Wheeling, W. Va. - Throughout the 2025-2026 season, the Wheeling University Wrestling team (6-4, 3-1) has been growing experience for their young roster. On Saturday, the young Cardinals will face their toughest challenge yet as they head to East Stroudsburg University for the 2026 NCAA DII Super Regional 1 Tournament. The Cardinals made history at the event last year, finishing with an alternate for the NCAA National Championships, and they have their sights set on making a National Championship appearance for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Last time out, the Cardinals wrapped up their big dual meet schedule with a trip to Salem University for the Salem Tri-Meet. The first dual meet of the night would pit them against Seton Hill in their second meeting of the dual meet season. The Griffins would get out to a fast start, earning points in each of the first four bouts to take a 21-0 lead over the Cardinals. A decision in the 157 pound match got the Cardinals on the board, but by the 197-pound weight class, the score sat at 36-3. The Cardinal heavyweights finished it out with a pair of pinfalls, and the Cardinals would end the night falling 36-15. The second dual of the night would pit them against Mountain East Conference (MEC) opponent Salem, and this time the Cardinals would get the first points with a pinfall at 125. However, injuries forced three Cardinal forfeits on the night and it was once again down to the final two bouts with Salem leading 28-11. Wheeling would get a decision at 197 and a pin at 285 to round out the night, falling 28-20.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Gavin Harper at the 285 pound weight class, going 2-0 on the day with a pair of pinfall victories. He started the day against Seton Hill's Richie McCormack, and was able to control the match from the start. He needed just 29 seconds into the second period to secure the pinfall and earn six key points for his team. Against Salem, he would compete in a rematch of his 285-pound quarterfinal match at the MEC Championships. He would take on Salem's Mikey Lytle, and Harper was able to get the job done at the 1:07 mark of the first period, picking up his fastest pinfall of the year at 1:07. The effort helped improve Harper's record to 22-4 on the season, and upped his team-leading pinfalls to 10 on the season. His 10 pinfalls ranks tied for seventh all-time in a single season, while his 22 wins has him sitting just outside the top 10 in program history.
The other Cardinal to pick up multiple wins on the day was Jaxon Burcher at 197-pounds, coming off a strong performance at the MEC Championships. He started his night off against Seton Hill's Luke Boylan, picking up a pinfall at the 3:55 mark, and followed that up with a 7-1 decision over Salem's Iran Love. Burcher improved his record to 17-11 on the season and is looking to build off becoming the first Cardinal wrestler ever to advance to an MEC Championship match. The final pinfall victory on the day would come from Brent Bosley, who finished 1-1 across his two matches. He would start out the Salem dual with a bang, pinning opponent Ethan Moore in 2:34 to give Wheeling the early lead. Bosley was the first Cardinals to finish as an Alternate for the National Championship since the 2018-19 season last year and is looking to provide leadership for this year's team.
Saturday's NCAA DII Super Region I Tournament will be held at East Stroudsburg University, and will feature 12 teams, including two other programs from the MEC. Wheeling will be joined by conference opponents Fairmont State and Frostburg State, with the tournament also featuring Bridgeport, East Stroudsburg, Felician, Gannon, Kutztown, Millersville, Pitt-Johnstown, Seton Hill, and Shippensburg. The Cardinals were switched to NCAA DII Super Region I two seasons ago, and made a spalsh in the tournament last season, earning their first National Alternate since the 2018-19 season. The Cardinals look to build on that success this season, with a young roster that is facing the reigonal tournament for the first time in their careers.
The Details
The NCAA DII Super Region I Tournament will be held at East Stroudsburg University inside the Koehler Fiedlhouse. You can follow along with Live Results throughout the day by clicking HERE.
