Wheeling, W. Va. - With the summer months ahead, the Wheeling University Athletic Department begins their preparations for the 2026-2027 season. On Tuesday, the Mountain East Conference (MEC) began their year-end award season, with the release of the nominees for the 2025-2026 MEC Play of the Year. Wheeling University has two plays on the list, with the winner being decided by way of a fan vote across each of the MEC's social media channels.
Plays were nominated by each institution, with each member school being able to submit a maximum of two entries. The winner will be determined based on a Fan Vote both on the MEC website and across their social media channels. The conference released all nominated plays on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X, with fans voting for their favorite play based on post interactions. Fans can also vote at the MEC website, by clicking HERE, for their favorite play. Votes from the website poll along with reactions across social media will be added up to determine the 2025-2026 MEC Play of the Year. Voting will run now through Monday, June 15th, with the winning play being announced on Tuesday, June 16th.
The first nominated play for the Cardinals came from the Wheeling Football team when Jalen Wheeler made a diving interception to stop the Frostburg State momentum. The play came with 8:04 left in the fourth quarter with the Bobcats pinned on their own 16-yard line. Frostburg State quarterback Tanner Pfeuffer dropped back to pass and fired the ball over the middle of the field, where Jalen Wheeler was lurking. Wheeler would jump up and intercepted the ball before coming crashing down to the turf and holding onto the ball. It set up the Cardinals for what would be their final score of the day, when Ade Olanegan connected with Steven Mitchell for a 14-yard touchdown strike. See the play below and vote for Wheeler's interception across social media:
The second nominated play for Wheeling comes from the softball field with Wheeling Softball earning a split against Concord. The game would be tied 1-1 after seven innings and that remained the score as the Cardinals came to bat in the bottom of the ninth. After a Kaylin Shields walk to start the inning, a groundout would move pinch runner Marissa Rodriguez into scoring position for senior Keke Warrix. Warrix would work the count to 2-2 before sending a pitch to the centerfield wall for a double. It allowed Rodriguez to score from second and the Cardinals walked away with a 2-1 walk-off victory over the Mountain Lions. It would cap off a 2-4 day for the Cardinal shortstop and was the first of two walk-off wins for the Cardinals during the season. See the play below and vote for Warrix's double across social media.
Voting for the 2025 MEC Play of the Year runs now through Monday, June 15th, at 5 PM. Vote across social media, or by clicking HERE.
