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Backyard Brawl Opens 2017 in Pittsburgh
January 06, 2017 11:36 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Following a December hiatus, the West Virginia University swimming and diving team begins the final month of the regular season at Pitt on Saturday.
The latest edition of the Backyard Brawl is set to begin at 10 a.m. ET at Trees Pool. Updates from Pittsburgh will be available throughout the meet by following @WVUSwimDive on Twitter.
“The teams are looking forward to competing this first weekend of what we are calling our rivalry month,” WVU coach Vic Riggs said. “Pitt is always a strong challenge for us, and there will be some very good matchups in many events throughout the meet. We'll need to stay focused and have great energy throughout the meet to compete at our best on the road.”
The women have faced Pitt every season since 1987-88, while the men’s Backyard Brawl has been raced every season since 1994-95. The men are looking for their second win in the rivalry in as many years, while the women will race for their first victory over the Panthers since 2012.
In last year’s Backyard Brawl matchup at the WVU Natatorium, the Mountaineer men earned a 180.5-119.5 victory and the women fell to the Panthers, 188-111. WVU won 16 events, highlighted by four from senior Andrew Marsh.
West Virginia enters Saturday’s meet in Pittsburgh following six weeks off from competition. Both the men and women raced on four weekends in the fall. The highlight was a Big 12 vs. Big East Weekend victory, where the women went 3-0 at home against Seton Hall, Xavier and Butler, while the men posted a 2-0 record against Seton Hall and Xavier.
WVU wrapped up fall competition on Nov. 17-19 at the NC State Invitational.
“Coming off our fall, I'm looking for both teams to continue to progress forward in race strategy, relays and energy,” Riggs added. “We have a very strong, talented and young team, and if we can go into their pool and compete like we know we can good things should happen.”
Following the Backyard Brawl, West Virginia returns home for a Senior Day matchup against Big 12 rival TCU on Saturday, January 14. Competition begins at 11 a.m. ET at the WVU Natatorium.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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