MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University Director of Athletics Shane Lyons has announced the 2021 gymnastics schedule.
 
WVU is scheduled to compete in six conference meets, beginning on Friday, Jan. 22, and will conclude its regular season with a trio of head-to-head competitions against Pitt.
 
West Virginia's postseason slate starts with the 2021 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship, set for March 20, at the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown. WVU was set to host last year's event, but its season was cut short just before the conference championship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
"After getting cut short last year, along with a summer of not being able to train and a fall of continuing challenges, it's nice to put together a strong schedule of competition," Mountaineer coach Jason Butts said. "I'm excited to show what this program can do, and hopefully, we will start even stronger than where we left off. I know that the team is really excited to go out there and compete.
 
"It is a little bit odd to see these teams on a double, round-robin schedule, but it's a great way to make a secure schedule with the Big 12. It helps us compete against quality teams, as well as receive good officiating. We also are excited to see Pitt at the end of the season. It's a good rivalry, and those meets will get us hyped going into the Big 12 Championship."
 
The 2021 season commences with back-to-back competitions against 2019 NCAA National Champion and reigning Big 12 Conference champion Oklahoma. The first meet of the year will take place on Friday, Jan. 22, at the WVU Coliseum, starting at 7 p.m., followed by an away meet in Norman, Oklahoma, on Sunday, Jan. 31, at 4:45 p.m. ET.
 
The Mountaineers return to Morgantown a week later for a pair of competitions, starting with Iowa State on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 12 p.m. WVU then plays host to Big 12-affiliate Denver on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 1 p.m.
 
West Virginia will complete its round-robin schedule with Denver on Sunday, Feb. 21, as the team travels to Denver, Colorado, for a 4 p.m. ET, start time.
 
A trip to Ames, Iowa, on Monday, March 1, pits WVU against ISU and wraps up the Mountaineers' Big 12 slate, with competition set to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET.
 
The Mountaineers close their regular season with three straight dual meets against Pitt. WVU travels to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Friday, March 5, and Friday, March 12, with both competitions set to begin at 7 p.m., before the Panthers head to Morgantown for the Mountaineers' final meet on Sunday, March 14, at 2 p.m.
 
"We are very grateful to have a season," Butts said. "So much has been so unsure and very difficult to plan, but our administration has been incredible. They know how important it is to these athletes to have a season, and it is important for us to represent the state of West Virginia. We get to do what we love, and we hope to make the state proud in these difficult times and bring some Mountaineer cheer to the state."
 
WVU Athletics continues to work with University, local and state authorities for the potential plan for fan attendance at the WVU Coliseum, which will be announced at a later date.
 
All four of the Mountaineers home contests will be carried live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, the conference's digital platform.
 
ESPN+ is available via the ESPN App, ESPN.com or ESPNPlus.com for just $5.99 per month, or save over 30 percent with an ESPN+ Annual Plan at $49.99 per year. Current subscribers who signed up for a monthly plan at $4.99 per month will not lose their current price. You also can bundle ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu for $12.99 per month, and it can be canceled at any time.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.