Wheeling, W. Va. – When Mike Geibel was hired as Wheeling University's Head Rugby coach in 2019, his goal was to reestablish the program as a top contender nationally. After three years of recruiting and hard work, he accomplished that goal during the 2021-22 season, leading Wheeling Rugby to two National Championship events and taking home the gold in one of them. As 15's season rolls around in 2022, the team enters a new conference but has the same goals as it did a year ago, return to the national stage.
In 2021, the Cardinals took care of business during 15's season with a high scoring offense coupled with a stingy defense. Over their first three games of the season, they were outscoring opponents 196-20 and everyone was getting in on the action. They rode that success to a 6-2-1 record by the end of 15's play and qualified for the first ever National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Rhino Rugby Bowl. They took on the defending 2019 NCAA DI-AA champions and brought home the university's first-ever Division I National Championship with a 29-24 win. In 7's season, the team was able to duplicate their success, winning four of the six tournaments they appeared in and compiled a record of 24-4 over that span. They qualified for the NCR CRC 7's in New Orleans, Louisiana, and finished as the #6 team in the country, going 3-2 at that tournament.
As they return for the 2022-23 season, many of the same players from last season return to build on the team's success. Leading the way on offense will be flyhalf Chief Chipfumbu and fullback Mohammad Haddar. The tandem led the team in tries last season and Chipfumbu earned the first NCR Division I All-American Award in school history. They will be joined by two of the team's most reliable conversion kickers in
Ayoub Jalli and
Joe Iye. Iye handled the majority of the kicking duties during 15's season while Jalli took over during 7's. Both had a reliable foot and will look to tack on points this season. On the defensive side of the ball, the Cardinals return three strong prop players in Baileyy Brunner,
Josh Blankenship, and
EJ Vidal who will look to stop the run.
One of the big changes for the team in 2022 is that they are entering the Big Rivers Rugby Conference (BRRC). It will give them a more structured conference schedule and a conference championship would mean an automatic bid to the NCR playoffs. Joining Wheeling in the new conference are five other schools, including Iowa Central Community College (who they faced in the NCR Rhino Rugby Bowl last season), Adrian College, Aquinas College, Marian University, and Thomas More University. Mixed in with those games will be four non-conference matches against Queens University of Charlotte, University of Mary Washington, Notre Dame College, and Davenport. It will prove to be a tough test for Wheeling as they try to get back to the National Stage.
Head coach Mike Geibel is excited about what his team can do to start the season and is looking for similar success to last season.
"We're very excited to get into the season," said Geibel. "The Big Rivers (Rugby) Conference is going to be a big test every week. The guys have been working hard over the summer and have come back to campus for and ready to play. We just want to keep getting better each week and give ourselves the best opportunity for a deep playoff run."
The Wheeling University Rugby team kicks off the 2022 15's season on Saturday, September 3rd, when they hit the road to Charlotte, North Carolina, to battle Queens University of Charlotte at 1 PM.
