Wheeling, W. Va. – After experiencing a year full of individual success in 2025-26, Wheeling University Head Women's Golf Coach Thadd Obecny was set to build a solid foundation this off-season. He did just that, bringing in a recruiting class of four, with three of those being experienced veterans. That off-season work paid early dividends for the program, with the Cardinals being voted No. 3 in the annual MEC Preseason Women's Golf poll, earning one first-place vote and 58 total points.  

In the fall of 2025, it was a strong veteran presence at the top that led the Cardinals through the season. After posting a pair of team scores in their first two tournaments of the year, it would be individual results the rest of the way as the Cardinals' veterans shined. Along the way, the team set several high-water marks, including the first collegiate tournament win at the Pipesteam Classic for former Cardinal Ella Keffer. It would be Keffer and Brielle Milhoan leading the Cardinals through the fall season, and both played an instrumental role at the MEC Women's Golf Championships. Both put together fall-best performances at the championship event, and would lead the Cardinals to the third round of competition. It would be the first time that the Cardinals competed in third-round action since 2023, and they would end up taking sixth overall. They placed one player on the MEC All-Tournament team, their first honoree since 2022, bringing the fall to a strong conclusion. As a team, the Cardinals put together an average round score of 398.39 across 14 rounds between the fall and spring seasons and look to continue climbing the MEC ladder in 2026. 

The biggest storyline entering the fall for the Cardinals is the additions they have made to the team. During the spring season, Obecny brought on transfers Ivana Alvarez and Kaily Banal to boost numbers and help the Cardinals stabilize through the spring. Both made their impact on the course right away, and helped the Cardinals put together a season-best fourth place finish at the MEC Spring Classic. In the offseason, Obecny continued to add on to his women's roster, with a group of four more players joining this year's team. Included in that group are three junior transfers, each with their own level of success at the NJCAA level. Sawyer Hobbs comes in after playing two seasons at Shelton State Community College, where she was a two-time All-American. She led her team to the NJCAA National Championships each year she was there, and looks to raise Wheeling to that level. Dorthea Evebo and Tilly Jones round out the transfer class, coming from Dodge City Community College, where they were 2026 regional champions.  

With the heightened level of talent all-around on this year's roster, Obecny set up the fall schedule to challenge his team. September kicks off at nearby Cedarbrook Golf Course in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, where the Cardinals battle in the CAL-U Classic. It gives the Cardinals an early look at their regional and conference opponents right out of the gate, giving them a benchmark to build on during the fall season. After a week off, Wheeling continues their string of regional contests, with trips to Ohio Dominican and West Chester in back-to-back weeks. It will be the second straight year that the Cardinals are heading to Ohio Dominican, while the team makes its first trip to West Chester since prior to the 2020 season. The pre-championship push wraps up with the longest trip of the year, sending the team to Grand Valley State starting September 26. It will be the final tune-up before the MEC Championships, running at Stonewall Resort from October 11-13, before the Cardinals wrap up the fall at Ohio Dominican again on October 26.  

Leading the 2026 MEC Women's Golf Preseason Poll was the University of Charleston, coming off of its 2025 MEC Championship. The Golden Eagles earned nine first-place votes in a poll of the conference head coaches, while earning 72 total points in the vote. Finishing right behind them was Glenville State, earning 59 total points, while Wheeling received the other first-place vote, earning 58 total points. The entire 2026 MEC Women's Golf Preseason Poll is listed below: 

The Wheeling University Women's Golf team begins the 2026 season on Thursday, September 3 at the CAL-U Invitational.