The Cardinals previously competed in the defunct West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) from 1957–58 to 2012–13.

In June 2012, the nine football-playing schools in the WVIAC announced their intention to break away and form a new conference, which then became the MEC.

Jerpe previously held various leadership positions, including with the Pittsburgh Harlequins, as manager of the US U-17 national team, and as a member of the USA Rugby board of directors.

Zac Bruney the offensive coordinator at Ohio Dominican University was named the program's first head coach on July 7, 2017.

[13][14] Team began play during the 2019 season and recorded their first win on November 16, 2019, with a 27–20 victory at Concord University.

[15] In January 2013, athletic director Danny Sancomb announced that Wheeling would be adding wrestling at the school's 20th intercollegiate sport.

[16] Wheeling native and Cornell graduate, Sean Doyle was hired to build the program to compete in the fall of 2013.

The first recruiting class of 29, includes wrestlers from 7 different states and the team will compete as an NCAA Division II program immediately.