WVU Tech collects 20 wins in season opener

By WVU Tech Sports

CORBIN, Ky. — Freshman Noah Krauss captured the 133-pound championship and classmate Kaden Riggleman earned a third-place finish as WVU Tech wrestling opened its 2026-27 season Saturday at the Pepsi Patriot Open. The Golden Bears had two place-winners and collected 20 individual victories across six weight classes.

Krauss, a native of Auburn, Ala., went undefeated in five matches to claim the title in his first tournament with the Golden Bears. He opened with a 13-2 major decision over A. Gibson of Brewton-Parker (Ga.) before defeating C. Jones of Missouri Valley University by an 18-4 major decision. Krauss advanced through the quarterfinals with an 8-5 decision over Michael Kowalski of Cumberlands (Ky.) and pinned Kortez Samuels of Andrew (Ga.) in 1:28 during the semifinals. He completed his championship run with an 11-1 major decision over William Harvey of Indiana Tech, finishing the day with three major decisions, a decision and a fall.

Riggleman, from Martinsburg, W.Va., worked his way through the consolation bracket after his opening-round match, earning six consecutive victories to reach the third-place bout. The freshman recorded three pins, including a 1:19 fall over K. Young of Georgetown (Ky.) and a 4:30 fall against Samuels in the consolation semifinals. He also earned a 17-3 major decision and a medical forfeit victory during his run. Riggleman finished 6-1, with the third-place match going uncontested after both wrestlers reached the tournament’s six-match daily limit.

Sophomore David Maxson added three victories at 125 pounds, advancing through three rounds of consolation competition. The Elk Grove, Calif., native earned a 15-5 major decision over T. Sang of Midway (Ky.) before recording a 19-3 technical fall against C. Stewart of Pikeville (Ky.) in 6:03. Maxson followed with a 6-5 decision over K. Dicken of Georgetown and finished the tournament with a 3-2 record.

Freshman Zalen McCraw and sophomore Curtis Smith each recorded two victories by fall. McCraw, wrestling at 165 pounds, pinned M. Baker in 1:56 and J. Williams of St. Thomas in 6:37 during consolation competition. Smith competed at 174 pounds, earning pins over W. Dunn of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) in 2:59 and fellow Golden Bear Isaac Slater in 1:10. Both McCraw and Smith finished 2-2.

Freshman Jaxson Young picked up a victory at 157 pounds, pinning E. Arias of Indiana Tech in 4:01 during the first round of consolation competition. Fellow freshman Joseph Cowger, a Shady Spring, W.Va., native, earned a 13-5 major decision over G. Glavan at 197 pounds. Young and Cowger each finished 1-2.

Sophomore William Vila also represented WVU Tech at 165 pounds, while freshman Isaac Slater competed at 174 pounds, rounding out the Golden Bears’ nine-wrestler lineup at the season-opening tournament.

Individual results | Pepsi Patriot Open

Weight	Wrestler	Record	Results
125	David Maxson (So.)	3-2	Wins: Major decision over T. Sang (Midway), 15-5; technical fall over C. Stewart (Pikeville), 19-3, 6:03; decision over K. Dicken (Georgetown), 6-5. Losses: Decision to J. Adams (Brewton-Parker), 5-4; fall to J. Wheeler (Brewton-Parker), 4:19.
133	Noah Krauss (Fr.)	5-0, 1st	Wins: Major decision over A. Gibson (Brewton-Parker), 13-2; major decision over C. Jones (Missouri Valley), 18-4; decision over Michael Kowalski (Cumberlands), 8-5; fall over Kortez Samuels (Andrew), 1:28; major decision over William Harvey (Indiana Tech), 11-1, in the championship match.
133	Kaden Riggleman (Fr.)	6-1, 3rd	Wins: Decision over J. Wise (Briar Cliff), 3-1; major decision over C. Badidda (Georgetown), 17-3; fall over K. Young (Georgetown), 1:19; medical forfeit over A. Diaz (unattached); fall over W. Hruskoci (Life), 5:32; fall over Kortez Samuels (Andrew), 4:30. Loss: Fall to K. Wheeler (Thomas More), 6:16. Third-place bout not contested due to daily match limits.
157	Jaxson Young (Fr.)	1-2	Win: Fall over E. Arias (Indiana Tech), 4:01. Losses: Major decision to I. Hutchinson (Defiance), 12-3; major decision to B. Hester (Indiana Tech), 11-1.
165	Zalen McCraw (Fr.)	2-2	Wins: Fall over M. Baker (unattached), 1:56; fall over J. Williams (St. Thomas), 6:37. Losses: Fall to L. Dunlavy (Northwestern Ohio), 4:43; fall to J. Hettinger (Indiana Tech), 4:34.
165	William Vila (So.)	0-2	Results: Technical fall to S. Lydon (Lindsey Wilson), 17-2, 3:40; decision to Z. Kenney (Indiana Tech), 5-2.
174	Isaac Slater (Fr.)	0-2	Results: Fall to A. Coston (Georgetown), 2:22; fall to Curtis Smith (WVU Tech), 1:10.
174	Curtis Smith (So.)	2-2	Wins: Fall over W. Dunn (Lindsey Wilson), 2:59; fall over Isaac Slater (WVU Tech), 1:10. Losses: Decision to G. Hightower (Brewton-Parker), 2-1; decision to W. Suskawicz (Campbellsville), 9-4.
197	Joseph Cowger (Fr.)	1-2	Win: Major decision over G. Glavan, 13-5. Losses: Decision to A. Buck (Lindsey Wilson), 10-3; fall to C. Wright (Reinhardt), 4:31.

What’s Next

WVU Tech returns to competition Thursday, Nov. 5, traveling to Montreat College (N.C.) for its first dual of the season. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in Montreat, N.C.

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