The 2024-25 season marks Cory Kephart's third season as the Head Men's and Women's Swimming Coach at Wheeling University.
The 2024-25 season saw continued growth for both teams, with the Women picking up their highest finish since joining the MEC and the men featuring their largest roster since 2016-17. The women finished 9-7 overall, marking their best season since the team went 10-2 during the 2014-2015 season. The team would head into the 2024 GMAC/MEC Championships as one of the top teams in the MEC and took sixth overall at the event and 3rd among MEC competitors. Under his watch, Gabby Baiano would earn the MEC's Swimmer of the Year award while Grace Moorley would take home the MEC Freshman of the Year.
For the men, it was a season of firsts as the team featured their biggest roster to date. The men finished 6-9 overall and 1-4 in MEC play and consistently competed throughout the season in every event. They would take seventh out of the nine teams at the GMAC/MEC Championships, and finished seventh overall for their highest finish since the program's rebirth. Jiwh Santos became the first individual All-MEC honoree for the Cardinals, taking home Honorable Mention honors in both the 50 and 100 Yard Freestlyes under Kephart's guidance.
In 2022-23, Kephart helped take both programs to new height as they are newly establishing themselves since coming back from hiatus in 2020. On the Men's side, the program hit a milestone with their first dual meet win since coming back from hiatus when they defeated Bethany 65-43 on January 28th, 2023. Ethan Banks and Nathan Yost led the way on that day, with two wins each and the Cardinals also produced the first relay team since the hiatus with Rua Karimazondo and Lawula Bata joining the poll.
on the women's side, the Cardinals added another individual MEC Champion in the form of Jade Miller. Miller defended her title in the 200 Yard Backstroke and added a new title in 100 Yard Backstroke to take home a pair of First Team All-MEC honors. Also under Kephart, Gabby Baiano was named the MEC Freshman of the Year and took home a pair of All-MEC honors herself. Baiano also set the Wheeling Pool Record in the 1650 Freestyle and posted the third fastest time in school history in the event when she swam an 18:07.71 to claim an Honorable Mention All-MEC title.Â
Cory has over 30 years of coaching experience at all levels of competitive swimming.  He started his career at the collegiate level at his alma mater, Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania. During his time at Gannon he was one of the youngest coaches in Division II, President of the Penn-Ohio Swim Conference and coached Gannon’s first ever swimming national qualifiers and All-Americans. During his tenure at Gannon he coached his swimmers to 2 All-American and 6 Honorable mention honors.
In 1996, he left college coaching to become the Aquatics Director at the Long Center in Clearwater Florida. During that time he kept his passion for coaching by coaching at several local high schools including Clearwater Central Catholic where he was able to coach a top level programs that consistently produced state qualifiers and a Florida state champion.
After moving to Orlando, Cory transition to club coaching. During his club coaching career he coached numerous FLAG champions, high school swimming state qualifiers and all-Americans who went on to swim collegiately. In addition he was actively involved in the Florida LSC and served as the head zone coach for several years.
Most recently Cory was the head coach at Bishop Moore High School in Orlando where he was able lead the Lady Hornets to a district and regional title with numerous individual and relay qualifiers to the Florida State meet.
Cory and his wife Jennifer swam at Gannon University and all three of their children swim in college.  Austin is currently swimming at Salem University in West Virginia.  Following a Florida state title, Wesley is competing in the ACC at the University of Pittsburgh. His twin sister Ashley swims at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville where she is a current school record holder.
