Rock Hill, SC. - The Wheeling University Men's Rugby team (8-1-1) silences any early season doubts with a commanding 5-0 day and Ruck the Rock Championship win. Wheeling beat four different ranked opponents and avenged an early season loss en route to clinching a National bid.

Game 1 vs Southern Virginia University

Wheeling started off the Ruck the Rock tournament with a 24-10 victory over Southern Virginia University. Panashe Mugororodi scored the first try of the weekend and his first try of 7's season. Shadreck Mandaza scored his first try of the day followed by a Taku Musingwini conversion. Alex Nyamunda scored a try and Mandaza wrapped up the scoring with another try and converted his kick after. 

Game 2 vs Queens University of Charlotte

Wheeling showed up to game two ready to play and won 43-7. Game one scorers Shadreck Mandaza and Taku Musingwini scored again in game two. Mandaza scored once and Musingwini scored twice with two successful conversion kicks. Chris Mathebula scored his first try of the season and Navin Couch and Mason Ziegler scored a try in the game as well. Wheeling has now out scored Queens 67-7 in two games played with them this year

Quarterfinal vs Belmont Abbey College

This was a matchup that Wheeling had been looking forward to and you could tell by the way they played. Wheeling dominated the whole game and came out with a 26-5 win. Panashe Mugororodi scored the first try and Taku Musingwini made the conversion kick. Musingwini and Mandaza would each get a try and make the conversion kick off their own try. Zac Hay would finalize the quarterfinal scoring with his first try of 7s season.

Semifinal vs University of Notre Dame

It was dominant from beginning to end as Wheeling beat #11 Notre Dame 36-0. Lawula Bata scored his first tries at Ruck the Rock with two tries in the match and a made conversion kick. Shadreck Mandaza scored a try along with two converted kicks. Chris Mathebula scored two tries in the game and Alex Nyamunda scored the last try of the game. 

Final vs Dartmouth

The 15's national player of the year, Alex Nyamunda, had a huge game to propel Wheeling to a 24-14 Ruck the Rock championship and national qualifying bid. Nyamunda scored the first two tries and Taku Musingwini made one conversion kick on those tries. Shadreck Mandaza and Lawula Bata had a championship game try and Musingwini would total two conversion kicks in the game.

Wheeling reminded everyone why they are the #1 ranked team in the nation and back to back National Champions going 5-0 and outscoring opponents 153-36. Shadreck Mandaza would once again lead Wheeling in tries with another 7 this weekend. Alex Nyamunda followed with 4, while Chris Mathebula and Lawula Bata each had 3. Taku Musingwini and Panashe Mugororodi each had two and Navin Couch, Mason Ziegler, and Zac Hay all had 1 try. Taku Musingwini led with 7 conversion kicks made while Shadreck Mandaza and Lawula Bata had 4 and 3 respectively.

Wheeling will return to action Saturday March 28th in South Bend Indiana for the Fighting Irish 7s.