WVU Travels to Pitt for Backyard Brawl
January 04, 2019 11:46 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – After nearly two months away from action, the West Virginia University men's and women's swimming and diving teams travel to Pitt for the Mountaineers' annual meeting with the rival Panthers on Saturday, Jan. 5, at Joe C. Trees Pool, in Pittsburgh.
The Backyard Brawl is set to begin with diving at 9:30 a.m. ET, with swimming events to follow. A live stream of the meet will be available on ACC Network Extra/ESPN3.
"The kids are excited; it's that time of year," WVU coach Vic Riggs said. "We had a really good training trip, and we've been training really well this week. We have a few meets coming up, starting with this weekend at Pitt, which is always a big one. We need to be ready, and we need to come in with a lot of energy to help us compete really well."
The two programs have met annually since 1994-95, with the women's team competing against Pitt every year since the 1987-88 season. The Mountaineer men were victorious over the Panthers last season, earning a 187-113 win at the WVU Natatorium. The WVU women's team fell to Pitt, 193-107.
Senior Merwane El Merini led the Mountaineers with two individual wins and two relay victories over the Panthers last season, while sophomore David Dixon recorded three total wins (two individually). On the women's side, junior Morgan Bullock posted two individual victories for WVU.
The Mountaineer men's squad looks to take down the Panthers for the third time in four years on Saturday, while the women are looking for their first win over Pitt since 2012.
Last time out, WVU combined to earn 10 trips to A final events at the Ohio State Invitational, on Nov. 15-17, in Columbus, Ohio. Redshirt senior Tristen Di Sibio provided the biggest highlight for the Mountaineers, winning the men's 100 breaststroke in 53.52. In diving, WVU last competed at the Navy Diving Invitational, on Nov. 15-17, in Annapolis, Maryland. Senior Averly Hobbs led the way for West Virginia, placing third and fifth on 1-meter and 3-meter, respectively.
The men's team enters this weekend's road contest with a 3-0 dual-meet record on the season, with wins over Seton Hall (Oct. 19-20), Xavier (Oct. 19-20) and Villanova (Oct. 27). The group has won 11 consecutive dual meets, dating back to the 2016-17 campaign. WVU also won the West Virginia State Games on Oct. 12-13, and it placed sixth at the Ohio State Invitational.
The WVU women are 2-1 in dual meets this season, earning wins over Seton Hall and Xavier before a loss to Villanova. The women's team also registered a first-place finish at the West Virginia State Games, before it finished eighth at Ohio State.
Pitt is led by third-year coach and Olympic Gold medalist John Hargis. The Panthers men's and women's team are 1-5 in dual meets this season. Additionally, the Pitt men's team placed fourth at the Ohio State Invitational, while the women took sixth.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The Backyard Brawl is set to begin with diving at 9:30 a.m. ET, with swimming events to follow. A live stream of the meet will be available on ACC Network Extra/ESPN3.
"The kids are excited; it's that time of year," WVU coach Vic Riggs said. "We had a really good training trip, and we've been training really well this week. We have a few meets coming up, starting with this weekend at Pitt, which is always a big one. We need to be ready, and we need to come in with a lot of energy to help us compete really well."
The two programs have met annually since 1994-95, with the women's team competing against Pitt every year since the 1987-88 season. The Mountaineer men were victorious over the Panthers last season, earning a 187-113 win at the WVU Natatorium. The WVU women's team fell to Pitt, 193-107.
Senior Merwane El Merini led the Mountaineers with two individual wins and two relay victories over the Panthers last season, while sophomore David Dixon recorded three total wins (two individually). On the women's side, junior Morgan Bullock posted two individual victories for WVU.
The Mountaineer men's squad looks to take down the Panthers for the third time in four years on Saturday, while the women are looking for their first win over Pitt since 2012.
Last time out, WVU combined to earn 10 trips to A final events at the Ohio State Invitational, on Nov. 15-17, in Columbus, Ohio. Redshirt senior Tristen Di Sibio provided the biggest highlight for the Mountaineers, winning the men's 100 breaststroke in 53.52. In diving, WVU last competed at the Navy Diving Invitational, on Nov. 15-17, in Annapolis, Maryland. Senior Averly Hobbs led the way for West Virginia, placing third and fifth on 1-meter and 3-meter, respectively.
The men's team enters this weekend's road contest with a 3-0 dual-meet record on the season, with wins over Seton Hall (Oct. 19-20), Xavier (Oct. 19-20) and Villanova (Oct. 27). The group has won 11 consecutive dual meets, dating back to the 2016-17 campaign. WVU also won the West Virginia State Games on Oct. 12-13, and it placed sixth at the Ohio State Invitational.
The WVU women are 2-1 in dual meets this season, earning wins over Seton Hall and Xavier before a loss to Villanova. The women's team also registered a first-place finish at the West Virginia State Games, before it finished eighth at Ohio State.
Pitt is led by third-year coach and Olympic Gold medalist John Hargis. The Panthers men's and women's team are 1-5 in dual meets this season. Additionally, the Pitt men's team placed fourth at the Ohio State Invitational, while the women took sixth.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Fly/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Fly/Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Back
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
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