The West Virginia University cross country team recently achieved a historic accomplishment by finishing as runners-up at the NCAA Championships, marking the highest finish in the program’s history. The team earned a total of 164 points, securing second place at the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisconsin. Senior Ceili McCabe led the way for the Mountaineers, finishing sixth in the women’s 6k race with a time of 19:41.2, earning First Team All-America honors and becoming the fourth WVU athlete to achieve three cross-country All-America accolades.
Freshman Joy Naukot also had an outstanding performance, finishing 17th with a time of 19:50.3, earning First Team All-America honors. Redshirt senior Sarah Tait rounded out the team’s First Team All-America recipients with a 34th-place finish in 20:00.9. Redshirt junior Emily Bryce and graduate student Madison Trippett finished 69th and 89th, respectively, contributing to the team’s strong overall performance at the national meet. This marked the final collegiate cross-country races for McCabe, Tait, and Trippett, closing out a remarkable season.
The WVU men’s soccer team’s season concluded with a loss in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to No. 11-seed Virginia, falling 2-1. Junior Marcus Caldeira scored for the Mountaineers, with graduate student Simon Carlson assisting him. In the first round, WVU defeated North Florida 2-1, with goals from Caldeira and graduate student Sergio Ors Navarro. Caldeira, Ors Navarro, and other key players like Felix Ewald and Max Broughton earned Academic All-District honors, marking an impressive season for the team.
West Virginia University’s volleyball team had a challenging week, falling to No. 19 Utah and No. 24 BYU with 3-0 losses. Despite the setbacks, the Mountaineers remain competitive in the Big 12, ranking 5th in service aces per set. Redshirt junior Cassidy Tanton and sophomore setter Alexis Finnvold have been standout performers, with Tanton ranking 9th in the conference for aces and Finnvold being 10th in assists. The team will close out their season at home with two important matches against No. 18 TCU and No. 17 Baylor.
The Mountaineer women’s basketball team remained undefeated with two wins last week, improving to 6-0 on the season. WVU defeated Bowling Green 78-47, led by junior guard Jordan Harrison’s 20 points. In an even more dominant victory, they crushed Lafayette 98-28, with senior guard JJ Quinerly scoring 19 points. WVU will next compete in the Gulf Coast Showcase, where they will face High Point on Nov. 29, followed by two additional games depending on the results.
The WVU swimming and diving teams also had a strong performance at the WVU Invitational, with the men’s team finishing second and the women’s team placing fourth. Sophomore Maddie Smutny excelled, posting two top 10 program times, and several divers earned NCAA Zone qualifying scores. Redshirt senior Danny Berlitz was a key contributor for the men’s team, winning two events and helping relay teams place first. The next major competition for the team will be the U.S. Open from Dec. 4-7.
WVU wrestling continued its impressive season with a dominant 37-8 win over Appalachian State, improving to 3-0. Senior Jett Strickenberger secured an 11-8 win in a thrilling match, while redshirt junior Jordan Titus earned a 17-2 technical fall. Other Mountaineers, including redshirt freshman Sasha Gavronsky and senior Peyton Hall, contributed with pins, helping the team maintain its strong start. WVU is ranked No. 19 in the NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll and has several wrestlers ranked individually, including Peyton Hall, who is ranked No. 4 in his weight class.
Looking ahead, WVU cross country’s runner-up finish in the NCAA Championships is a significant achievement, as the program looks to build on this success. For wrestling, the team will participate in the Cliff Keen Invitational in early December. Women’s basketball will continue its strong start in Florida, while the volleyball team will wrap up its season with important home matches. With athletes excelling across multiple sports, West Virginia University’s athletic programs are continuing to demonstrate excellence in competition and academics.
