ALLIANCE, Ohio — The No. 19-ranked West Liberty University men's wrestling team opened its 2025–26 season in impressive fashion on Saturday, crowning three individual champions and placing multiple wrestlers on the podium at the Mount Union Invitational.

Leading the way for the Hilltoppers were James Armstrong Jr. (133 lbs.), Nico Taddy (157 lbs.), and Carter Winegardner (174 lbs.), each capturing first-place finishes to pace a strong early-season showing.

At 133 pounds, Armstrong Jr. was dominant throughout the day, posting two technical falls and a decision victory in the finals. After opening with a pair of 17–1 tech falls over opponents from Ohio Northern and John Carroll, Armstrong advanced to the championship match, where he edged Case Western's Art Martinez, 4–3, to claim the title.

At 157 pounds, Taddy was equally impressive, racking up four wins — three by technical fall — on his way to the top of the podium. Taddy's relentless offense produced early-round wins of 18–1, 17–0, and 16–0 before closing with a 9–3 decision over Seton Hill's Mike Zacur in the championship bout.

At 174 pounds, Winegardner put together a complete performance, winning all four of his matches to secure the gold. He opened with an 18–3 tech fall, followed by three straight decision victories — including a 6–2 win in the finals against Gannon's Ethan Richner.

Several other Hilltoppers turned in strong efforts to round out the team's opening weekend:

• Logan Davis (125 lbs.) finished runner-up after an impressive 3–1 day, recording two pins and a decision before being forced to injury default in the championship match.
   

• Caiden Harbert (125 lbs.) battled back through the consolation bracket to place third, winning five straight matches — including a 1–0 victory in the third-place bout.
   

• Anthony Wood (149 lbs.) earned a fourth-place finish, highlighted by two tech falls and a pair of pins on his way to a 5–1 record.
   

• Bodie Morgan (165 lbs.) and Tyson Mills (165 lbs.) both placed fourth after strong tournament runs that included several bonus-point victories.
   

• Gabe Blissenbach (174 lbs.) claimed fifth place with a 4–2 record, while Levi Abbott (174 lbs.) finished seventh with four wins on the day.
   

• In the heavyweight division, Anthony Gencarelli (285 lbs.) finished sixth (5–2), and Vincent Parke (285 lbs.) placed seventh with a pair of pins.
   

The Hilltoppers' depth was on display from top to bottom, as 10 wrestlers placed and multiple weights featured more than one West Liberty competitor among the top finishers.

West Liberty returns to action Thursday when they host No.3 UPJ for their home opener and alumni night.