Wheeling, W. Va. – Following a successful run at the 2026 Mountain East Conference (MEC) Wrestling Championships, the Wheeling University Wrestling team has announced changes to its upcoming schedule. The team will no longer be making the trip to the Lake Erie Tri Meet this week, after several injuries to the starting lineup would have forced the Cardinals to forfeit weight classes. The Cardinals will use the week to rest before they return to the NCAA Regional Run next week. 

The Cardinals last competed at the 2026 MEC Wrestling Championships on Saturday, where they sent 10 wrestlers with all but two having competed in the event previously. The young wrestlers took it all in inside the Waco Center, and then went to work on the mat. Across 10 weight classes, five advanced to the Championship Semifinals and three would go on to wrestle in at least third place matches. As a team, the Cardinals would finish 5th in the field, racking up 67.5 points, finishing just one spot lower than they did a season ago. However, the Cardinals would continue to build on their success from previous seasons, advancing their first ever wrestlers to the championship matches of their respective weight classes. Jaxon Burcher would wrestle in the 197-pound weight class and Gavin Harper would represent the team at 285, with both earning Second Team All-MEC finishes. 

The Wheeling University Wrestling team returns to action on Thursday, February 12th, when they head to the Salem Quad Meet at 6 PM.