Wheeling, W. Va. – On January 15, the Wheeling University Athletic Department announced that Women's Wrestling would become the 23rd intercollegiate varsity sport at the University. After eight months of planning, preparation, and recruiting, the Cardinals are ready to take the mat for their inaugural season in 2026-27. On Thursday, the team announced their inaugural schedule as their group of nine wrestlers take the mat to represent Wheeling.
The announcement that Women's Wrestling was coming to Wheeling continued the growth of the sport across the country. Upon announcement, a search began for the first head coach of Wheeling Women's Wrestling, And the honor would fall on Lily Sherer, A former standout women's wrestler at Lock Haven University. Sherer I came to Wheeling after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Pitt Johnstown Under head coach Shane Valko. After her hiring was finalized in March, Sherer immediately hit the recruiting trail as she built the first ever Wheeling Women's Wrestling roster. She was able to bring in a roster of nine wrestlers over the off season as the Cardinals would bark on a schedule then features both tournament play and dual meat action. With Wheeling adding Women's Wrestling, The Mountain East Conference (MEC) was able to create opportunities for these female student athletes, with talks of the first MEC Women's Wrestling Championships coming later in the winter.
With practices currently underway, Wheeling will take the mat for the first time as a Women's Wrestling program on November 1, 2026, When they head to the Tiffin open. It will be the first of five tournaments that the Cardinals go to during the year, and will test them again some of the best wrestlers in the region. The Adrian Invitational Will follow 14 days later on November 15, before the Cardinals head into their first ever dual meet. It comes against MEC opponent, Fairmont State on November 18, barking the first time the women's wrestlers will compete inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center. Their final tournament of the first half sends them to Baldwin Wallace on November 22, And their final dual meet will pit them against Concord On December 4. Wheeling will have the benefit of being at home for each of their first two dual meets before taking a break for the Christmas season.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Cardinals as they are back on the mat one month later on January 3. They will take a trip down to institute, West Virginia, where they will compete in an MEC tournament at West Virginia State. After doubling up with the men for their first two dual meets of the year, Women's Wrestling will take center stage on January 12th. They welcome in nearby Washington and Jefferson University in their first duel of the second half. Their final tune-up before the conference Championship event will be on January 17, When the team heads to the Mount Union open. The first ever MEC Women's Wrestling Championships Will be held on January 30, as the sport grows throughout the conference. The final MEC Event of the regular season will be on February 7 at the Bobcat Open, And the regular season comes to an end on February 9 with a trip to Bethany College. It will serve as the final tune-up before the Cardinals head to the NCAA DII Regional Tournament on February 19th & 20th.
The Wheeling University Women's Wrestling team takes the mat for the first time on Sunday, November 1, when they compete at the Tiffin Open.
