (S), Asani Redwood (DL), Jordan Scruggs (CB), Jordan Walker (CB), Walter Young Bear (OL)
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
CLAY ASH
» Academic All-Big 12
XAVIER BAUSLEY » Academic All-Big 12
ISRAEL BOYCE
» Academic All-Big 12
NOAH BRAHAM
» CSC Academic All-District » Academic All-Big 12
JADEN BRAY
» NFF Hampshire Honor Society » Academic All-Big 12
REID CARRICO
» NFF Hampshire Honor Society » Academic All-Big 12
NATE FLOWER
» Academic All-Big 12
SCOTTY FOX JR.
» Offensive Freshman of the Year Honorable Mention » Big 12 Freshman of the Week (Houston)
ETHAN HEAD
» Academic All-Big 12
JAYLEN HENDERSON » Academic All-Big 12
KADE HENSLEY
» NFF Hampshire Honor Society » Academic All-Big 12
DIORE HUBBARD
» Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Colorado)
CURTIS JONES JR. » Academic All-Big 12
NICK KRAHE
» Offensive Line Honorable Mention » Academic All-Big 12
CARSON LEE
» NFF Hampshire Honor Society
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
FRED PERRY
» Defensive Newcomer of the Year Honorable Mention » Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Week (Houston)
OLIVER STRAW
EDWARD VESTERINEN
» CSC Academic All-District » NFF Hampshire Honor Society
KEKOURA TARNUE
» NFF Hampshire Honor Society
NICK TAYLOR
» Academic All-Big 12
EDWARD VESTERINEN
» All-Big 12 Defensive Line Fourth Team (Phil Steele) » Defensive Line Honorable Mention » CSC Academic All-American Second Team » CSC Academic All-District » NFF Hampshire Honor Society » Academic All-Big 12
JORDAN WALKER
» NFF Hampshire Honor Society » Academic All-Big 12
RYAN WARD
» Academic All-Big 12
KHALIL WILKINS » Academic All-Big 12
CHASE WILSON
» NFF Hampshire Honor Society » Academic All-Big 12
JAREL WILLIAMS » Academic All-Big 12
ASHTON WOODS » Academic All-Big 12
WALTER YOUNG BEAR » CSC Academic All-District » NFF Hampshire Honor Society » Academic All-Big 12
WVUAthletics
@WVUSports
WVUSports
27
GOLF
15TH AT BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP 8TH AT NCAA MARANA REGIONAL
» Qualified for NCAA Regionals for the second time in the last three years » It was third NCAA appearance for the program since it was reinstated in 2015-16 » Posted a school-record 111 victories » GCAA All-Academic Team for team GPA of 3.0 or above » Won three tournaments in a season, all in the fall, for the first time in school history » Closed the fall with a 71-14-0 record, the most wins recorded in the fall by any Division I college golf team » Set school records in an NCAA Regional for -5 overall and -6 in a round » Shot 55-under-par to win the Island Resort Collegiate » New WVU 54-hole record, besting previous mark of -28 » 809 team score is new WVU 54-hole record (Previous: 826) » Tied for 18th-lowest 54-hole score in NCAA history » Shot -22 (266) in round one, setting a new 18-hole WVU record (Previous: -17) and 266 is new WVU 18-hole record (Previous: 271) » Tied for the 25th-lowest team round in NCAA history » Shot -40 in Rounds 1&2, the best one day under par score in school history » Shot 36-under-par to repeat as champions at the Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational » Shot 21-under-par to win the inaugural Pearl at Kalauoa Invitational » Tied with No. 8 Texas Tech and defeated No. 5 Arkansas, No. 6 Oklahoma State and No. 38 TCU in the Mountaineer Invitational in April
BRODY BURGESS
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team » Played in eight tournaments (all individual) as a freshman » Season average of 74.95 in 21 rounds » Shot a season-low 67 competing as an individual at the Mountaineer Invitational with rounds of 78-77-67=222 (+6) to tie for 47th place
AIDAN DORTCH
» Academic All-Big 12 Team » Made WVU’s team lineup three times in his first season in Morgantown » Averaged 72.56 in 23 rounds » Traveled as a substitute to the Big 12 Golf Championship
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NICK TUROWSKI
» Made the lineup for the first time at The Johnnie-O at Sea Island and shot 72-74-69=215 (-1) » Was WVU’s top finisher at the Minnesota Golf Classic, placing tied for 14th with rounds of 73-74-71=218 (+2)
RYAN LEACH
» Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar » College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District At-Large Team » Academic All-Big 12 Team » Won WVU’s Most Improved Award and Academic Achievement Award » Was in WVU’s team lineup 10 times » Averaged 72.06 in 32 rounds » Had five rounds in the 60s, including a 63 in his first round of the season » Shot -2 (71-70-73=214) to tie for 15th place at the Mountaineer Invitational » Was WVU’s top finisher along with Kaleb Wilson at the Cullan Brown Collegiate, tying for 14th place with rounds of 71-70=141 (-1) » Finished in fifth place at the Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational, shooting 64-7471=219 (-7) » Won the Island Resort Collegiate with school records of -17 and 199 (63-6571=199) » Bested the previous records set by Mark Goetz, who had marks of -15 and 201
» Became the fourth two-time winner in school history » Marked the 11th time in school history a WVU golfer won a collegiate tournament » Helped WVU shoot a team-record -55 in capturing the Island Resort Collegiate team title » Shot -9 in the first round, tying the school record with Mark Goetz for the lowest round in school history in relation to par » WVU Athlete of the Week (Sept. 2)
WESTY MCCABE
» Competed in 10 WVU team events » Averaged 72.50 in 38 rounds of golf » WVU’s top finisher at the Big 12 Golf Championship, tying for 37th with rounds of 72-71-72-73=288 (+8) » Competed as an individual at the Mountaineer Invitational and tied for 26th place with rounds of 75-7767=219 (+3) » Finished 14th at the Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational, finishing with rounds of 74-71-67=212 (-4) » Finished tied for 17th at the Minnesota Golf Classic with rounds of 71-7375=219 (+3) » Competed as an individual at the Island Resort Collegiate and finished tied for 23rd with rounds of 70-7070=210 (-6)
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
JACK MICHAEL
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team » Made the lineup as a true freshman in every team event » Averaged 72.84 in 38 rounds of golf » Had seven rounds in the 60s, including his first two rounds as a Mountaineer » Posted his best finish of the season at the Mountaineer Invitational, tying for eighth place with rounds of 74-6771=212 (-4) » Posted an 11th-place finish at The Hootie at Bulls Bay with rounds of 6770-74=211 (-5) » Tied for 15th place at -4 at the Schenkel Invitational with rounds of 73-64-75=212 » Earned a tie for 14th place at the Pearl at Kalauao Invitational with rounds of 71-72-72=215 (-1) » Tied for 18th place at the Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational with rounds of 75-71-68=214 (-2) » Made the lineup in his first collegiate tournament at the Island Resort Collegiate and finished tied for 18th place with rounds of 68-69-72=209 (-7)
GABE SCHMITZ
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team » Competed in eight events as an individual » Average of 74.04 in 22 rounds of golf » Tied for sixth place at the Golden Flash Individual with rounds of 70-75=145 (+1) » Was an individual at the Red Flash Invitational and tied for 30th place with rounds of 71-73-72=216 (+6) » Competed as an individual at the Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational and tied for 19th place with rounds of 7368-73=214 (-2)
HARRISON THOMPSON
» Academic All-Big 12 Team » Made the WVU lineup for three events » Averaged 73.76 in 26 rounds of golf » Shot a career-low 68 to tie for 35th place at the Mountaineer Invitational with rounds of 76-76-68=220 (+4)
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
» Was an individual at the Red Flash Invitational and shot three rounds of Even par, 70-70-70=210 (E) to finish tied for eighth place
NICK TUROWSKI
» Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar » College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District At-Large Team » Academic All-Big 12 Team » Won WVU Golf Most Improved Award » Competed in every team tournament » Averaged 72.00 in 38 rounds of golf » Had nine rounds in the 60s » Was WVU’s top finisher in the NCAA Marana Regional, tying for 18th place at -6 with rounds of 70-73-67=210 » Shot -5 in final round for the second lowest score ever by a WVU golfer » -6 total was the second lowest par score recorded by a WVU player in an NCAA event » Was WVU’s top finisher at the Mountaineer Invitational, tying for fifth place with rounds of 70-73-68=211 (-5) » Finished in fifth place at the Pearl at Kalauao Invitational at 7-under-par with rounds of 76-70-63=209 » Shot -9 in the first round, tying the school record with Mark Goetz and Ryan Leach for the lowest round in school history in relation to par » Earned a tie for ninth place at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational with rounds of 70-71=141 (-3) » Tied for third place at the Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational with rounds of 73-66-69=208 (-8) » Was WVU’s top finisher at the Gopher Invitational, tying for fifth place with rounds of 74-66-70=210 (-3) » Tied for third place at the Island Resort Collegiate with rounds of 66-6966=201 (-15) » Participated in the 125th U.S. Amateur in San Francisco
» Academic All-Big 12 Team » WVU golf’s Player of the Year » Was in WVU’s lineup every tournament for the second year in a row » Set school record for the lowest season average in school history at 70.42 in 38 rounds of golf » Had 17 rounds in the 60s » Finished -2 at the NCAA Marana Regional with rounds of 77-69-68=214 to tie for 29th place » Shot Even par at the Mountaineer Invitational to tie for 18th place with rounds of 70-74-72=216 » Earned a third-place finish at the Schenkel Invitational with a 12-underpar score (73-67-64=204) » Was WVU’s top finisher at the Pearl at Kalauao Invitational, tying for 3rd place with rounds of 73-67-68=208 (-8) » Tied for ninth place at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational with rounds of 72-69=141 (-3)
» Was WVU’s top finisher along with Ryan Leach at the Cullan Brown Collegiate, tying for 14th place with rounds of 72-69=141 (-1) » Repeated as champion at the Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational, shooting 11-under-par (68-6869=205), including an eagle and birdie on the final two holes » Marked the 12th time in school history a WVU golfer won a collegiate event » Became the fifth WVU golfer to win two career golf tournaments » Tied for 15th place at the Gopher Invitational with rounds of 73-6775=215 (+2) » Earned a runner-up finish at the Island Resort Collegiate with rounds of 6967-64=200 (-16) » Round of 64 and 54-hole finish of -16 marked career bests » Participated in the 125th U.S. Amateur in San Francisco
KALEB WILSON
KALEB WILSON
» Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar » Division I PING All-Midwest Region Team WVUAthletics
@WVUSports
WVUSports
29
GYMNASTICS
9-14/1-5 BIG 12
» Finished the 2026 season with a 9-14 overall record and a 1-5 mark in Big 12 Conference competition » Amber Lowe (beam), Sophia Rice (vault) and Emerson Smith (floor) qualified as individual event specialists in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional Championships in Baton Rouge, Louisiana » Smith scored a 9.9 to finish in a tie for fifth place in the second session of the regional semifinals » Finished the season ranked No. 47 overall in the final Road to Nationals poll of the year with a 194.736 National Qualifying Score (NQS) » Vault and floor lineups finished the year ranked inside the top 40 in the Road to Nationals rankings, coming in at No. 32 on vault and No. 39 on floor » Finished in sixth place at the 2026 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship, tallying a 194.875 in West Valley City, Utah » Freshman Kayla Smith earned a spot on the All-Big 12 All-Around and Freshman Teams, boasting a 39.095 NQS on all-around to rank sixth in the Big 12 Conference » The Richmond, Virginia, native became the first Mountaineer freshman to be recognized on the All-Big 12 Teams since 2016, as well as WVU’s first all-around honoree since 2022 » Smith competed in the all-around in all 13 meets in 2026, becoming just the third freshman in program history and first since 2008 to eclipse 500 points in just one season as a Mountaineer, finishing the campaign with a team-best 506.175 points » Four other Mountaineers reached career point milestones during the campaign, as Lowe exceeded 1,000 points and Carlee Nelson, Jurnee Lane and Emerson Smith surpassed the 500 point threshold » Earned a pair of Big 12 weekly honors throughout the season, including Kayla Smith, who was honored as the Newcomer of the Week on March 17 and Karleigh DiCello, who received the Event Specialist of the Week nod on Feb. 3 » Fifteen of 17 Mountaineer gymnasts saw competitive action throughout the season, with 12 of those gymnasts reaching the podium at least once throughout the year » Tallied 57 individual podium appearances in 2026, led by Kayla Smith with 18 » All three Mountaineer freshmen made their career debuts in the season opener on Jan. 9, with each earning significant time in WVU’s lineups throughout the campaign » Thirteen Mountaineers earned a spot on the 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team, including Emerson Smith who was recognized with a 4.0 grade point average
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SOPHIA RICE
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
KAYLEI ADAMS
» Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
KARLEIGH DICELLO
SOPHIA RICE
» NCAA Regional Championships Individual Event Specialist (Vault)
» Preseason All-Big 12 Vault Team
» Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award
» Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week (Feb. 3)
» Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
» Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
BROOKE IRWIN
» Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
JURNEE LANE
» Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award » Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Surpassed 500 career points
AMBER LOWE
» NCAA Regional Championships Individual Event Specialist (Beam)
EMERSON SMITH
» NCAA Regional Championships Individual Event Specialist (Floor) » Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (April 6)
MIRANDA SMITH
» Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
KAYLA SMITH
» All-Big 12 All-Around Team » Big 12 All-Freshman Team
» Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
» Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (March 17)
» Surpassed 1,000 career points
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
JAYDEN MCDONNELL
» WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (Feb. 2)
» Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
HALEY MENDOZA
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
AUDEN PEDERSON
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
KAYLA SMITH
» Surpassed 500 points
TAYLOR TUOHY
» Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
EDEN WEBSTER
» Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
CARLEE NELSON
» Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Surpassed 500 career points
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
WVUAthletics
@WVUSports
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31
MEN’S BASKETBALL 21-14/9-9 BIG 12
ROSS HODGE
» Won the 2026 College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas with wins over Stanford, Creighton and Oklahoma » Marked the third postseason championship in men’s basketball history along with the 1942 NIT and 2007 NIT » Finished seventh in the Big 12 after being predicted to finish 11th in the preseason poll » Was one of five Power 5 teams to not return any scoring from the previous season » Recorded its 35th 20-win season in school history and the first since the 2019-20 season » Defeated No. 19 BYU and No. 22 Kansas » Averaged 11,080 fans at Hope Coliseum » Used the same starting lineup in all but one game » Twenty-two point win over Pitt (71-49) was the largest margin of victory against the Panthers in the 55-year history of Hope Coliseum » Pitt’s 49 points scored marked its lowest point total in Morgantown since scoring 34 points in 1949 » Opened the season at home with a 13-0 record, marking its best start at home since a 15-0 start during the 1981-82 season » Had two of the three biggest comebacks on the road in Big 12 history: WVU was down 14 points with 13:13 remaining in the second half at UCF. WVU was down 14 points with 16:11 remaining in the second half at Cincinnati » NABC Team Academic Excellence Award
ROSS HODGE
» Named the 24th head men’s basketball coach at WVU on March 26, 2025 » Became the fourth WVU coach to win 20 games in his first season in Morgantown, joining Bob Huggins, George King and Lee Patton » Became the third WVU coach to win a postseason tournament, joining Dyke Raese and John Beilein
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WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
JACKSON FIELDS » NABC Honors Court
JASPER FLOYD
» College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team » Academic All-Big 12 Team » NABC Honors Court
HONOR HUFF
JAYDEN FORSYTHE
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
HONOR HUFF
» MVP of the College Basketball Crown » NABC East Region First Team honors » All-Big 12 Honorable Mention » NABC Honors Court » Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (Jan. 12) » Big 12 Starting Five (Dec. 15 and Jan. 12) » Set WVU school record for season 3-point field goals (120) » Finished 25th in NCAA history with 412 3-point field goals » Scored 38 points against Oklahoma in the championship game of the Crown, the most by a WVU player since 2009 » Became the first WVU player to hit eight or more 3-point field goals in multiple games
AMIR JENKINS
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
BRENEN LORIENT
» College Basketball Crown All-Tournament Team
CHANCE MOORE
» Academic All-Big 12 Team » NABC Honors Court
DJ THOMAS
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
MORRIS UGUSUK » NABC Honors Court
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
WVUAthletics
@WVUSports
WVUSports
33
MEN’S SOCCER
13-5-3/7-2-0 SUN BELT NCAA SECOND ROUND
» Finished 13-5-3 overall and 7-2 in the Sun Belt in head coach Dan Stratford’s sixth season at the helm » Finished second in the Sun Belt with 21 points » Earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament and defeated St. John’s before falling to No. 10 High Point in the second round » Ranked in the Top 25 United Soccer Coaches poll every week and peaked at No. 3 » Senior Marcus Caldeira was named the Sun Belt Player and Offensive Player of the Year after leading the conference with 14 goals and 35 points » Caldeira earned All-America First Team honors by United Soccer Coaches » Caldeira was named the College Sports Communicators Academic All-American of the Year for the second consecutive season » Caldeira was named as one of 15 finalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy » Three Mountaineers were named United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region led by Caldeira on the first team while graduate student Carlos Hernando and junior Pablo Pozos landed on the second team » Caldeira was named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America First Team while Hernando was named to the second team » Pozos joined Caldeira on the All-Sun Belt First Team with Hernando, senior Felix Ewald, and sophomore Nacho Martinez earning spots on the second team » Juan Alvarez and Sammie Walker were both named to the Sun Belt All-Freshman Team » Pozos, Caldeira, graduate student Bryce Swinehart, junior Constantinos Christou, senior Ethan Dekel Daks, and junior Thijs Veldhorst were all named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District » After being drafted by Minnesota United FC in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Caldeira officially signed with the squad following WVU’s season » Ewald signed a professional contract with Real Monarchs of MLS Next Pro » Caldeira was eighth in the country with 14 goals and ninth with 35 points » Sophomore Isaac Scheer and Caldeira led WVU with seven assists » Pozos contributed with 11 goals and three assists
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» Dekel Daks (2g, 6a) and Ewald (4g, 2a) both had 10 points for the Mountaineers » Graduate student Marc Bonnaire started all 21 games in goal and recorded 50 saves and eight shutouts » Recognized with the Team Academic Award by the United Soccer Coaches for the 17th consecutive year
MARCUS CALDEIRA
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
TEAM
» United Socceer Coaches Team Academic Award
JUAN ALVAREZ
» All-Sun Belt Freshman Team
MARC BONNAIRE
» Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 7)
MARCUS CALDEIRA
» United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team » United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region First Team » Sun Belt Player of the Year » Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year » All-Sun Belt First Team » Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year » College Sports Communicators Academic All-American of the Year
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team » College Sports Communicators Academic All-District » United Soccer Coaches Scholar AllAmerica Team First Team » United Soccer Coaches Scholar AllSouth Region » Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 2) » 3x WVU Student-Athlete of the Week » Signed with Minnesota United FC after being drafted in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft
CONSTANTINOS CHRISTOU
PABLO POZOS
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
ETHAN DEKEL DAKS
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
FELIX EWALD
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team » Signed with Real Monarchs/MLS Next Pro
CARLOS HERNANDO
CARLOS HERNANDO
» All-Sun Belt Second Team » United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Second Team » United Soccer Coaches Scholar AllAmerica Second Team » Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
DANTE HUCKABY
» Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 7)
NACHO MARTINEZ
» All-Sun Belt Second Team
PABLO POZOS
» All-Sun Belt First Team » United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Second Team » College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
WVUAthletics
» Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week (Aug. 26) » WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (Aug. 25)
ISAAC SCHEER
» Preseason All-Sun Belt Team » Sun Belt All-Tournament Team » WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (Nov. 10)
BRYCE SWINEHART
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
THIJS VELDHORST
» College Sports Communicators Academic All-District » Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 2)
SAMMIE WALKER
» All-Sun Belt Freshman Team
@WVUSports
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35
RIFLE
18-1/5-0 GREAT AMERICAN RIFLE CONFERENCE GARC REGULAR SEASON/TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS NATIONAL CHAMPOIONS
GRIFFIN LAKE
» Finished with a 18-1 record, including a 5-0 mark inside the Great America Rifle Conference (GARC). » The 18 wins are the second most in a single season in program history behind only 19 wins during the 1964 season. » Won the program’s 21th NCAA National Championship. The mark leads the nation. » Claimed their 18th GARC Tournament championship and the fourth straight. » Also earned 17th GARC regular season title and third straight. » During the regular season, defeated six top 10 opponents and a combined 13 ranked opponents. WVU finished the season with a 12-1 record against ranked opponents. » Also won 10 or more matches for the 16th time under coach Jon Hammond, who improved his career record to 228-22 (.912) in 2025-26. » Junior Griffin Lake became the 11th shooter in program history to shoot a perfect 600 in air rifle. The marks also tied the school and NCAA records in the relay. Lake hit his mark on Oct. 4, 2025, against Memphis. » Has won 23 straight matches at home, dating back to the 2022-23 season. » Shot an NCAA Qualifying Score of 9485.6, which helped them earn their 18th consecutive bid to the NCAA Rifle Championships. WVU entered the field as the fourth-ranked team. » At the 2025-26 GARC Championships, hosted by Army, shot a 2358 smallbore and 2382 in air rifle for a combined score of 4740 to finish first at this year’s championships to finish in first in smallbore and aggregate score and second in air rifle.
» The team score was the highest ever total at the season ending event. The 2395 in air rifle tied the all-time NCAA mark and was the best championship score.
» Lake took first place in air rifle and second place in smallbore at the GARC Championship which were the Mountaineers highest individual results.
» Lake was named the Championships Most Outstanding Performer. It marked the fifth time in program history a Mountaineer has earned the honor.
» Before the GARC Championships, eight Mountaineer shooters earned a combined 20 honors on this year’s All-GARC teams.
» WVU’s 2353 in smallbore at the NCAA Championships was good for fourth place in the discipline while their 2395 in air rifle was the top mark.
» Of WVU’s 20 All-GARC team honors this year, seven student-athletes made the smallbore team, six made the air rifle team, and seven were a part of the combined (smallbore and air rifle) team.
» Lake and Oceanne Muller each qualified for the smallbore final, finishing in third and sixth place. Lake, Mueller and Jennifer Kocher qualified for the air rifle final and finished in third, fourth and seventh place respectively.
» Sophomore Jennifer Kocher represented West Virginia in the GARC’s Scholar-Athlete category.
» Eight members of the West Virginia University rifle team were named to the 2026 Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholastic All-America team: senior Maximus Duncan, juniors Griffin Lake and Lauri Syrja, sophomores Camryn Camp, Jennifer Kocher and Hana Strakusek and freshmen Oceanne Muller and Jack Ogoreuc
» Concluded the season by shooting a 4748 at the 2026 NCAA Rifle Championships, hosted by Ohio State, and finished first at the event.
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WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
ASHLYN BLAKE
» CRCA All-America Honorable Mention (Air Rifle) » All-GARC First Team (Air Rifle) » All-GARC Second Team (Combined)
CAMRYN CAMP
» Finished in 38th place in smallbore at NCAA Championship » Finished in 12th place in air rifle at NCAA Championship » Finished in 5th place at the GARC Championship in air rifle » CRCA All-America Honorable Mention (Smallbore) » All-GARC Honorable Mention (Smallbore) » All-GARC Honorable Second Team (Air Rifle) » All-GARC Honorable Mention (Combined) » CRCA Scholar Athlete
MAXIMUS DUNCAN
» CRCA Honorable Mention Aggregate » GARC Scholar Athlete of the Year » GARC First Team Smallbore » GARC First Team Air Rifle » GARC First Team Aggregate » CRCA Scholar Athlete
GRIFFIN LAKE
» NCAA Championships Most Outstanding Performer with a 1194 aggregate score » Finished third in smallbore and third in air rifle at the NCAA National Championship » CRCA All-America First Team (Smallbore) » CRCA All-America First Team (Air Rifle) » CRCA All-America First Team (Combined) » Took first place in air rifle and second place in smallbore at the GARC Championship
» Averaged a 592.1 in air rifle and 578.7 in smallbore
» All-GARC First Team (Smallbore)
» His air rifle average marked a careerhigh
» All-GARC First Team (Combined)
» Posted a career-high 598 in air rifle against TCU » Posted a career-high 586 in smallbore against Murray State » CRCA Scholar Athlete
JENNIFER KOCHER
» All-GARC First Team (Air Rifle)
» CRCA Scholar Athlete
OCEANNE MUELLER
» Finished sixth in smallbore and fourth in air rifle at the NCAA National Championship
» Finished in 7th place in air rifle and 34th place in smallbore at the National Championship
» All-GARC Honorable Mention Team (Smallbore)
» CRCA Second Team Smallbore
» All-GARC Honorable Mention Team (Combined)
» CRCA Honorable Mention Air Rifle
» All-GARC Second Team (Air Rifle)
» CRCA Scholar Athlete
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
JENNIFER KOCHER
» Became the 11th Mountaineer to score a perfect 600 in air rifle
HANA STRAKUSEK
» All-GARC HM (Air Rifle)
» CRCA Scholar Athlete
» All-GARC HM (Combined)
JACK OGOREUC
» CRCA Honorable Mention Smallbore » CRCA Scholar Athlete
» Third place in smallbore at GARC Championship » CRCA Scholar Athlete
JACOB WISMAN
LAURI SYRJA
» Finished in 29th in air rifle and 24th in smallbore at the NCAA Championship » All-GARC HM (Smallbore) WVUAthletics
» All-GARC Second Team (Smallbore) » All-GARC Honorable Mention (Combined)
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ROWING » Completed its 25th year as a varsity sport at West Virginia University » Was named the recipient of the 2026 Athletics Award by the WVU Center for Community Engagement, recognizing its exceptional commitment to civic and community involvement across the state of West Virginia » Led all WVU sports, men and women, for most hours of community service. » Addison Dobson, Raquel Iga, Alexis Mitchell, Grace Terlion and Teegan Wendley were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team Nikolina Djordjevic and Tessa Naldzin were selected as MVPs » Returned to the Sarasota 2k in Sarasota, Florida, where the 2V4 turned in the top performance, advancing to the petite finals to finish sixth. The 1V4, 1V8 and 2V8 all advanced to the third finals. The 1V4 would go on to place second, the 2V8 earned fifth and the 1V8 took sixth place. » Entered seven boats into the Knecht Cup Regatta, three of which competed in the 2V4 division. All three boats went on to advance to the petite finals, finishing sixth in Petite Final 1 and second and sixth in Petite Final 2. The 1V4 advanced to the Petite Final 1, securing gold in that race. The 3V8 was unable to move on from the first heat, narrowly missing the qualifying time. WVU’s 2V8 ended up in the Final 3 where they claimed sixth place. The 1V8 was sent to Final 4 to eventually take home third » Concluded the regular season at the Lake Wheeler Invitational. Competition at the Lake Wheeler Invitational consisted of three separate rounds over two days instead of the
NIKOLINA DJORDJEVIC
traditional heats and finals. The 3V8 opened racing for the Mountaineers, placing fifth in Heat 2, followed with a sixth-place finish in Heat 3 during Round 2 before closing the weekend with a fifth-place result in Round 3. WVU’s 2V4 and 3V4 competed in the 2V4 category. The West Virginia 3V4 placed seventh in Heat 1. In Round 2, WVU secured a fifth-place finish. The 2V4 placed sixth in Heat 2 during Round 1 and fifth in Heat 3 of Round 2. In Round 3, the 2V4 and 3V4 raced in the same heat, placing fifth and sixth, respectively. The Mountaineer 1V4 took fifth in Heat 2 of Round 1 before a close finish in Round 2 secured sixth in the third heat. The 1V4 capped the weekend with a fifth-place finish in the third heat of Round 3. In a tightly contested second heat of the 1V8, WVU pulled out a sixth-place finish in Round 1. Round 2 saw the Mountaineers take seventh place and concluded the regatta with a sixth-place finish in the third heat of Round 3. The 2V8 placed seventh in all three rounds » Earned 36 team points to finish fourth at the Big 12 Championships, including a bronze finish in the 2V4 » Senior Nikolina Djordjevic, junior Teegan Wendley and senior Grace Terlion were honored on the All-Big 12 Team » Eleven student-athletes were named to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete team » Seniors Emma Higgins and Grace Terlion earned a spot on the CRCA Scholar-Athlete for the third consecutive year, while senior Ksenia Kaludjerovic, juniors Raquel Iga, Alexis Mitchell, Lauren Mueller and Teegan
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Wendley made their second appearance on the team. New honorees included graduate student Grace Fay, senior Addison Dobson and sophomores Kate Conard and Brooke Plummer
NICOLE BARRINGER » Academic All-Big 12
MARY BOONE
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ERIN CARMICLE
» Highest WVU Student-Athlete GPA – Eberly College of Arts and Sciences » Academic All-Big 12 » Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award
KATE CONARD
» CRCA Scholar-Athlete » Academic All-Big 12
HOPE DEEGAN
» The Hammer Award Winner » Nikolina Djordjevic » All-Big 12 Team » The Hammer Award Winner » MVP Award Winner » Senior Oar Recipient » Academic All-Big 12
ADDISON DOBSON
» WVU Outstanding Senior Award » CSC Academic All-District » Highest WVU Student-Athlete GPA – College of Applied Human Sciences » Senior Oar Recipient » CRCA Scholar-Athlete » Academic All-Big 12
ALANNA DUNNIGAN » Academic All-Big 12
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
GIADA FASSACESIA
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
GRACE FAY
» Highest WVU Student-Athlete GPA – School of Nursing » Senior Oar Recipient » CRCA Scholar-Athlete » Academic All-Big 12
JESSICA GASTON » Academic All-Big 12
CAMPBELL GETTIER
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
GRACE GONET
» The Flame Award Winner » Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
GRETA GIULIANO
» Academic All-Big 12 » Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award
EMILY GUBBINS
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
GRETCHEN HAM
» The Wake Award Winner
LYDIA HARRIS
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
EMMA HIGGINS
» Senior Oar Recipient » CRCA Scholar-Athlete » Academic All-Big 12
GRACE HOLLIDAY » Senior Oar Recipient » Academic All-Big 12
MELISSE HUGUET
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
RAQUEL IGA
» CSC Academic All-District » CRCA Scholar-Athlete » Academic All-Big 12
(LEFT TO RIGHT): GRACE TERLION, ABIGAIL YINGLING, AND TEEGAN TEEGAN WENDLEY WENDELY
LAUREN JONES
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
KSENIA KALUDIEROVIC » Senior Oar Recipient » CRCA Scholar-Athlete » Academic All-Big 12
LAUREN KEYSER
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
SARA KNEZEVIC
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
OLIVIA MARTENS
» The Wake Award Winner » Academic All-Big 12
KELSEY MCTAGGART » Academic All-Big 12
ALEXIS MITCHELL
» CSC Academic All-District » Highest WVU Student-Athlete GPA – School of Public Health » CRCA Scholar-Athlete » Academic All-Big 12 » Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award
JOSEPHINE MITTNER
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
LAUREN MUELLER
» The Flame Award Winner » CRCA Scholar-Athlete » Academic All-Big 12
TESSA NALDZIN
» For Stars Network Watch List » MVP Award Winner » Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
BROOKE PLUMMER
» CRCA Scholar-Athlete » Academic All-Big 12 » Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award
GRACE TERLION
» All-Big 12 Team » CSC Academic All-District » Senior Oar Recipient » CRCA Scholar-Athlete » Academic All-Big 12
ISABELLE TOTTON » Senior Oar Recipient » Academic All-Big 12
LUCILLE PRATT
CLAIRE TREVISANI
QUINN RAY
ANNABELLE WAGNER
» Academic All-Big 12
» Academic All-Big 12 » The Wake Award Winner » Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
» Academic All-Big 12
TEEGAN WENDLEY
» All-Big 12 Team » CSC Academic All-District » CRCA Scholar-Athlete » Academic All-Big 12
EMERSON RILEY » Academic All-Big 12
MORGAN RYAN
» Academic All-Big 12
MARIELLA RENEE WILSON
MIA SAMARDZIJA
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
» Academic All-Big 12
SAMANTHA SPENCER » Academic All-Big 12
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
WVUAthletics
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SWIMMING & DIVING
MEN: 3-2/7TH BIG 12 WOMEN: 3-4/10TH BIG 12
» The men’s team placed seventh and the women’s team placed 10th at the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Sophomore Levi Hellmann qualified for the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships after placing fourth on platform at the zone championships » This marked Hellmann’s first career appearance at the NCAA Championships » Four Mountaineers earned medals at the championships, including Hellmann (fourth place), redshirt senior Natasha Whittall (seventh place), freshman Rafael Mimoso (seventh place) and senior Abigail Sullivan (eighth place) » Three divers competed at the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships, including Hellmann, Sullivan and redshirt senior Glenn Eloriaga » On the women’s team, 14 top-10 program times were set, and on the men’s side, 25 top-10 program times were set » Seven Mountaineers earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic AllDistrict Honors: Delaney Cox, MJ Gilligan, Victoria Kidney, Abigail Sullivan, Patton Graziano, Max Nielsen and Erik Petruzzi » Stevi Chalemou, Whittall, Caden Oprandy and Joey Stebbins were named to the Scholar All-America second team by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA)
PRESTON BENNETT
» 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Team Captain
GLENN ELORIAGA
» Qualified for the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships: 1-meter, 3-meter, Platform » Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
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PATTON GRAZIANO
» Placed third in the C final of the 100yard backstroke at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Posted the eighth-fastest time in school history in the 100 back (47.69) at the Big 12 Championships » Won the 200-yard backstroke (1:49.28) against Villanova » Named to the College Sports Communicators 2025-26 Academic All-District Team » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
JAMIN HARLAN
» Posted the seventh-fastest time in program history (47.35) in the 100yard butterfly at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Team Captain
LEVI HELLMANN
» NCAA qualifier: 3-meter, Platform » Placed 42nd on platform and 48th on 3-meter at the NCAA Championships
» Qualified for the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships: 1-meter, 3-meter, Platform » Placed fourth on platform at the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships » Placed fourth on 3-meter (367.90) for his first career medal at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Won the B final on platform (327.45) at the Big 12 Championships » Placed third in the B final on 1-meter (305.60) at the Big 12 Championships » First Team All-Big 12
VEDAANT MADHAVAN
» Part of the relay team that swam the third-fastest time in school history (6:27.79) in the 800-yard freestyle relay at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Won the 1650-yard freestyle against Villanova » Won the 1650-yard freestyle (15:19.43) with the second-fastest time in program history at the WVU Invitational
DRAGOS GHILE
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Competed at the 2025 U.S. Open Championships in Austin, Texas » Part of the relay team that won the 400-yard medley relay (3:12.04) at the WVU Invite » Won the 100-yard butterfly (48.40) 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
RAFAEL MIMOSO
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
» Part of the relay team that won the 800 free relay (6:31.73) at the WVU Invite » Won the 200-yard freestyle (1:38.46) against Loyola (Md.) » Placed second while swimming the fourth-fastest time in program history in the 1000-yard freestyle (9:14.63) against Delaware
JAMESON MCENANEY
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Won the 100-yard free (44.88) against Villanova » Won the 100-yard free (44.70) and placed second in the 50 free (20.55) against Loyola (Md.) » Won the 50-yard freestyle (20.94) at the West Virginia State Games » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
IAN MCKINNEY
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award recipient
SZYMON MIECZKOWSKI
» Placed second in the B final of the 200-yard backstroke (46.72) at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Competed at the 2025 U.S. Open Championships in Austin, Texas » Won three individual events at the WVU Invite - 200 IM (1:48.72), 100 back (46.44) and 200 back (1:42.47) » Holds the fourth-fastest time in the 200-yard backstroke (1:42.47) and the fifth-fastest time in the 100-yard backstroke (46.44) » Won the 100-yard backstroke (47.71) while setting a pool record
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
for Rawstrom Natatorium against Delaware
RAFAEL MIMOSO
» Set the school record in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:15.02) at the 2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open » Placed seventh in the 200-yard breaststroke at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Recorded the second-fastest time in program history in the 200-yard breast (1:55.67) at the Big 12 Championships » Competed at the 2025 U.S. Open Championships in Austin, Texas » Second Team All-Big 12
MAX NIELSEN
» Part of the relay team that swam the third-fastest time in school history (6:27.79) in the 800-yard freestyle relay at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Named to the College Sports Communicators 2025-26 Academic All-District Team » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
CADEN OPRANDY
» Recorded the sixth-fastest time (1:56.70) in school history in the 200yard breaststroke at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Named Big 12 Men’s Co-Swimmer of the Week (Oct. 2, 2025) » Named to the CSCAA Scholar AllAmerica second team » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ERIK PETRUZZI
» Placed third in the B final of the 100-yard breaststroke (53.89) at the
2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Finished second in the C final of the 200-yard breast (1:57.35) in the eighth-fastest time in school history at the Big 12 Championships » Tied seventh all-time in school history in the 100-yard breaststroke (53.71) » Competed at the 2025 U.S. Open Championships in Austin, Texas » Named to the College Sports Communicators 2025-26 Academic All-District Team » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
LEVI HELLMANN
JAKE SALCEDO
» Recorded the fourth-fastest time in program history in the 1650-yard freestyle (15:21.63) at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Posted the third-fastest time in school history in the 500-yard freestyle (4:22.95) at the Big 12 Championships » Won two individual events against Penn State - 500-yard free (4:29.75) and 1000-yard free (9:13.38) » Recorded the second-fastest time in program history in the 1000-yard freestyle (9:13.38) against PSU » Won the 500-yard freestyle (4:23.80) while swimming the fifth-fastest time in program history at the WVU Invite » Set a pool record for Rawstrom Natatorium and swam the thirdfastest time in program history while winning the 1000-yard freestyle (9:14.42) against Delaware » Won the 500-yard freestyle (4:33.83) against Delaware » Won the 1000-yard freestyle (9:32.03) at the West Virginia State Games » Named Big 12 Men’s Newcomer of the Week (Oct. 2, 2025) » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team WVUAthletics
CHRISTIAN SIMPSON
» Won the C final of the 200-yard freestyle (1:35.37) while swimming the second-fastest time in school history at the Big 12 Championships » Finished third in the C final of the 200-yard individual medley (1:47.30) while swimming the ninth-fastest time in school history at the 2026 Big 12 Championships » Recorded the ninth-fastest time in program history in the 100-yard freestyle (43.93) during the 400yard freestyle relay at the Big 12 Championships » Part of the relay team that swam the third-fastest time in school history (6:27.79) in the 800-yard freestyle relay at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships
JOEY STEBBINS
» Finished second in the C final of the 200-yard individual medley (1:46.62)
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while swimming the sixth-fastest time in school history at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Placed second in the B final of the 400-yard individual medley (3:50.39) while swimming the sixth-fastest time in program history at the Big 12 Championships » Swam the seventh-fastest time (1:43.94) in school history in the 200-yard back at the Big 12 Championships » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Named to the CSCAA Scholar AllAmerica second team
PARKER STERLITZ
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Won the 500-yard freestyle (4:30.17) against Villanova » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Team Captain
CAS VERSTEGEN
» Posted the ninth-fastest time (53.91) in school history in the 100-yard breaststroke at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Competed at the 2025 U.S. Open Championships in Austin, Texas » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
FELIX VICKNAIR
» Finished second in the C final of the 200-yard butterfly (1:46.94) while swimming the fifth-fastest time in school history at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Swam the ninth-fastest time (47.52) in school history in the 100-yard butterfly at the Big 12 Championships » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
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CAMRYN BAIR
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
OLIVIA BUSCH
» Placed 15th in the 1650-yard freestyle (16:52.09) at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Placed second while swimming the ninth fastest time in program history in the 1000-yard freestyle (10:06.43) against Marshall » Team Captain
STAVROULA CHALEMOU
» Qualified for the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships: 3-meter, Platform » Named to the CSCAA Scholar AllAmerica second team » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
DELANEY COX
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Named to the College Sports Communicators 2025-26 Academic All-District Team » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award recipient
MJ GILLIGAN
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Won the 400-yard IM (4:22.16) against Loyola (Md.) » Won the 400-yard individual medley (4:22.05) at the Florida State University Invitational » Named to the College Sports Communicators 2025-26 Academic All-District Team » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award recipient
VICTORIA KIDNEY
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Competed at the 2025 U.S. Open Championships in Austin, Texas » Named to the College Sports Communicators 2025-26 Academic All-District Team
» 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award recipient
MACEY LARSON
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Competed at the 2025 U.S. Open Championships in Austin, Texas » Recorded the eighth-fastest time in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:16.86) in program history at the WVU Invite » Named Big 12 Women’s CoNewcomer of the Week (Oct. 2, 2025)
LOGAN LECKNER
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Recorded the ninth-fastest time in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:17.14) in program history at the WVU Invite » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
GIADA DEL MEDICO
» Recorded the 10th-fastest time in school history in the 200-yard backstroke (1:59.32) at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Won the 200-yard backstroke (2:00.05) against Delaware » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ABIGAIL SULLIVAN
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
TABI MAIN
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Recorded the ninth-fastest time in the 200 IM (2:02.58) in program history at the WVU Invite » Recorded the 10th-fastest time in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.39) in program history at the WVU Invite » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
GABRIELA MARTIN
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Won two individual events against Penn State - 100-yard free and 200yard free » Won two individual events against Villanova and Duquesne - 100-yard free and 200-yard free » Part of the relay team that won the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:20.63) at the WVU Invite » Won the 100-yard freestyle (50.66) against Delaware » Named Big 12 Women’s Swimmer of the Week (Oct. 23, 2025) » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Team Captain
DELIA OSTAFI
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Part of the relay team that won the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:20.63) at the WVU Invite » Won the 200-yard freestyle (1:54.24) at the West Virginia State Games » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
BAYLEE SLOAN
» Won the C final while swimming the 10th-fastest time in program history (2:00.81) in the 200-yard butterfly at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Swam the 10th-fastest time in program history (2:02.67) in the 200 IM at the Big 12 Championships » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
BAYLEE SLOAN
MADDIE SMUTNY
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Won the 1000 free (10:05.75) while swimming the ninth-fastest time in program history against Loyola (Md.) » Set a pool record at the Frederick A. Fitch Natatorium and swam the eighth fastest time in program history in the 500-yard freestyle (4:50.29) against Marshall » Won two individual events at the West Virginia State Games - 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
ABIGAIL SULLIVAN
» Placed 11th on platform at the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships » Qualified for the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships: 1-meter, 3-meter, Platform » Placed eighth on platform (227.85) for her first career medal at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Second Team All-Big 12 » Named to the CSCAA Scholar AllAmerica second-team » Named to the College Sports Communicators 2025-26 Academic All-District Team
» 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Team Captain
NATASHA WHITTALL
» Placed seventh in the 100-yard backstroke (53.49) while swimming the sixth-fastest time in school history at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Placed seventh in the B final of the 200-yard back (1:59.61) at the Big 12 Championships » Recorded the seventh-fastest time in school history in the 200 back (1:58.45) at the Big 12 Championships » Competed at the 2025 U.S. Open Championships in Austin, Texas
WVUAthletics
» Second Team All-Big 12 » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team » Named to the CSCAA Scholar AllAmerica second team
MADALYN WITT
» Competed in multiple events at the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships » Posted the ninth-fastest time in program history in the 200-yard backstroke (1:59.35) while placing second against Pitt » Named Big 12 Women’s Newcomer of the Week (Jan. 15, 2026) » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
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TENNIS 7-13/1-12 BIG 12
JULIE BOUSSEAU
» For the 13th straight year, West Virginia was named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team, and six Mountaineers were named ITA ScholarAthletes (Graduate student Julie Bousseau, senior Audrey Moutama, sophomores Lyla Byers and Laura Villanueva Morillo and freshman Sosanna Malaak and Lucia Tognoni) » Went 6-1 in nonconference play, with five sweeps » Six players won five or more matches for the 2025-26 regular season » All eight Mountaineers who saw action this season won at least one match » Three players named to the College Sports Communicators 2025-26 Academic AllDistrict Team: Laura Villanueva Morillo, Audrey Moutama and Lyla Byers
JULIE BOUSSEAU
» ITA Scholar-Athlete » Finished 31-25 overall for the 2025-26 season Fall 2025 » Finished 17-9 overall, including 10-5 in singles play and 7-4 in doubles play » 2025 Beford Cup East Flight 2 Champion » 2025 Thunder in the Mountains Champion Spring 2026 » Finished 14-16 overall, including 8-7 in singles play and 6-9 in doubles play
LYLA BYERS
» ITA Scholar-Athlete » Finished 15-22 overall for the 2025-26 season Fall 2025 » After battling through injury, finished 1-7 overall
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Spring 2026 » Finished 14-15 overall, including 7-5 in singles play and 7-10 in doubles play » 2025-26 CSC Academic All-District
LILY HARPER
Spring 2026 » Competed in two matches, going 1-0 and one match going unfinished
ZUZANA KUDLACKOVA
» Finished 21-20 overall for the 2025-26 season Fall 2025 » Finished 11-12 overall, including 6-7 in singles play and 5-5 in doubles play » 2025 Bedford Cup East Flight 1 Runner-up Spring 2026 » Finished 10-8 overall, including 5-4 in singles play and 5-4 doubles play
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
AUDREY MOUTAMA
LAURA VILLANUEVA MORILLO
SOSANNA MALAAK
» Joined the program in January 2025 » ITA Scholar-Athlete Spring 2026 » Finished 3-8 overall, including 1-4 in singles play and 3-5 in doubles play
AUDREY MOUTAMA
» ITA Scholar-Athlete » Finished 30-27 overall for the 2025-26 season Fall 2025 » Finished 17-9 overall, including 10-5 in singles play and 7-4 in doubles play » Bedford Cup East Flight 1 Champion Spring 2026 » Finished 13-18 overall, including 8-8 in singles play and 5-10 in doubles play » 2025-26 CSC Academic All-District
DANIELLA SHVED
Fall 2025 » Finished 7-8 overall, including 4-6 in singles play and 3-2 in doubles play
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
Spring 2026 » Did not compete
LUCIA TOGNONI
» ITA Scholar-Athlete » Finished 21-17 overall for the 2025-26 season Fall 2025 » Finished 5-3 overall, including 3-3 in singles play and 2-0 in doubles play Spring 2026 » Finished 16-14 overall, including 7-8 in singles play and 9-6 in doubles play
LAURA VILLANUEVA MORILLO
» ITA Scholar-Athlete » Finished 24-15 overall for the 2025-26 season Fall 2025 » Finished 9-4 overall, including 4-2 in singles play and 5-2 in doubles play Spring 2026 » Finished 15-11 overall, including 7-6 in singles play and 8-5 in doubles play » 2025-26 CSC Academic All-District WVUAthletics
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TRACK & FIELD JOY NAUKOT
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» During the 2025-26 indoor season, the Mountaineers saw action in seven regular season meets, followed by the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships and the NCAA Indoor Championships » Sophomore Joy Naukot earned her fourth All-America accolade after finishing seventh in the 5,000 meters at NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. Naukot became the first Mountaineer to earn All-American honors in the 5,000 meters since 2010 » Naukot, Annishka McDonald, Olivia Cress and the DMR team of Mary Delany, Mercy Kinyanjui, Kishay Rowe and Lily Haught earned All-Big 12 honors at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships » McDonald broke the indoor high jump school record at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships with a clearance of 1.84 meters » During the 2026 outdoor season, the Mountaineers saw action in 10 regular season meets, followed by the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the NCAA Outdoor Championships » Three Mountaineers earned AllAmerica honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Naukot was recognized in the 10,000 meters, Kinyanjui in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and McDonald in the high jump » West Virginia had eight qualifiers for the NCAA East First Round. Naukot, Emily Bryce, Anastasia Chepkorir and Lexi Lamb in the 10,00 meters, Kinyanjui and Ronis Chelangat in the steeplechase, Rowe competed in the 800 meters and McDonald in the high jump. » Naukot, Bryce and Chepkorir earned outdoor All-Big 12 honors in the 10,000 meters, while Kinyanjui earned the honor in the steeplechase.
» Naukot and Kinyanjui finished runnerup in their respective events at the outdoor Big 12 Championships. » McDonald broke the outdoor high jump school record at the Dalton Ebanks Invitational with a clearance of 1.87 meters.
EMILY BRYCE
» Outdoor All-Big 12 First Team » Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ANASTASIA CHEPKORIR
» Outdoor All-Big 12 First Team » Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
EVA CRAIGIE
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
OLIVIA CRESS
» Indoor All-Big 12 First Team » Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MARY DELANEY
» Indoor All Big-12 First Team » Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team » 2026 Dr. Gerald Lage Award Recipient
IZAYAH EVERETT
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
AISLINN FRAZER
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
AUDREY HALL
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
LILY HAUGHT
» Indoor All-Big 12 First Team » Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
SIERRA HEISEY
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
SABRIA JONES
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
MERCY KINYANJUI
» Indoor All Big-12 First Team » Outdoor All-Big 12 First Team » Outdoor All-American » Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
LEXI LAMB
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
TECLA LOKRALE
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ANNISHKA MCDONALD
» Indoor High Jump Record Holder » Indoor All-Big 12 First Team » Outdoor High Jump Record Holder » Outdoor All-American » Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Outdoor All Big-12 First Team » Outdoor All-American » Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MAE NELSON
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team » 2026 Dr. Gerald Lage Award Recipient
CARE PICKERING
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
EVA RINKER
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team » 2026 Dr. Gerald Lage Award Recipient
KISHAY ROWE
» Indoor All-Big 12 First Team » Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
TATIANA MOURA
ALYSSA SAURO
JOY NAUKOT
ELLA WHITE
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team » Indoor All Big-12 First Team » Indoor All-American
OLIVIA CRESS
» Spring Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team » Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
ANNISHKA MCDONALD
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
WVUAthletics
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VOLLEYBALL 15-15/3-15 BIG 12
» Opened the year with a historic 12–0 start, the best in the 52-year history of the program » One of the final four undefeated teams in the nation » Earned the first home top 25 win in program history, defeating No. 19 BYU » The 1,285 fans vs. BYU marked the highest home crowd since 2021 and the seventh-largest attendance at home all time » Achieved the fourth best RPI improvement among Power 4 programs, rising 111 spots from last season » Posted a +63 point swing in hitting percentage differential (+38 on offense, –25 on defense)
TRINITY SHERIDAN
» Competed in the most five set matches in the Big 12 (7) and overall (9) » Recorded the highest total attendance in WVU’s 13 years as a Big 12 member » Won tournament championships at Quest for the Crown, West Virginia Invitational, Jack Kaiser Classic and Dolphin Volleyball Classic » Team recorded 18 blocks vs. Towson, the program’s most since 2018 and second most since 2014 » Trinity Sheridan was All Big 12 Second Team and surpassed 1,000 career kills » Laila Ibrahim reached 250 career blocks » Maddy McGath reached 250 career blocks » Alexis Finnvold was No. 2 in service aces (54) and aces per set (0.47 in the Big 12 » Ibrahim was No. 9 in blocks per set (1.10), team leading 117 blocks in the Big 12 » McGath was No. 6 in hitting percentage (.331) in the Big 12 » LonDynn Betts was No. 5 in total digs (429) in the Big 12 » Finnvold ranked 17th nationally in service aces and 27th in aces per set and tied the program’s Big 12 match record with six aces at Houston (Oct. 30). MADDY McGATH
» She was the only player in the nation with three consecutive matches of 5+ service aces » Team Earned the AVCA Team Academic Award » Nina Horning, Finnvold and Eily Painter were CSC Academic All-District, and Horning and Painter were selected to the 2024–25 Academic All Big 12 Rookie Team » The 2026 recruiting class is ranked No. 34 nationally by PrepDig
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WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
ANNA BARR
» Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic alltournament team
LONDYNN BETTS
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll » Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll » Dolphin Classic MVP » Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Oct.7
LAUREN BODILY
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll » Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll
QUINCEY COYLE
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll » Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll
MAGGIE ELLIOTT
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll » Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll
ALEXIS FINNVOLD
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll » Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll » No. 2 in the Big 12 with service aces (54) and aces per set (0.47) » 17th nationally in service aces and 27th in aces per set
TALLY GRISSOM
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll » Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll
NINA HORNING
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll » Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
» All-Tournament Team at Dolphin Volleyball Classic » All Tournament Team at West Virginia Invitational
LAILA IBRAHIM
» Liberty Tournament All-Tournament Team » Reached 250 career blocks Sept. 4 vs North Dakota
MADDY MCGATH
CHALINA LEDERER
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll » Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll
MADDY MCGATH
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll » Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll » Recorder her 250th career block on Nov 29 at Arizona State » Match MVP at Quest for the Crown on Sept. 1 » All Tournament Team at the West Virginia Invitational » 6th in the Big 12 in Hitting percentage (0.331)
EILY PAINTER
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll » Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll
TRINITY SHERIDAN
» MVP At Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic » All Tournament team at Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic » Match MVP at Quest for the Crown » All-Big 12 Second Team » Recorded her 1000 career kill on Oct 18 vs Colorado » MVP of the West Virginia Invitational » All Tournament Team of West Virginia Invitational » Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll » Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll WVUAthletics
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WVUSports
49
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
28-7/14-4 BIG 12 BIG 12 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS NCAA SECOND ROUND
» Made the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship as the No. 2 seed in Kansas City. » Captured the program’s second Big 12 title with a perfect 3-0 record. WVU defeated No. 10 Arizona (67-54), No. 6 Colorado (48-47) and No. 1 TCU (62-53) » A Big 12 record, 853,000 fans tuned into ESPN for the Big 12 Championship, which is a record high viewership. The 5,857 in attendance at the title game were the most since 2013
» Harrison twice, Shaw, and Sydney Woodley earned spots on the Big 12 Starting Five. » 93,681 total attendances, the highest in program history. It is the 17th highest attendance in the nation. » 4,931 average attendances, the second highest in program history and the 22nd best in the nation. » Finished with a 15-0 record at home. 8-2 on the road. 5-1 at neutral sites. » Has produced three straight 25-win seasons for the first time in program history. The 28 wins this season were the third most in program history, while the 78 wins over the last three seasons match a program mark for most over a three-season span. » Sydney Shaw set the single-season record for three-pointers made with 95. » The 76.34 points per game are the third most in program history and the most since the 1992 season. The 963 made field goals are also the third most in program history. » Knocked down 238 threes on the season, the fourth most in program history. » The 390 steals this season were the fifth most in program history.
» Made their fourth straight (second-longest streak in program history) and 17th appearance in the NCAA Tournament
» Scored 100 points in four games this season, the most in program history. Three of those games came during conference play, marking the only team in the nation to reach that mark more than one time against a conference opponent.
» Resume during the season awarded them the chance to host the NCAA Tournament First and Second Round inside Hope Coliseum for just the second time in program history
» Scored 2,672 points during the season, the second-most points scored by a team in program history.
» A program record 13,504 fans came to the first-round game against Miami (OH), where WVU collected its third straight win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The total fans in attendance were the seventh most for a single-session game in tournament history
JORDAN HARRISON
» WVU played eight ranked opponents and finished the year with a NET Ranking of 18. WVU finished the season with a 3-3 record in Q1, 10-3 in Q2, 3-0 in Q3 and 11-0 in Q4 games » Knocked off four AP Top-25 opponents this season, giving WVU 64 wins over top25 teams in program history. The four wins over AP-ranked teams are tied for the second most in a single season in program history » Collected ranked wins over No. 15 Duke (The Greenbrier Five Game) 57-49, No. 11 Iowa State 83-70, No. 14 Baylor 70-60, and No. 10 TCU 62-53 » Strung together three seven-game winning streaks throughout the season and never lost consecutive games more than once » Jordan Harrison was named to the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big 12 First Team and added All-Big 12 Defensive Team honors » Harrison was named a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist, along with UCLA’s Lauren Betts, UCONN’s Sarah Strong and Notre Dame’s Hanah Hildago » Gia Cooke and Meme Wheeler were named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mentions » Harrison was named the Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Performer and Sydney Shaw joined her on the All-Tournament Team
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WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
GIA COOKE SYDNEY SHAW
JORDAN HARRISON
» Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Finalist » Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Midseason Watchlist » Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year » Big 12 Conference First Team » Big 12 Conference Defensive Team » Big 12 Conference Championship Most Outstanding Performer » Big 12 Conference All-Tournament Team » 2x Big 12 Starting Five » CSC Academic All-District
SYDNEY SHAW
» Programs single season three’s made record holder with 95
» Celsius Women’s 3-Point Championship Participant » Big 12 Starting Five
GIA COOKE
» All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention » Baha Mar All-Tournament Team
MEME WHEELER
» All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention
SYDNEY WOODLEY » Big 12 Starting Five
» CSC Academic All-District » Celia Riviere » CSC Academic All-District
» Big 12 Conference All-Tournament Team
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
WVUAthletics
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51
WOMEN’S SOCCER
14-3-4/8-0-3 BIG 12 NCAA TOURNAMENT
» In its 30th season in program history, finished 14-3-4 overall, along with an 8-0-3 mark in Big 12 play » Received an at-large bid in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament, which marked the squad’s 24th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history » Additionally, the Mountaineers have now qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 24 of the last 26 seasons » In this year’s NCAA Tournament, WVU was selected as a First Round host and earned a national seed (No. 7) for the first time since 2022. » West Virginia also earned a spot in the 2025 Big 12 Tournament as the No. 2 seed » WVU’s 14 wins marked its most in a season since 2018, while its 8-0-3 record in Big 12 Conference play marked its third Big 12 campaign and second consecutive with eight wins. » The squad secured an unbeaten Big 12 record for the fifth time since joining the conference in 2012 and first since 2016 » Earned a second-place finish in the league for its best conference finish since 202021, while also marking its fourth second-place finish in Big 12 competition » Unbeaten conference slate also marked West Virginia’s sixth unbeaten record in league play all time and was part of a 15-match unbeaten streak that stretched from Aug. 28-Oct. 30 and included 12 wins and three ties » Also was the only Big 12 team to be ranked in the top 15 in the RPI all season » Collected its first win over a ranked opponent since 2022 when it topped No. 16 BYU, 3-2, on Sept. 25 in Provo, Utah » The win also marked WVU’s first ranked road win since 2019, handing BYU its first Big 12 Conference loss since joining the league in 2023 » Three different Mountaineers scored six or more goals for the first time since 2018, including Taylor White (10), Maddie Levy (6) and Abbey Olexa (6) » Five Mountaineers were selected to the 2025 All-Big 12 Teams, led by Taylor White on the First Team » Midfielders Maddie Levy and Anna Hauer and defender Nyema Ingleton were named to the Second Team, while midfielder Ava Arnold rounded out the group on the AllFreshman Team » Ingleton, Levy and White also were recognized on the United Soccer Coaches AllMidwest Region Team
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» White also was recognized on the United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team, marking WVU’s first AllAmerican since 2022 » The Mountaineer defense recorded 11 shutouts in 2025, including eight at home and five in a row from Aug. 28-Sept. 11 » WVU was 10-1 at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in 2025, including a perfect 6-0 in Big 12 play » Academically, six Mountaineers were named Academic All-District selections by the College Sports Communicators » West Virginia placed 17 studentathletes on the Fall Academic All-Big 12 Team » Taylor White and Roxanne Vilain moved on to the professional ranks following the 2025 campaign. White signed with Racing Louisville FC in the NWSL, while Vilain signed with Le Mans FC in France. » The duo moved WVU’s all-time count of professional players to 46
TEAM
» United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award
EMILY AKPEBU
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
AVA ARNOLD
» All-Big 12 Freshman Team » Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team » Big 12 Freshman of the Week (Oct. 15)
ISABEL CAESER
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ANNA HAUER
» All-Big 12 Second Team » Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team » CSC Academic All-District Team » Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award » WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (Oct. 27)
NYEMA INGLETON
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
BAILEY HERFURTH
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team » Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week (Sept. 3) » Most Improved Player (Team Awards)
NYEMA INGLETON
» United Soccer Coaches AllMidwest Region Third Team » United Soccer Coaches Scholar AllSouth Region Second Team » All-Big 12 Second Team » Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 10) » Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award » Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team » CSC Academic All-District Team
JOSIE JOHNSON
» Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
GIANNA KOSS
» Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award » Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team » CSC Academic All-District Team
ABBEY OLEXA
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
JACEY RASE
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team » Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 29) » Most Valuable Player & Most Outstanding Defensive Player (Team Awards)
ALEXIS RÉ
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
AJANAE RESPASS
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team » CSC Academic All-District Team » Preseason All-Big 12 Team » S.O.C.C.E.R. Award (Team Awards)
ALICIA RIGGINS SYDNEY RITTER
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
CHRISTINA SALAMA
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
MAYA LEONI
OLIVIA SHERTZER
MADDIE LEVY
LAYLA THOMPSON
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team » United Soccer Coaches AllMidwest Region Fourth Team » All-Big 12 Second Team » Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team » CSC Academic All-District Team
SOPHIA NICKEL
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team » CSC Academic All-District Team
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
TAYLOR WHITE
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team » Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
ROXANNE VILAIN
» Fall Academic All-Big 12 First Team » Big 12 Defensive Player of the week (Sep. 17)
TAYLOR WHITE
» United Soccer Coaches AllAmerica Third Team » United Soccer Coached AllMidwest Region First Team » All-Big 12 First Team » Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 15) WVUAthletics
» WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (Sept. 29, Oct. 13) » Signed professional contract with Racing Louisville FC in the NWSL » Most Outstanding Offensive Player (Team Awards)
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53
WRESTLING 11-5/5-3 BIG 12
» Eleven dual wins were the program’s most since 2014, capping a fourth consecutive season with 10 or more dual wins for just the second time in school history » Defeated five Big 12 opponents for the first time since joining the conference » Earned three wins over ranked opponents, marking the most under head coach Tim Flynn » The win against No. 17 Northern Iowa in February was the highest-ranked team the program has defeated under Flynn » Placed fifth at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships, its highest finish since the conference expanded in 2016 » Finished tied for 23rd place at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships » Six Mountaineers represented West Virginia at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland » Redshirt sophomore Ty Watters led the team with a sixth-place finish, earning his second All-America honor
GUNNER ANDRICK
» NCAA qualifier (133 pounds) » Placed fourth at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships (133) » Finished 26-10 overall, including 9-9 against ranked opponents » One of four wrestlers on the team to win at least 20 matches » Finished with the third-most wins at 133 pounds in a season in program history (26) » Finished with the sixth-most wins in a season as a freshman in program history (26) » Ended the regular season winning eight consecutive bouts » Placed fifth at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational » Southeast Open Champion (133 pounds - Freshman/Sophomore Division) » NWCA Scholar All-American » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
MICHAEL BALDWIN
» Finished 18-9 overall, including 9-4 unattached » Earned his first career win over a ranked opponent in his first dual appearance against Wyoming’s No. 28 Riley Davis (Dec. 3-2)
IAN BUSH
» NCAA qualifier at 184 pounds » Placed third at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships (184) » Finished 20-12 overall, including 8-6 against Big 12 opponents » One of four wrestlers on the team to win at least 20 matches » Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year » Became the program’s first wrestler to earn the award » NWCA Scholar All-American » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
» For the first time in school history, West Virginia has had an All-American at seven consecutive NCAA Wrestling Championships » Redshirt senior Jordan Titus qualified for his fourth NCAA Championships, becoming just the 16th Mountaineer to do so » Six Mountaineers reached the podium at the Big 12 Championships » Watters and redshirt junior Ian Bush led the team at the Big 12 Championships, placing third in their respective weight classes » Two Mountaineers won individual titles at the Cliff Keen Invitational as Watters and graduate student Jett Strickenberger won their respective weight classes » WVU placed fourth at the invitational for its highest finish since 2002, and secondhighest finish ever
JETT STRICKENBERGER
» Bush was named Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Mountaineer wrestler to earn the award » West Virginia had five National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar AllAmericans: freshman Gunner Andrick, Bush, freshman Brock Kehler, freshman Casen Roark and freshman Luke Satriano
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WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
BRODY CONLEY
» Finished 17-9 overall, including three wins against ranked wrestlers » Placed sixth at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational » Southeast Open Champion (174 pounds) » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
LEO CONTINO
» Finished 9-4 overall, including 3-1 unattached » Southeast Open Champion (165 pounds - Freshman/Sophomore Division) » Finished third at 165 pounds at the Patriot Last Chance Open
COLE EVANS
» Finished 14-5 overall, including 7-2 unattached » Won at 165 pounds at the Patriot Last Chance Open
SASHA GAVRONSKY
» Finished 12-12 overall » Competed at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships at 165 pounds
LOUIE GILL
» Finished 17-4 overall, including two wins over Big 12 opponents » Bobby Kauffman Memorial Open champion (125 pounds)
BROCK KEHLER
» Finished 12-19 overall, including one win against a ranked opponent » Competed at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships at heavyweight » NWCA Scholar All-American » 2025-26 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
TJ LANGLEY
» Finished 14-10 overall, including one win against a Big 12 wrestler » 2026 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team
RUNE LAWRENCE
» NCAA Qualifier at 197 pounds » Finished 18-13 overall, including seven wins against ranked opponents » Placed sixth at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational » Placed second at 197 pounds at the Southeast Open
WILLIE MCDOUGALD
» Finished 7-11 overall » Placed eighth at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships (149)
JETT STRICKENBERGER
» NCAA qualifier at 125 pounds » Finished his WVU career at 61-25 overall » Won three matches at the NCAA Wrestling Championships » Placed fourth at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships (125) » Finished 22-9 overall, including 10 wins against ranked opponents » One of four wrestlers on the team to win at least 20 matches » Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Champion » WVU Student-Athlete of the Week (Dec. 8, 2025)
SHAWN TAYLOR
» Finished 7-10 overall, including one win against a Big 12 opponent » Placed seventh at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
JORDAN TITUS
» NCAA qualifier at 141 pounds
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
TY WATTERS
» Became the 16th WVU wrestler to qualify for the NCAA Championships four times » Finished his WVU career at 92-61 overall » Placed fifth at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships (141) » Finished 16-16 overall, including six wins against ranked opponents
TY WATTERS
» NCAA All-American » Placed sixth at the NCAA Wrestling Championships WVUAthletics
» Advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships » Placed third at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships (157) » Finished 26-6 overall, including 12 wins against ranked opponents » One of four wrestlers on the team to win at least 20 matches » Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Champion » Defeated Stanford’s Daniel Cardenas at the NWCA All-Star Classic
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55
ATHLETICS STAFF DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Wren Baker, Vice President/Director of Athletics
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION Rob Alsop, Senior Deputy Director of Athletics Omar Banks, Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Financial Officer Ben Murray, Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Development Officer Natasha Oakes, Deputy Director of Athletics/ Senior Woman Administrator Matt Wells, Deputy Director of Athletics/ External Affairs Michael Fragale, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Communications Mary Giardina, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Student-Athlete Experience, Governance and Compliance April Messerly, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Capital Projects, Facilities & Event Management Brittney O’Dell, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Student-Athlete Services and Wellness Don Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Gold & Blue Enterprises Erin Gibson, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Marketing Cathy Martin, Director’s Office Administrator
BUSINESS OFFICE Omar Banks, Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Financial Officer Fabia Dillon, Associate Athletics Director/ Strategic Finance and Budget
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Graham Reger, Assistant Athletics Director/ Business Operations Angelica Tabares, Director of Business Reporting Kenzley Urban, Director of Business Operations Tiffany Teter, Accounting Assistant
ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS Michael Fragale, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Communications Bryan Messerly, Associate Athletics Director/ Communications Mike Montoro, Assistant Athletics Director/ Director of Football Communications John Antonik, Sr. Director of Athletics Content Joe Swan, Sr. Director of Athletics Publications Phil Lynch, Director of Athletics Graphic Design Chris Coombs Assistant Director of Athletics Communications Adam Grossman, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications Keegan Hartman, Assistant Director of Athletics Graphic Design Charles Montgomery, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications/Operations Aniebiet Okon, Assistant Director of Athletics Graphic Design Olivia Sneed, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications Lisa Ammons, Business Manager Amy Prunty, Program Assistant
DIGITAL MEDIA Ross Marra, Assistant Athletics Director Joe Mitchin, Director of Social Strategy
Reed Collins, Director of Creative Content Jakob Ryan, Director of Creative Video Will Davidson, Assistant Director of Creative Content Blake Bowers, Creative Content Producer
ATHLETICS COMPLIANCE Mary Giardina, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Student-Athlete Experience, Governance and Compliance Michael Derringer, Associte Athletics Director/ Governance & Compliance Kendall Smith, Assistant Athletics Director/ Governance & Compliance Taylor Koper, Assistant Director of Compliance Logan Lipkovitch, Associate Director of Compliance Cindy Smith, Compliance Assistant
ATHLETICS MARKETING Erin Gibson, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Marketing Noah Smith, Assistant Athletics Director of Marketing Corie Apodaca, Director of Digital Marketing and Revenue Strategy Brandon Cochran, Assistant Director of Marketing Mitchell Daigle, Assistant Director of Marketing
SPORTS MEDICINE Dr. A.J. Monseau, Medical Director/Head Team Physician Travis Randolph, Clinical Director of Sports Medicine
Mathew Donello, Assistant Athletics Director/ Head Athletic Trainer, Basketball Michael Polascik, Assistant Atheltics Director/ Head Athletic Trainer/Football Steven Rosier, Associate Director of Sports Medicine Luke Cody, Assistant Director of Sports Medicine Matt Pahls, Assistant Director of Sports Medicine Hailee Settle, Assistant Director of Sports Medicine Collin Hauschild, Athletic Trainer Javiera Gonzalez Soto, Athletic Trainer Jimmy Mattocks, Athletic Trainer Blair Rush, Athletic Trainer Catherin Steinmetz, Athletic Trainer
CLINICAL AND SPORT PSYCHOLOGY Dr. Sofia Espana Perez, Clinical and Sport Behavior Health Therapist Dr. Diane Benish, Clinical and Sport Behavioral Health Specialist Karla Klein, Clinical and Sport Psychology Fellow
EQUIPMENT Dan Nehlen, Director of Football Equipment Operations Kyle Keesler, Director of Basketball and Olympic Sports Equipment Operations Austin Blake, Assistant Director of Football Equipment Operations Michael Stokes, Assistant Director of Baseball Equipment Operations Sydnie Destifanes, Assistant Director of Olympic Sports Equipment Operations Ryan Schmitt, Assistant Director of Olympic Sports Equipment Operations Jack Stakem, Assistant Director of Olympic Sports Equipment Operations Dylan McDilda, Football Equipment Manager
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
FACILITY OPERATIONS April Messerly, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Capital Projects, Facilities & Event Management Zach Eckert, Assistant Athletics Director for Facilities/Operations Greg Iversen, Maintenance Supervisor Jimmy DelGatto, Director of Facilities/ Operations Riley Jenkins, Assistant Director of Facilities and Operations Doug Himes, Director of IT Brett Collins, Assistant Director of IT Ryan Guthrie, Electronic Media Technician Senior David Ratzer, Electronic Media Technician Drew Dirda, Turf Grass Manager Kevin Klunk, Assistant Turfgrass Manager Tony Cavender, Athletics Maintenance Jim Ford, Athletics Maintenance Ben McClain, Athletics Maintenance Greg Ridgway, Athletics Maintenance David Isner, Trades Specialist Lead II Zackery Arnold, Trades Specialist Michael Collins, Trades Specialist/Painter David Dusenberry, HVAC Technician David Stout, Trades Specialist Tristin McCabe, Trades Specialist/HVAC Amy Hagedorn, Administrative Secretary Senior
GOLD & BLUE ENTERPRISES Don Robinson, Chief Executive Officer Taylor Garcia, Director of Operations and Strategic Engagement
HUMAN RESOURCES Kim Thaler, Assistant Atheltics Director for Strategic Initiatives and Administration Danielle Clay, Assistant Director, Personnel Services Lauren Robbins, Payroll Specialist
2025–26 ANNUAL REPORT
MOUNTAINEER ATHLETIC CLUB Ben Murray, Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Development Officer John Patterson, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Executive Director Doug Wallace, Associate Athletics Director/ Development Cory Chambers, Senior Director of Development Matt Waggoner, Director of Development/ Annual Giving Madison Clayton, Director of Donor Relations and Communications Kyle Poland, Associate Director of Development/Major Gifts Jake Prady, Associate Director of Development Connor Smith, Assistant Director of Premium Seating and Annual Giving Tyler Flood, Development Specialist Lisa Thomas, Program Assistant
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING Mike Joseph, Assistant Athletics Director, Head Coach for Strength and Conditioning Parker Whiteman, Assistant Head Strength Coach/Director of Skill Development for Football Kaitlin Sweeney, Assistant Athletics Director, Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports Zack Allen, Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning Tanner Kolb, Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports Nick Meadows, Director of Sport Science/ Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning for Football William Bernhardt, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for Football RayQuan Horton, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for Football
Vince Ippoliti, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Football Jason Martinez, Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning for Men’s Basketball Chandler Geller, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Olympic Sports Jake Gurtis, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Olympic Sports Easton Nelson, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Olympic Sports
Meredith Bollinger, Academic Counselor Brandon Hardy, Academic Counselor David Marshall, Academic Counselor Regan Braun, Academic Counselor Taylor Tatterson, Academic Counselor Bariyah Watts, Student-Athlete Development Coordinator Kristie Mills, Learning Specialist
SPORTS NUTRITION
Michael Honeywell, Associate Athletics Director for Ticket Operations Nate Black, Director of Ticket Operations Zach Coonick, Assistant Director of Ticket Operations Gina Ezelle, Ticket Assistant Michael Fox, Ticket Assistant Ella Byrd, Ticket Assistant
Jonathan Brainard, Director of Sports Nutrition, Football Kristina Martinez, Director of Sports Nutrition, Olympic Sports Amalia Tsipas, Dietitian, Assistant Director of Sports Nutrition – Football Jonathan Wu, Assistant Director of Nutrition for Olympic Sports
STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT Mary Giardina, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Student-Athlete Experience, Governance and Compliance Brittney O’Dell, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Student-Athlete Services and Wellness Zach Seger, Assistant Athletics Director, Student-Athlete Academic Services Sandy Cole-DeMent, Assistant Director, Student-Athlete Academic Services Lucy Mariani, Associate Director, StudentAthlete Academic Services Jeremy Lannon, Assistant Director of Academic ServicesTutor Coordinator Donovan Parker, Assistant Director of StudentAthlete Academic Services Bree Porter, Assistant Director of StudentAthlete Academic Services Kristen Thomas, Director of Learning Support Services Katie Wilkins, Senior Academic Counselor
WVUAthletics
TICKET SALES
ATHLETICS VIDEO PRODUCTIONS Scott Bartlett, Assistant Athletics Director/ Broadcast Productions Sean Merinar, Director, Athletics Video Productions Chris Ostien, Assistant Director, Big Screens Aaron Shackelford, Production Manager Peter Belew, Broadcast Engineer Camden Green, Assistant Director, Big Screens
BASEBALL Steve Sabins, Head Coach Jacob Garcia, Assistant Caoch Jimmy Roesinger, Assistant Coach Justin Oney, Assistant Coach Christopher Reilly, Director of Pitching & Pitching Personnel Courtney Semkewyc, PhD. Biomechanist Joey Cuomo, Director of Baseball Operations Drew Hefner, Director of Player Development Jedd Gyorko, Special Assistant to the Head Coach
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WVUSports
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MEN’S BASKETBALL Ross Hodge, Head Coach Yusuf Ali, Assistant Coach Johnny Estelle, Assistant Coach Phil Forte, Assistant Coach Jase Herl, Assistant Coach Andrew Shaw, Assistant Coach Mike Randle, Director of Recruiting Sean McClurg, Director of Video, Scouting & Analytics Alex Mergner, Director of Men’s Basketbal Operations
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Mark Kellogg, Hayhurst Family Head Coach JC Carter, Associate Head Coach Erin Grant, Assistant Head Coach Jessica Grayson, Assistant Coach Kasondra Mckay, Assistant Coach/Director of Recruiting Caden Roberts, Video Coordinator/Assistant Coach Kayla Scott, Director of Basketball Operations/ Assistant to the Head Coach Trystan Layton, Assistant Director of Creative Content
CHEERLEADING Christy Davis, Head Coach
FOOTBALL Rich Rodriguez, Head Coach Zac Alley, Assistant Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebacker) Pat Kirkland, Special Teams Coordintor/ Defensive Assistant Travis Trickett, Senior Offensive Assistant Jack Bicknell, Assistant Coach (Offensive Line) Jeff Casteel, Assistant Coach (Bandits)
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Logan Bradley, Assistant Coach (Inside Receivers) Gabe Franklin, Assistant Coach (Safeties) Ryan Garrett, Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers) William Green, Assistant Coach (Defensive Line) Michael Nysewander, Assistant Coach (Tight Ends) Larry Porter, Assistant Coach (Running Backs) Rhett Rodriguez, Assistant Coach (Quarterbacks) Rod West, Assistant Coach (Cornerbacks) Derek Dressler, Assistant Offensive Line Coach Henry Weinreich, Assistant Coach (Nickels/ Sams) Pat White, Assistant Quarterbacks Coach/ Assistant to the Head Coach Dusty Rutledge, Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief of Staff Chuck Lillie, General Manager Cole Dial, Assistant Athletics Director/Football Operations Raquel Rodriguez, Assistant Athletics Director/ Football Management and Strategy Rasheed Marshall, Director of Player Relations Treylan Brown, Assistant Offensive Line Coach Jake Casteel, Assistant Defensive Coach Noel Devine, Assistant Running Backs Coach Tucker Donati, Assistant Special Teams Coach Chris Haering, Assistant Special Team Coach Ryan Nehlen, Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Andrew Warwick, Assistant Defensive Coach Patrick McCain, Assistant Director of Operations Isaac Miller, Assistant to the Head Coach Garrett Hirsch, Associate Director of Scouting Hannah Braxton, Director of On-Campus Recruiting Ty Arlesic, Assistant Director of Scouting Nic Bankston, Assistant Director of Scouting Thayne Bukowski, Offensive Analyst Ashton Derico, Defensive Analyst
Ja’cquez Williams, Defensive Analyst Alex Leveille, Associate Director of Video and Technology Jake Deaton, Assistant Director of Football Video Jake Herron, Associate Director of Creative Design Ty Hundley, Assistant Director of Creative Content Taylin Long, Creative Analyst Lori Rice, Administrative Associate
GOLF Sean Covich Head Coach Will Koras, Assistant Coach
GYMNASTICS Jason Butts, Head Coach Travis Doak, Associate Head Coach Kaylyn Millick, Assistant Coach Jessica Yamzon, Assistant Coach Hunter Langley, Director of Operations
WOMEN’S SOCCER Nikki Izzo-Brown, Head Coach Lisa Stoia, Senior Associate Head Coach Eric Beltran, Assistant Coach Liesa Seifert, Assistant Coach Katie Stakem, Director of Operations
SWIMMING & DIVING Brent MacDonald, Head Coach Matt O’Neillr, Diving Coach Michael Walker, Associate Head Coach Sydney Pickrem, Assistant Coach James Washbish Assistant Coach David Dent, Assistant Coach
TENNIS Miha Lisac, Head Coach Logan Blair, Assistant Coach
TRACK/CROSS COUNTRY
RIFLE
Sean Cleary, Head Coach Shelly-Anne Gallimore, Associate Head Coach Erin O’Reilly, Assistant Coach Clara Santucci, Director of Operations
Jon Hammond, Hayhurst Family Head Coach Jean-Pierre Lucas, Assistant Coach
VOLLEYBALL
ROWING Jimmy King, Head Coach Tina Griffith, Assistant Coach Mikie Sevick, Assistant Coach Ciara Devenuto-Wyeth, Assistant Coach
MEN’S SOCCER Dan Stratford, Head Coach Andy Wright, Associate Head Coach Nick Noble, Assistant Coach Nolan Sheldon, Technical Director
Jen Greeny, Head Coach Burdette Greeny, Associate Head Coach Aubrey Becker, Assistant Coach Mike Becker, Assistant Coach Erin Eisenhart, Director of Operations
WRESTLING Tim Flynn, Head Coach Cliff Moore, Assistant Head Coach Mitchell Port, Assistant Coach Kyle Bratke, Director of Operations
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS