WVU Kicks Off 2018-19 with Gold-Blue Meet
September 28, 2018 04:04 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University swimming and diving teams open the 2018-19 season with the Gold-Blue Meet on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the WVU Natatorium.
The annual intrasquad event is set to begin at 10 a.m. ET, and admission is free.
"This is always a fun time of year," WVU coach Vic Riggs said. "We start by having our Mountaineer Celebration tonight, recognizing last year's accomplishments. It's nice to have families in town and celebrate the past season and the upcoming season.
"Starting off with the Gold-Blue Meet is a great way to see the team compete and interact together for the first time. We are doing the 13-event format and adding a few twists. I'm looking forward to an exciting meet."
The Mountaineers will again split into two teams for the preseason competition. Following a two-year win streak by the Gold Team from 2015-16, the Blue team was victorious, 164-143, at last year's meet.
Saturday marks the start of Riggs' 12th season at the helm of the WVU men's and women's swimming and diving program. Last season, WVU featured five NCAA qualifiers, two Big 12 champions and two honorable mention All-Americans. The Mountaineers also recorded a pair of second-place team finishes at the 2018 Big 12 Championship.
In all, 15 school records fell during the 2017-18 season, as well as five WVU Natatorium records.
Seniors Jake Armstrong and Tristen Di Sibio won the 100 and 200 breaststroke, respectively, at the conference meet a year ago, marking the first time WVU finished with multiple individual Big 12 championships since 2014. For Armstrong, the win secured his second consecutive Big 12 title in the 100 breast.
Sophomore David Dixon joined Armstrong and Di Sibio at the 2018 NCAA Men's Championships. Armstrong earned honorable mention All-America status for his 14th-place finish in the 100 breast (52.69).
On the women's side, senior Emma Harris and junior Morgan Bullock qualified for the 2018 NCAA Women's Championships, the Mountaineers' first female qualifiers since 2013. Bullock placed 15th overall in the 200 butterfly (1:54.77) and earned honorable mention All-America honors.
Additionally, six divers qualified for the 2018 Zone A Diving Championships last year – Julia Calcut, Averly Hobbs, Logan McHenry, Austin Smith, Callie Smith and Madelyn Woods. McHenry and Calcut earned a pair of finals appearances at last year's meet.
Eighteen newcomers (nine men, nine women) join WVU's roster this season, which is led by 13 seniors (seven men, six women).
The Mountaineers will officially open the regular season at the West Virginia State Games, from Oct. 12-13, in Huntington, West Virginia. The two-day competition, which features collegiate swimming and diving programs from across the Mountain State, opens on Friday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. ET, at Marshall's Frederick A. Fitch Natatorium. The meet concludes on Saturday, Oct. 13, beginning at 10 a.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The annual intrasquad event is set to begin at 10 a.m. ET, and admission is free.
"This is always a fun time of year," WVU coach Vic Riggs said. "We start by having our Mountaineer Celebration tonight, recognizing last year's accomplishments. It's nice to have families in town and celebrate the past season and the upcoming season.
"Starting off with the Gold-Blue Meet is a great way to see the team compete and interact together for the first time. We are doing the 13-event format and adding a few twists. I'm looking forward to an exciting meet."
The Mountaineers will again split into two teams for the preseason competition. Following a two-year win streak by the Gold Team from 2015-16, the Blue team was victorious, 164-143, at last year's meet.
Saturday marks the start of Riggs' 12th season at the helm of the WVU men's and women's swimming and diving program. Last season, WVU featured five NCAA qualifiers, two Big 12 champions and two honorable mention All-Americans. The Mountaineers also recorded a pair of second-place team finishes at the 2018 Big 12 Championship.
In all, 15 school records fell during the 2017-18 season, as well as five WVU Natatorium records.
Seniors Jake Armstrong and Tristen Di Sibio won the 100 and 200 breaststroke, respectively, at the conference meet a year ago, marking the first time WVU finished with multiple individual Big 12 championships since 2014. For Armstrong, the win secured his second consecutive Big 12 title in the 100 breast.
Sophomore David Dixon joined Armstrong and Di Sibio at the 2018 NCAA Men's Championships. Armstrong earned honorable mention All-America status for his 14th-place finish in the 100 breast (52.69).
On the women's side, senior Emma Harris and junior Morgan Bullock qualified for the 2018 NCAA Women's Championships, the Mountaineers' first female qualifiers since 2013. Bullock placed 15th overall in the 200 butterfly (1:54.77) and earned honorable mention All-America honors.
Additionally, six divers qualified for the 2018 Zone A Diving Championships last year – Julia Calcut, Averly Hobbs, Logan McHenry, Austin Smith, Callie Smith and Madelyn Woods. McHenry and Calcut earned a pair of finals appearances at last year's meet.
Eighteen newcomers (nine men, nine women) join WVU's roster this season, which is led by 13 seniors (seven men, six women).
The Mountaineers will officially open the regular season at the West Virginia State Games, from Oct. 12-13, in Huntington, West Virginia. The two-day competition, which features collegiate swimming and diving programs from across the Mountain State, opens on Friday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. ET, at Marshall's Frederick A. Fitch Natatorium. The meet concludes on Saturday, Oct. 13, beginning at 10 a.m.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Fly/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Fly/Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
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