Wheeling, W. Va. - In each of the last two seasons, the Wheeling University Men's Rugby team has reached the pinnacle of their sport. They have been crowned the Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) 7's National Champions and enter the 2026 season with many of the same cast of characters returning. The team looks to make it three in a row with this group, which would make them the third team ever to complete the three-peat. With a new leader in place in Head Coach Maxwell Hamilton, the Cardinals look to continue the winning tradition the program has built over the years.
The 2025 Spring 7's season would see the team compete across four regular season tournaments leading up to the 2025 CRC National 7's. The Cardinals started things off strong with a sweep of the Peach 7's. They would not take their first loss until March 29th in the finale of the Fighting Irish 7's and their only other game that wouldn't end in a win was a tie in the first game of the Big Rivers Rugby Conference (BRRC) 7's tournament. They qualified as the #1 seed heading into the CRC National 7's, and started things off strong with a 35-0 win over Babson College. They ran through the tournament bracket, scoring 30 or more points in three of the first four games, and would earn the right to face St. Bonaventure in the National Championship match. They would win a defensive battle between the two teams, with Wheeling coming out on top 19-5. It was their second straight national championship during 7's season, with a lot of the roster being there for both titles.
As they did the season before, the Cardinals will be running it back again in 2026 with many of the same cast of characters returning. Leading last year's run was Shadreck Mandaza, who accounted for 29 tries and 229 points during the 2025 7's season. The 7's game allows him to open up the field, and use his speed to his advantage down the sidelines. Joining him is the dynamic duo of Alex Nyamunda and Panashe Mugorogodi, who each made their presence felt during the Fall 15's season. Last spring, each contributed 19 tries to the Cardinal's cause, playing big roles when the team got down near the try line. Rounding out the returners is Lawula Bata, who will take the pitch for the first time since last 7's season. An injury forced him to miss the entire 15's season, and he looks to build off his four tries from last spring.
As they enter the 2026 season, the Cardinals will once again be challenging themselves with a four-tournament regular season that will take them to face some of the top teams in the country. They start the year off at the Queens Cup, hosted by Queens University of Charlotte, as the Cardinals look to get revenge on the Royals. They will then make the trip south to Rock Hill, South Carolina, where they will take on the Ruck the Rock Tournament. The event is hosted by SV Rugby and features several teams across the East Coast. Wheeling's road schedule wraps up with the Fighting Irish 7's, hosted by The University of Notre Dame. The year then wraps up at Bishop Schmitt Field when the Cardinals host the second annual Nail City 7's Tournament. Wheeling would win the tournament a season ago, and looks to defend their title on their home field.
The 2026 Spring 7's schedule kicks off on Saturday, March 7th, when the team heads to the Queens Cup in Charlotte, North Carolina.
