BECKLEY, W. Va. - UPIKE wrestling opened the 2025 half of their schedule with matches against WVU-Tech & Southern Virginia Thursday night. 

Match 1: Southern Virginia 38, UPIKE 14

Matthew Papa opened the match with a 10-1 major decision win over Brandon Didat in the 125 class. Ethan Croom was also defeated in a major decision, falling 23-11 to Francisco Ramirez in the 133. SVU took the 141 via forfeit but the Bears got one back in the 149. 

Calvin Moon scored three team points for UPIKE after winning a 6-0 decision over Porter Kinne. Hayden Canady was defeated via fall to Sawyer Ferry in the 157. In the 165, Chase Price scored five team points after a 19-4 tech fall victory over Noah James. 

SVU's Tyson Hoopes defeated Randall West via fall in the 174. SVU took the 184 and 197 via forfeit, before ReGinald Whyte won the heavyweight 285 bout. Whyte pinned Porter Trappe at 1:35 to end the match. 

Match 2: WVU-Tech 35, UPIKE 17

Brandon Didat avenged his loss in match one with a 6-3 decision win over Jayden Rouse in the  125. Ethan Croom followed up Didat's victory with a 17-12 decision win over Tech's Blayson Jordan in the 133 before the Golden Bears won the 141 via forfeit. 

Calvin Moon was defeated via fall during his match against Troy Harris in the 149. Hayden Canady won his match via forfeit in the 157 and then Chase Price improved to 2-0 on the day after a win in the 165 match. 

WVU-Tech took the 174 after Nicholas DeSilva defeated Randall West, then took the 184 and 197 after forfeits. The match ended after ReGinald Whyte was defeated by Maxwell Underwood in the heavyweight 285 class. 

Coach Travis Mallo's squad will take to the mats on February 1st for a match with Cumberland University. 

#BearDown