Wheeling, W. Va. – During the 2022-2023 season, the Wheeling University Wrestling team competed in an all-tournament schedule as they developed and grew the program. One year later, they have doubled their roster size and gained valuable experience on the map as they are prepared to open the season with their return to the Alma Grace McDonough Center. They will compete in their first dual match since January 26th, 2022, when they host Frostburg State on Wednesday at 7 PM
While they did not compete in any dual matches last season, the Cardinals saw their share of success in tournament play throughout the year. The schedule gave their wrestlers a chance to see competition from all three levels of the NCAA which helped set them up for success heading into the 2023 MEC (Mountain East Conference) Wrestling Championships. They sent five wrestlers to the event in total and had two of those five pickup top five finishes in their respective weight classes. Caden Canning would take fourth overall in the 144 lb weight class while Zach Kuneff added a second fourth place finish in the 285 lb weight class. They then went on to compete at the NCAA Regional Championships. Canning nearly picked up another top 5 finish Just missing the fifth-place match to end his year.
Both of the Cardinal’s top 5 finishers in the conference last season return in 2023-2024 led by Canning, who is dropped down to the 133 lb weight class for this season. He finished his freshman year with a record of 8-16 Lee in the Cardinals and wins during the season. He had two top five finishes during the season, fourth place at the MEC Championships and the JCU open. After wrestling in the 141 lb weight class last season Canning looks to use that experience to his advantage as he prepares to drop weight class. The other top five finisher from the MEC Championships is also back in Cardinal Heavyweight Zach Kuneff. All three of Kuneff’s wins last season came in the second half of the year as he looks to lead Wheeling’s Heavyweights this season.
Along with the returners, the program is also welcoming in several freshmen and transfers who look to make immediate impacts on the mat. The first guy looking to make an immediate impact is 141-lb transfer Zach LaRue, who comes to the Cardinals from Mount Union. While with the Purple Raiders, LaRue wrestled between three different weight classes, taking on 133, 141, and 149 lb wrestlers. He had a combined record of 6-4 over his two seasons with Mount Union and will mainly wrestle in the 141-lb weight class for the Cardinals this season. The other transfer Shane Brown will look to lead is Austin Hinzman, who will sit out the first semester. Hinzman comes to Wheeling from Iowa Lakes Community College, where he was a JUCO All-american. Both guys bring more leadership to the room as the Cardinals look to take the next step.
After competing in all tournaments a season ago, the Cardinals kick-off the year with their first dual meet as they jump into conference play. After that, the rest of the first half will look very similar to last season, with the team competing in four straight tournaments from now through mid-December. They sprinkle in one more non-conference home dual match before they head to the big midseason tournament, the Midwest Classic hosted by The University of Indianapolis. As they travel through this early stretch of the season, the team will be looking to hone their skills while facing several different levels of talent. It will serve as a warmup for the team as they make a push to get back to the top of the MEC.
The Matchup
Wednesday will mark the first time in history that the Cardinals and Bobcats have met on the mat, with it being the first ever event for Frostburg State wrestling. The Bobcats after wrestling as a varsity sport this past year and are led by first year head coach Josh Hutchens. The Bobcats feature a 25-man roster of mostly freshmen who are looking to make an immediate impact. The Cardinals look to open up the all-time matchup with a win and introduce the new program to MEC wrestling.
The Details
Wednesday night’s match is scheduled to begin at 7 PM inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center. You can watch the action live by clicking HERE.
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