Wheeling, W. Va. - After a long off-season, the Wheeling University Softball team (0-0, 0-0) is set to open the 2026 season this weekend. They get the year started with a bang when they team up with rival West Liberty to co-host the first-ever The Highlands Classic. It will be a three-day tournament hosted at the Highlands Sports complex, featuring hosts Wheeling and West Liberty, along with Findlay, IUP, the University of Indianapolis, and Lake Erie College.
The three-day tournament gets underway on Friday, February 20th, and runs through Sunday, February 21st with four games being played on each day. The tournament schedule will feature games at 10 AM, 12:30 PM, 3 PM, and 5:30 PM on each day, with Live Streaming provided by West Liberty and Live Stats provided by Wheeling. Each game will be a single-seven inning contest played on the indoor field inside The Highlands Sports Complex. The facility has served as a host to several Wheeling Softball games over the last two seasons, both on the indoor and outdoor fields, and will serve as the host site for this first-ever three-day tournament.
The first day of competition will see UINDY and West Liberty kick-off the tournament in game one at 10 AM. The Cardinals will then take the field for their 2026 season opener, with UINDY staying on for the 12:30 PM game, wrapping up the Greyhounds day. Game three will see IUP take on West Liberty at 3 PM, followed by the first official neutral site game featuring Findlay and IUP at 5:30 PM to wrap up the day. Day two will once again start with West Liberty as the host, taking on Findlay in the first of two day two games for the Oilers. Findlay stays on to battle UINDY in the 12:30 PM game, and UINDY wraps up their weekend against IUP in the 3 PM game. Day two rounds out with Wheeling on the field at 5:30 PM when they take on IUP. The final day will see everyone play two games, with Wheeling taking on Findlay and Lake Erie at 12:30 PM and 5:30 PM respectively, while West Liberty takes on the two teams at 10 AM and 3 PM.
The Highlands Sports Complex was first open in 2020 as part of The Highlands multi-yse development, featuring the area's best shopping, dining, entertainment, and more. It is not just a place for sports events, it is a complete sports destination. Expertly built and maintained, The Highlands Sports Complex does not disappoint athletes, spectators, members, and more. Experience, excellence in service, amenities, competition, and play, they strive to help their athletes reach new heights. The facility features six basketball/volleyball courts, a full-size indoor turf, a full size outdoor football field, four batting cages and pitching tunnels, a play climbing area, an arcade, a second floor mezzanine, and on-site cafe, and meeting and event spaces.
The 2026 The Highlands Classic begins on Friday, February 20th, when Findlay takes on West Liberty with first pitch at 10 AM. Follow along with our tournament central by clicking HERE.
