West Liberty, W. Va. – On Saturday, the best wrestlers from across the Division II Atlantic Region converged on West Liberty University. The Wheeling University Wrestling team had four members in the tournament, but unfortunately did not have anyone qualify for Nationals. They were led by River Pappas in the 174-pound weight class, who was the only placer on the day taking home sixth place and just missing Nationals.

Pappas's day started strong as he faced Davis & Elkins' Bradden Galassi in his opening match. Pappas would pick up the win by pinfall at the 2:33 mark and move on to the first round of the championship bracket. There, he met West Liberty's Ty McGrath and this time was the victim of the pinfall as he fell in 4:42. After a bye in his first consolation match, Pappas would take on Bluefield State's Justin Fritz and earned his second pin of the day in 5:17 and made the top four of the consolation bracket. He fell to the eventual 174-pound third-place finisher Hunter DeLong and would wrestle in the fifth and final spot in the Nationals. However, it was not meant to be as he fell to John Penfold in a pinfall in 59 seconds to take sixth place.

The other Cardinal to make the first round of the championship bracket was Clarouly Meca in the 285-pound weight class, but it was because of a bye. He would take on West Liberty's Francesco Borsellino, who would go on to win the 285-pound weight class. Meca was pinned in 1:18 and was moved over to the consolation bracket. Meca received a bye in his first consolation bracket match and would face Lake Erie College's Ronnie D'Amico. He would have his night ended, falling in a 7-3 decision, and ended his sophomore season with a record of 8-16. It was a strong season overall for Meca, as he had six pins on the season and looks to grow heading into the off-season.

The other two wrestlers on the day for Wheeling were Chase Montgomery and Brennon Reid in the 133-pound and 157-pound weight classes respectively. Montgomery started his day against Gavin Weaver from Ashland University but was pinned in 6:36. He moved to the consolation bracket, where he earned a first-round bye and prepared for a match with Glenville State's Alec Fullwider. Montgomery was pinned once again, this time in 4:22, ending his run in the Regionals. Been on Reid competed in his first-ever Regionals event, and faced Lake Erie's Tyler Swiderski to start things off. Reid was pinned in 3:48 before moving to the consolation bracket. He had a first round bye before his night was ended when Reid was pinned by Christian Rivera in 5:59.

The Wheeling University Wrestling team now heads into the off-season as they continue to build the program for the future.