MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Backyard Brawl resumes on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 10 a.m., as the West Virginia University swimming and diving team hosts Pitt at the WVU Natatorium.
The women have squared off against Pitt every season since 1987-88, while the men’s version of the Backyard Brawl has taken place every season since 1994-95. The women are looking for their first victory over the Panthers since 2012, while the men are going for their first win since 2010.
“We've had a strong start to our season followed by a good training trip, time with our families and a very good week of training this week,” said coach Vic Riggs. “Competing against Pitt this Saturday is going to be a great way to start our championship portion of our season. Chuck (Knoles) is a very good coach, and I have a lot of respect for his program. To have them here will only add to the great rivalry this meet already is.
“It's been six years since the men beat Pitt, so no one on the current team has experienced what that feels like. We'll do our best on Saturday to experience that feeling again, but it will take a total team effort for that to happen and require the energy and intensity the teams showed against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.”
Admission is free for all fans at the WVU Natatorium. Due to the men’s basketball game next door at the WVU Coliseum at 1 p.m., parking will be $10.
Tomorrow’s competition will be a standard 16-event meet, starting with the 200 yard-medley relay and concluding with the 400-freestyle relay.
The Mountaineers are coming off a month break from competition after select individuals qualified to compete at the USA Swimming Winter Nationals on Dec. 3-5.
Following this weekend, WVU will head to Fort Worth, Texas, to compete against TCU on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. ET.
The Mountaineers will then host their last home meet of the season with Senior Night on Friday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. The men and women will compete against Villanova, while the women will also face Big 12 foe Iowa State.
