Wheeling, W. Va. - The run is on for the 2026 Mountain East Conference (MEC) / Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) Swimming & Diving Championships, and teams are putting together some of their top swims in the pool. On Tuesday, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) released their 2025 Fall Team Scholar All-America awards, honoring the top performing swim programs in the classroom. Both the Wheeling University Men's and Women's Swimming programs were honored on the list, with the women posting a team GPA of 3.65 and the men posting a GPA of 3.36.
"I am really proud of the effort the team placed in academics this semester," said Wheeling University Head Swimming Coach Will Hughes. "Our team academic captains (Olivia Moyer and Jordan Kraft) put in a lot of effort organizing study halls and collecting hours to ensure the team maintained academic integrity. We hope to string along continued success in the classroom and the pool."
The Scholar All-America designation includes collegiate swimming and diving programs nationwide from NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III, as well as NAIA and junior college institutions. To qualify, each team was required to post a team cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher during the fall 2025 semester, reflecting a sustained commitment to academic excellence alongside competitive achievement. In total, 709 teams representing 414 institutions and 16,421 student-athletes earned the Scholar All-America recognition for their work in the classroom. Several programs distinguished themselves with the highest team grade point averages across divisions, with Colorado College (DIII) leading the men at 3.81 and Brenau University (NAIA) leading the women at 3.93.
For the Wheeling Women's Swimming program, it is the fifth time that the Cardinals have earned the award in program history, including three straight semesters of being honored. The Cardinals posted a cumulative team GPA of 3.65 in their first semester under Head Coach Will Hughes, adding to what has been a strong semester in the pool. Through their first 10 meets of the season, the Cardinals have gone 6-4 overall, including a 1-3 mark in MEC play. They got off to a hot start, going 5-1 over the first six meets of the year, and are coming off a tough battle against Fairmont State in which they fell 108-88. They currently rank third in the conference in both dual and championship standings, scoring 525.20 and 401.69 points respectively.
On the Men's side, the Cardinals are also winning the team honor for the fifth time in program history, and the third semester in a row. Led by a young core of six freshmen, the Cardinals posted a cumulative GPA of 3.36 for the Fall 2025 semester, with 20 swimmers factoring into the score. The Cardinals have had one of their best seasons in the pool in recent history, going 8-2 through 10 meets, and have a chance to make history in their final home meet of the season. If they are able to sweep Fairmont State and Bethany, the Cardinals will set the program's new single-season dual meet win record, a mark they tied last season. The Cardinals are riding high in the MEC, leading the conference in both dual and championship points with 575.70 and 481.34 respectively.
The Cardinals are one of four programs in the MEC to win the Scholar All-America distinction, joining conference foes Davis & Elkins College, Fairmont State, and Salem in earning the award for both programs. CSCAA Executive Director Samantha Barany expressed her excitement for the team's academic success and the growth in the pool and in the classroom.
"The academic commitment demonstrated by these teams is exceptional," said Samantha Barany, Executive Director of the CSCAA. "These student-athletes continue to set a standard for excellence by succeeding at the highest level both in the pool and in the classroom, and the CSCAA is proud to recognize their dedication and achievement."
The Wheeling University Men's and Women's Swimming teams return to the pool on Friday, January 23rd, when they host Fairmont State and Bethany with opening swims at 6 PM.
