Wheeling, W. Va- Since the program was brought back during the 2020-21 season, the Wheeling University Women's Swimming team has been gradually rebuilding back into a threat. This season, the Cardinals have continued to trend upward as they tied for their best finish at the Mountain East Conference (MEC)/ Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) Championships, securing fifth overall and placing second within the MEC. They have put another exclamation point at the end of this season and they are ready for what the 2025-26 season has in-store for them.
After competing in the West Virginia University Games in October, the Cardinals faced off against Frostburg State and West Virginia Wesleyan to open conference play up. Starting with a loss and a win, Wheeling glided to win the following five meets in convincing fashion to head into November. A close win against Davis & Elkins would propel the Cardinals toa record of 8-2 heading into the Malone Invitational. Out of 16 teams, Wheeling placed sixth to head into the winter break on a high note.
The team trained down south and took on Lenior-Rhyne in North Carolina. They would come up short against them, but pulled out a big MEC against Fairmont State to enter its final meet of the season. While in Erie, PA, the team swam against Penn State Behrend and Alfred State College and would drop both to head into the MEC/GMAC Championships.
After four long days in the pool against quality competition for both conferences, Wheeling finished fifth overall and second in the MEC. The team collected All-MEC honors across 13 different events. The Cardinals were headlined by senior Jade Miller and junior Gabby Baiano who both took home individual MEC Titles. Miller finished fifth overall and first among MEC competitors to secure her third title in the 200-yard Backstroke, swimming a time of 2:08.67. Baiano took home the MEC crown in the 200-yard Freestyle with a time of 1:56.52 for the third time in her career, placing 8th overall. Miller and Baiano each received three individual All-MEC honors.
The Cardinals would get their third and final MEC Championship of the event when Miller, Lydie Sprecher, Grace Moorley, and Sophia Castillo took the pool for the 200-Yard Freestyle Relay. The foursome won the first individual relay championship in program history, swimming a time of 1:39.74 on day one.
The page closes on the 2024-25 season for the Wheeling University Women's Swimming team and it will look to train hard in the offseason to live up to next season's big expectations.
