Wheeling, W. Va. – On February 5th, 2021, the Wheeling University Men's and Women's Swimming teams competed in their first event since the 2016-2017 season when they traveled to Alderson Broaddus. It was the reinstatement of a program that had been on hiatus since that 2016 season and gave head coach Daniel Murphy a chance to lay the foundation for the program he was going to build.
Flash ahead to 2021, and the teams are ready to compete in their first full seasons as a reinstated program at Wheeling University. Murphy and his teams are excited to get back into the water and build upon their experience in their first full season back in the pool.
"I am very excited to begin the first full season since the reinstatement of our program," said Murphy. "We will be competing against a great group of conference and regional foes that will give our athletes an opportunity to race some quality opponents while preparing for the Mountain East Conference (MEC)/Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) Championships."
On the women's side, the Cardinals return one while bringing in a class of five freshmen and six newcomers for the 2021-2022 season. Leading the group is senior Beth Pharo who was the only lady to compete last season for Wheeling. Her best performances came at Alderson Broaddus, where she took third place in the 100-Meter Backstroke, and at IUP, where finished the 50-yard freestyle at a team-best 38.65 seconds.
"I am thrilled for the return of senior Beth Pharo with all of the experience and leadership that she provides," said Pharo. "We are also bringing in a strong class of new women's swimmers highlighted by NJCAA Academic All-American Meredith Mandall."
On the men's side, Wheeling has a much smaller team with only two members, but they both pack a powerful punch. Sophomore Ethan Banks is the most accomplished of the duo, leading the way at last year's MEC/GMAC Championships. He will be joined by freshman Nathan Yost (St. Clairsville, OH./St. Clairsville) who will be in his first season of college swimming.
"It is great to have two high-level athletes from the Ohio Valley as foundational pieces for our men's team," said Murphy. "I hope to continue to grow interest in Wheeling University swimming in our home region."
The Men's and Women's Swimming teams kick off their season in just over a week when they head to Frostburg State on October 2nd for their first MEC meet of the season. It kicks off a string of seven different meets leading up to the MEC/GMAC Championships from February 16th through February 20th.
The schedule includes one home meet inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center Natatorium against Bethany College and an alumni meet on homecoming weekend to celebrate the program's reinstatement. That home meet on October 30th will be the first event held inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center pool since the team hosted West Virginia University Institute of Technology on February 4th, 2017.
The season kicks off for the Wheeling University Men's and Women's Swimming teams on Saturday, October 2nd, when they travel to Frostburg State.
