Wheeling, W. Va. – The cold weather has rolled into Wheeling West, Virginia, but the postseason race is heating up as the Cardinal fall sports teams prepare for their postseason race. On Tuesday, the Wheeling University Athletic Department announced their weekly Cardinal High Flyer of the Week awards. Wheeling Football player Leonard Sherrod earned the Male High Flyer of the Week award while Women's Rugby player Rafi Barrack earned the Female High Flyer of the Week.
It was another busy week for the Cardinals, and it kicked off on the home floor of the Alma Grace McDonough Center as Wheeling Volleyball hosted Frostburg State. Wheeling would end up sweeping the match with a 3-0 win that got the week started strong. Wednesday would feature a home triple header in Wheeling with Men's and Women's Soccer and Wrestling all at home. Out at Bishop Schmitt Field, Women's Soccer fell 2-0 to West Liberty and the men would fall in the nightcap 4-3. Inside, Wheeling Wrestling would earn a big dual meet win as they took down Frostburg State 23-18. After an off dat on Thursday, the weekend would start with Volleyball once again on the road. They would travel to Point Park and, after dropping the first set, came back to win 3-1 to keep their conference success going.
Saturday would be a big day on the road for the Cardinals with all eight events being played on the road. Wheeling Cross Country would start the weekend competing in the 2025 NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Championships, with the men having a runner in the top 70 and the women putting a runner in the top 110. Women's Rugby was next to take the field, and wrapped up a perfect season with a 55-24 win over Virginia to finish 10-0. Men's Rugby was up next in the Atlantic Rugby Conference fifth place match, and walked away with a 40-23 win to earn an NCR automatic qualifier. Wheeling Football would hit the road and, after taking a 28-0 lead early, Wheeling would hildoff a Glenville State Comeback to win 38-35. Rounding out the weekend was Swimming, with the men falling 167-94 and the women fell 144-114 to end the weekend in their second MEC event of the season.
Leonard Sherrod is taking home his second Cardinal High Flyer of the Week award of the season after helping lead the Cardinal defense in their 38-35 win over Glenville State. He would finish second on the team with 10 tackles, eight solo and two assisted, reaching the double digit tackle mark for the second time this season. He was also responsible for the lone turnover of the day, intercepting a pass in the first half to cap off a strong day. It was a big interception for Sherrod, helping him break the single-season interception record with his fifth interception of the season. Sherrod has been a takeaway machine for the Cardinals all season, intercepting five passes and taking one for a pick sox, while defending nine passes. For his efforts, Sherrod was named the MEC's Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season as he continues to lead the Wheeling passing defense.
Rafi Barrack is earning her first Cardinal High Flyer of the Week award, after leading the Cardinals to a 55-24 win in their regular season finale. Barrack would get the offense going in just the fifth minute of the game, scoring her first try to put the Cardinals ahead 5-0. As the day went on, the Cardinals were looking for the score to clinch the win and it would be Barrack who once again provided. As the 80-minute clock was getting ready to expire, Barrack would get across the try line for the second time on the day, and got Wheeling over the 50-point mark. It was Barrack's second multi-try effort of the season and brought her season total to eight. She currently ranks third on the team as she has come on and made a big impact during her freshman season.
Rafi Barrack earns the foruth Cardinal High Flyer of the Week award of the season for Women's Rugby, while Leonard Sherrod takes home the fifth award of the season for Wheeling Football. Sherrod has won the award twice this season, and joins teammates Jefferson Bretanys-Desca, Landon Lutz, and Steven Mitchell in being honored for football. On the Women's Rugby side, Rafi Barrack joins Alexis Dallas and Bella Gullatta, who has won the honor twice this season as well. Last week, the Cardinals honored Wheeling Wrestler Gavin Harper and Volleyball player Megan Platt.
The next Wheeling University Athletic event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 12th, when the Wheeling Swim programs battle Davis & Elkins at 6 PM.
