The Wheeling University Men's and Women's Swimming team open their account for the 2026/27 campaign on Saturday, as they make the short trip over to Salem, W.Va for a relay meet. It will be a first for the Swimming program under Will Hughes, with the relay meet a good chance for newcomers to get competitive reps under their belt with their new teammates.
The Wheeling University Swim team competed in a host of relays at the MEC/GMAC Championships l, many of which will be raced again tomorrow. The Conference Championship's were comprised of the 200, 400, and 800 free relays, along with the 200 and 400 medley relay (yards). The Wheeling quartet of Androniki Chrysafi, Giulia Liberti, Lydie Sprecher, and Grace Moorley were champions of the MEC in the womens 200 medley relay this February, clocking a time of 1:49.40. Chrysafi, Liberti, Sprecher, and Olivia Moyer would combine for the 400 medley relay, where they finished 2nd in the MEC. The Wheeling Women's Swim team would take two more 3rd place conference finishes in the 400 and 800 free relays to establish themselves as strong relayers, and will be eager to build on this success come Saturday.
The Men would also have the same success as the Women in the 200 medley relay, with Aris Dimakis, Efe Kucuk, Meiko Schonekes, and Nathaniel Olivares combining to take the top spot in the MEC. They would swim a time of 1:32.45, also taking 3rd in the MEC/GMAC combined. Archie Piggott would come in for Efe Kucuk in the 400 medley relay, where the Cardinals swam a 3:26.11 to lose to Davis & Elkins by just a second and take 2nd in the MEC. Wheeling Men would take Silver again in the 400 free relay, before adding another program MEC gold in the 200 free relay. Patrick Kirby, Sarp Kilic, Quintin Tayali, and Aris Dimakis swam a 1:25.25 to take the top spot and wrap up the relay portion of the Championships.
With 9 medals including 3 golds against the MEC last season, it is clear that the Cardinals are a strong relay team, and tomorrow's trip to Salem will be another chance to put that on show. With Salem being a predominantly Water Polo team, Saturdays meet will feature more short distance relays than others, providing a tough test for both Cardinal teams.
The Wheeling University Men's and Women's Swim teams will get underway from Bridgeport on Saturday, September 26th, with first raced scheduled for around 4pm.
