Wheeling, W. Va. - At Wheeling University, we are working everyday to connect with the local community and truly become Wheeling's University. Part of this mission is to invite the local community on campus and, on Saturday, the Wheeling University Athletic Department announced its Fall 2025 Event Calendar. From different donation drives to celebrations, the Cardinals are inviting Wheeling to campus to celebrate with us all season long.
The 2024 season began these community outreach efforts with several events throughout the year that aimed to welcome the community on campus. The first of these events was the first-ever Wheeling Athletics Trunk or Treat event. The Cardinal teams stationed in the parking lot handing out candy to local children celebrating the Halloween season. With well over 200 kids in attendance, the events season kicked off and only continued from there. With events like the "Stuff the Truck" food drive, the Wheeling Festival of Lights Parade, and the Special Olympics basketball game in the gym, the Cardinals continue to reach out to celebrate our great city of Wheeling.
The events calendar begins right away on the first weekend as the Wheeling Men's Rugby team hosts IUP on Saturday, August 30th. The Cardinals will be celebrating the 2025 Collegiate Rugby Championships (CRC) National 7's title, with a short pregame ceremony celebrating the team's success. The following week will be the first donation drive event of the fall, with Wheeling Athletics teaming up with Ohio County Schools and Catholic Charities for the first-ever "Back-to-School Drive" on Saturday, September 6th. Fans attending either the Women's Soccer game against Florida Southern College at noon or the Football game against Walsh at 6 PM that day are encouraged to bring back to school supplies with all proceeds being donated to Ohio County Schools.
September continues with the Women's Rugby National Championship celebration weekend September 12th and 13th. The team will be putting on their ring ceremony on Friday, September 12th, and the championship celebration will be held the next day as the team gets set to host Ohio State. Like the men's celebration, there will be a short pre-game ceremony, with the team displaying their new rings as we honor the inaugural team. As the calendar changes to October, the past and the present collide with our annual Homecoming & Family Weekend, October 4th – October 5th. With four Cardinal home athletic events over the two days and the 2025 Wheeling Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony on October 5th, there are plenty of fun events for the family the whole weekend.
The fall calendar wraps up with the second annual Wheeling Athletics Trunk or Treat Event, held on Sunday, October 26th, with a time still to be determined. The Cardinals will once again line the parking lot to provide a trick-or-treat experience for the kids, with games, candy, and much more. Along with the big events, the athletic department is also planning different youth sporting events throughout the season. Little league and youth sports leagues across the area will be invited to spend the day with the Cardinals and be recognized on the field. Stay tuned to wucardinals.com for updates on Youth Sporting days and other events that will pop up throughout the 2025-2026 season.
The 2025-2026 Wheeling Athletics season kicks off on Thursday, August 28th, when the Wheeling University Football team travels to Clarion, with kick-off at 6 PM.
