Wheeling, W. Va. - The Mountain East Conference (MEC) dual meet schedule kicked off for the Wheeling University Wrestling team this past week with a big win on the mat. On Tuesday, the MEC released their weekly MEC Wrestlers of the Week, presented by The Healthplan and the cardinals were represented on the list. Gavin Harper was named the MEC's Co-Wrestler of the Week, sharing the award with Fairmont State's Colton Stoneking, as he helped propel the Cardinals to victory.
Wheeling would welcome in Frostburg State this past Wednesday for their first dual meet of the year and it came down to the wire. The two teams went back and forth, with Wheeling earning an early pin in the 125lb match, and Frostburg State responding with a tech fall. The Cardinals would build a 13-5 advantage with three straight wins, but Frostburg State was right back with three wins of their own to take control at 15-13. The lead would change hands once again after both the 184lb and 197lb match-ups, and the Cardinals trailed 18-17 heading into the final bout of the night. The Cardinals would end the day in style, earning a pinfall victory in the 285lb match-up and they walked away with a 23-18 win, their first ever against Frostburg State.
For Harper, it was the second time in his career that he has earned the MEC Wrestler of the Week honor, coming through in the biggest moment of the night for his team. With his team trailing 18-17, he would step on the mat in the 285lb weight class as he went against Frostburg State's Cole Yonkin. The two would circle around the mat over the first minute of the match, with Harper keeping Yonkin in retreat mode. Then, when the one minute mark hit, Harper went in for the attack and got his first takedown of the day. From there, it wasn't long before Harper got his body on top of Yonkin and was able to turn him on his back for the pin. It earned six key points for the Cardinals as they overcame the Bobcats 23-18 and started 1-0 in dual meet action for the first time since the 2018-2019 season.
The effort not only helped the Cardinals pick up their first dual meet win of the season, but kept Harper's perfect season alive. Between the season-opening tournament and the team's first dual meet, Harper has gone a perfect 5-0, with each of those five pins coming via pinfall. Wendesday night's effort was his fastest pinfall of the season, pulling off the feat in just 1:16 and was the third time he has pinned someone in the first period of a match this season. Harper came into the season as the #13 ranked wrestler in the 285lb weight class, and was one of three MEC heavyweights on that inaugural list. He looks to keep the success going as the year progresses and continue leading the young group of Cardinals on the mat.
Harper becomes the 20th Wheeling University Student-Athlete to take home Conference Player of the Week honors this season with the award. He is the first Wheeling Wrestler to win the honors this season, and was also the last Cardinal wrestler to be honored when he won the award back on January 20th, 2025. He is the third Cardinal student-athlete to be honored this week, joining Wheeling Football players Conor Fitzpatrick and Leonard Sherrod.
The Wheeling University Wrestling team returns to action on Wednesday, November 12th, when they host Washington & Jefferson with first matches beginning at 7 PM.
