Wheeling Women's Swimming Builds for the Future

Veteran leadership and young talent come together in successful season

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In their first season under Head Coach Will Hughes, the Wheeling University Women's Swimming program had a mix of veteran talent and strong newcomers that helped the team finish 3rd in the Mountain East Conference (MEC). The Cardinals earned several All-MEC honors, led by standout freshman Giulia Liberti, and look to build on this season's success with a strong core of returning swimmers.

Why it matters

Wheeling University's women's swimming program is establishing itself as a competitive force in the MEC, blending experienced upperclassmen with promising young talent. This season's performance lays the groundwork for the team to continue improving and challenging for conference titles in the years to come.

The details

The Cardinals opened the season strong, finishing 3rd at the WVU Games and going 5-1 in dual meets by November. They hit a rough patch in January but rebounded with a senior night sweep. At the MEC/GMAC Championships, Wheeling earned 5 All-MEC honors, led by freshman Giulia Liberti's pair of first-team selections in the 100 and 200 Yard Breaststrokes. The team's veteran distance swimmers, Gabby Baiano and Lacie Langmyer, also made key contributions throughout the season.

  • The Cardinals competed at the WVU Games to open the season.
  • By November, the team had built a 5-1 dual meet record.
  • Wheeling dropped a pair of dual meets in January before finishing strong.
  • At the MEC/GMAC Championships, the team earned 5 All-MEC honors.
  • The Cardinals will lose 3 top swimmers to graduation but return 10 of 13 swimmers for next season.

The players

Will Hughes

Head Coach of the Wheeling University Women's Swimming program.

Giulia Liberti

Freshman swimmer who earned a pair of First Team All-MEC honors in the 100 and 200 Yard Breaststrokes.

Gabby Baiano

Veteran distance swimmer who held the team's top time in the 1650 Freestyle.

Lacie Langmyer

Veteran distance swimmer who led the Cardinals in the distance events at the conference championships.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Cardinals will look to build on this season's success as they prepare for the 2026-2027 campaign, with 10 of 13 swimmers set to return.

The takeaway

Wheeling University's women's swimming program has established a strong foundation for the future, blending veteran leadership with promising young talent. The Cardinals' performance this season lays the groundwork for the team to continue improving and challenging for conference titles in the years to come.