MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University rowing team travels to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to compete in the 2015 Big 12 Rowing Championship set for Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17.

 

The Mountaineers were idle last weekend in preparation for the conference championship event.

 

“Since our last regatta two weeks ago we’ve reworked our lineups and in doing so, hopefully, strengthened all our crews,” said coach Jimmy King. “The search for speed sometimes leads us in interesting directions, and this weekend we’ll find out to what degree we’ve succeeded.”

 

This year’s event begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, while Petite and Grand Finals are on Sunday at 9 a.m.

 

The Mountaineers have boats competing in the Women’s Varsity Four, Second Women’s Varsity Four, Women’s First Varsity Eight, Women’s Second Varsity Eight and the Women’s Third Varsity Eight.

 

The two-day event is hosted by the University of Tennessee at Melton Hill Lake. This season marks the fourth consecutive year the event has been recognized as a fully supported conference championship.  

 

Alabama, Old Dominion and Tennessee join Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia in the 2015 event as affiliate members competing for the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Rowing Championship.

 

Last season, Oklahoma claimed the Big 12 Rowing Championship title at the Chesapeake Boathouse, in Oklahoma City. West Virginia finished in fifth place, amassing 50 team points.