Wheeling, W. Va. – Fall Sports got fully underway in the first week of September, with five Cardinal teams taking the field. On Tuesday, the Wheeling Athletic Department announced it's weekly Cardinal High Flyer of the Week Honors, with two new sports earning their first honors of the season. Wheeling Women's Golfer Sawyer Hobbs earned the Female High Flyer of the Week, while football player Landon Lutz took home the Male High Flyer of the Week award.
The first full week of September would be a big week on the field, starting with Women's Soccer's road trip to Lake Erie College. The Cardinals would wrap up their non-conference run falling 4-1 to the storm. Thursday would bring the season debut for the Wheeling Women's Golf program, as they competed in the CAL-U Invitational. Play would be affected by storms, and the Cardinals would finish tied for third with an abbreviated two-round score of 642. As the weekend came, it was time to welcome back some former Cardinals with the Wheeling Hall of Fame/Alumni Tournament. The Wheeling Volleyball team welcomed in four teams, with five opposing coaches being alumni of the Wheeling Volleyball program. The weekend revolved around the induction of the 2015 Volleyball National Championship team into the Athletics Hall of Fame, with members of the team back on campus. The Cardinals would go 2-1 across three matches, kicking off a busy home weekend schedule.
After the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony Saturday, action moved down to the pitch where Men's Rugby played their home opener. The Cardinals would open their Atlantic Rugby Conference (ARC) schedule against Belmont Abbey, and dropped a close match 26-20. As the Volleyball team split day two of their Alumni/Hall of Fame Tournament, the Saturday action would wrap up in nearby North Canton, Ohio. Wheeling Football made their first road trip of the season and, for the second week in a row, attempted a second half comeback after being held off the board in the first half. However, the Cardinals fell just short, falling 23-21 to even their record at 1-1. The weekend would end on the road with the Wheeling Men's and Women's Soccer teams traveling to FNB Stadium. The women would kick-off the day, and battled the Pioneers, but came out on the wrong end of a 2-0 score. The men would follow up the effort and held a 1-0 lead at halftime before falling on a goal in the final minute as they took a 2-1 loss.
Landon Lutz is taking home his first Cardinal High Flyer of the Week Award of the season, after setting the Wheeling Football Passing Yards All-Time Record. Lutz would finish the day going 16-31, while throwing for 252 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He would help the Cardinals make it a two-point game with 8:54 to play, connecting with Solo Love on a 49-yard pass that made it a 16-14 score. In the effort, Lutz became the program's all-time leading passer, bringing his career passing total to 4,283 yards over his five seasons with the Cardinals. He surpassed former Cardinal Javon Davis, who threw for 4,179 yards from 2022-2024. Lutz has surpassed the 250 yard passing mark in each of his first two games and looks to continue his success as the season goes on.
Sawyer Hobbs is also taking home her first Cardinal High Flyer of the Week award of the year after leading Wheeling at the CAL-U Invitational. Hobbs would finish the rain shortened two-round tournament tied for third overall, shooting a 148 (+6) across the two-day event. Hobbs would come out of the gate strong in round one, shooting an even 71 (E) across the first 18 holes of competition. She continued that success into the second round, where rain fell down and postponed day one. The teams came back on day two to finish the second round and start round three, but nine hole were all they would get through before rain once again canceled round three. Hobbs would end up shooting a 77 (+6) in the abbreviated round as she brought her Cardinal debut to an end.
With the announcement of the week two Cardinal High Flyer of the Week awards, the Wheeling Football team and Women's Golf programs each earned their first High Flyer of the Week awards of the season. Last week, the department honored Men's Soccer player Jon-Michael Gordon and volleyball player Autumn King in the first awards of the 2026=27 season.
The next Wheeling University Athletic event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9th, when the Wheeling Men's Golf team competes at the Golden Eagle Invitational in Charleston, West Virginia.
