Did you know that Wheeling University has a women’s rugby team? Even more surprising is that this team is currently ranked first in the nation. Read on for this incredible story of Wheeling history in the making!
The Birth of a New Program
The story begins in May 2024 when the Wheeling University Athletic Department announced the creation of the first-ever Intercollegiate Varsity Women’s Rugby team in the university’s history. The first order of business was to hire a coach.
Finding the Right Coach
Mike Giebel, the men’s rugby coach at Wheeling University, reached out to Ken Pape, who has over fifteen years of coaching experience at both the high school and college levels, including stints at Stanford and, most recently, as the head coach of the women’s rugby team at Lander University. After a lengthy interview process and some persuasion, Pape accepted the challenge of building a brand-new program from scratch.
“Coach Giebel called me and said, ‘We are starting this women’s program, and I think you would love it here,’” Pape recalled. “During my interview with the upper administration, they asked how I would go about starting a team and what my goals were. We aligned on many of my principles, and we were able to reach an agreement for me to be the first coach in program history. It took a lot of convincing from (Athletic Director) Carrie Hannah and (University President) Dr. Diana Vargo, because I had just built a national championship-caliber team. But Mrs. Hannah and Dr. Vargo were amazing, and they introduced me to the Wheeling Feeling.”
An Unstoppable Season
Pape arrived in Wheeling and hit the ground running. With just one game remaining in the regular season, the Wheeling University Cardinals are ranked number one in the country, according to the NCAA D1 Coaches Poll.
The Cardinals are 8-0, boasting impressive victories over Ohio State University, the University of Cincinnati, Penn State, Ohio University, and Kent State, among others.
Ohio State University has over 60,000 students; Wheeling University has only 1,500. Final score: Wheeling University 35, Ohio State 7.
The entire city of Wheeling has about 27,000 residents, while Penn State has over 88,000 students. Final score: Wheeling University 39, Penn State 14. Notably, Penn State has won 12 of the last 25 championships, with nine second-place finishes.
Wheeling University defeated the University of Cincinnati 66-0 and recently triumphed over Kent State University with a staggering score of 109-0.
Coach Pape’s Vision
These scores are astonishing. But Coach Pape isn’t here to mess around. “If we are going to bring a national championship to Wheeling, we must come out guns blazing at all times. They pay me a salary to produce a winner, and that’s what we are here to do—nothing less.”
Understanding Rugby
You might be wondering, what the heck is rugby? According to Coach Pape, “Rugby is the greatest sport on earth. It combines the hard-hitting aspects of football and hockey, the speed and finesse of soccer, and the strategy and tactics of chess. If you want to see a hard-hitting, fast-paced, continuous sport, rugby is for you.”
A Diverse Team
This team is made up of strong women from all over the world. There are no pads and no helmets—just grit and determination. The Cardinals close their regular season against eighth-ranked Walsh University on November 2 and expect to host the Allegheny Rugby Union Conference Championship at Bishop Schmitt Field at Wheeling University on November 9.
Support the Team
Coach Pape would love to see a great crowd for this match, and the women would greatly appreciate your support.
You can also help Coach Pape and his team with donations here by selecting “athletics,” then “rugby.” Coach and his team are hoping for new locker room facilities, hotel sponsors, boots, gear, and other equipment.
Be Part of History
Be part of history! Wheeling, West Virginia, can be known for DiCarlo’s pizza, the Suspension Bridge, and Division 1 Championship Women’s Rugby!
