Salem, W. Va. – After opening the 2022-23 season in tournament play, the Wheeling University Women's Swimming team hit the road for their first Tri-Meet on Friday night. They fell in the team competition, dropping a 169-69 decision against Salem and following it with a 172-67 decision against Notre Dame College. Despite th team results, the Cardinals picked up two first place finishes on the night as they continued to grow as individuals.

The two first place finishes for the Cardinals were sophomore Jade Miller and senior Meredith Mandal. Mandal brought home the first gold of the day when she competed in the 100-Yard Fly. She finished the event with a time of 1:03.45, finishing .15 seconds ahead of the next best swimmer. The second gold of the day came in the 100-Yard Backstroke as Miller took the pool for the first time. She swam a 1:02.20 and be the field by just over a second. Both swimmers also swam in one other event on the day, with Miller placing third in the 500 Yard Freestyle (5:57.70) and Mandal placing third in the 200 Yard Individual Medley (2:29.00). Both swimmers led the way for the team as they continued their strong seasons.

 Sophomore Maria Jones kept the success rolling when she kicked off the individual events swimming in the 1000 Yard Freestyle. She finished fourth overall with a time of 13:32.70 as she was the lone long distance swimmer for the women. Freshman Caitlin Oltman swam in two different individual events on the night and picked up two fourth place finishes. She swam in the 200 Yard Freestyle (2:08.90) and the 100 Yard Freestyle (58.10) as she continues to build her times. Marra Johnson was up next, with her highest finish being a third place in the 100 Yard Freestyle at 1:16.80 while adding a fourth place finish. Elizabeth Strange rounded out the individual scoring, finishing fifth in the 50 Yard Freestyle (31.35).

As they did in the last meet, each of the two Cardinals relay teams took to the pool in the days first and last event. The Women's 400 Yard Medley Relay kicked things off with Miller, Mandal, Johnson, and Oltman taking the pool. The foursome finished third in the field with a time of 4:19.90 to start the day off strong. In the final event of the day, Oltman, Miller, Mandal, and Jones took the pool for the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay. They pulled off another third place finish, swimming a 4:04.20.

The Wheeling University Men's Swimming team returns to the pool on Friday, October 28th, when they head to Bethany for a dual meet at 5 PM.