| Wheeling Wildcats | |
| |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Folded | 2009 |
| History | Wheeling Wildcats 2008-2009 |
| Arena | WesBanco Arena |
| Based in | Wheeling, West Virginia |
| Colors | orange, purple, white
|
| League | Continental Indoor Football League |
| Championships | 0 |
| Titles | 0 |
| Head coach | Shawn Liotta |
| President | Dave Bender |
| Official Dance Team | |
The Wheeling Wildcats are a professional indoor football team located in Wheeling, West Virginia and beginning play in the CIFL's 2009 season. The team will fill the void left by the demise of the Ohio Valley Greyhounds, who played their final down of football in 2007. After deciding against using the Greyhounds name, and when "Ironmen" nickname (a nod to the city's former Continental Football League team) was unavailable [1], a naming contest was announced. Out of 175 entries, the name Wildcats was chosen. The team is already working to establish rivalries, challenging the Rochester Raiders to play the Wildcats in the Raiders' first home game [2]. However, the Raiders have since left the CIFL for the newly-established Indoor Football League, meaning the offer has been declined.
Despite being quarterbacked by veteran utility player David Dinkins and head coach Shawn Liotta (who had previously played for AIFA teams in Erie, Pennsylvania), the Wildcats went 2-11 and folded after one season. Liotta and Dinkins returned to Erie in 2010.
Season-By-Season[]
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *2009 | 2 | 11 | 0 | -- | -- |
* = Current Standing
2009 Season Schedule[]
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 13 | Marion Mayhem | Away | Lost 55 - 47 |
| March 28 | Fort Wayne Freedom | Home | Lost 49 - 34 |
| April 4 | Chicago Slaughter | Home | Lost 67 - 59 |
| April 11 | Milwaukee Bonecrushers | Away | Lost 34 - 32 |
| April 19 | Miami Valley Silverbacks | Home | Won 52 - 28 |
| April 25 | Marion Mayhem | Home | Lost 61 - 57 |
| May 2 | Chicago Slaughter | Away | Lost 61 - 38 |
| May 9 | Miami Valley Silverbacks | Home | Won 33 - 13 |
| May 16 | Marion Mayhem | Away | Lost 54 - 24 |
| May 23 | Rock River Raptors | Home | Lost 46 - 34 |
| May 29 | Fort Wayne Freedom | Away | Lost 84 - 42 |
| June 6 | Wisconsin Wolfpack | Home | Lost 49 - 46 |