Weekend Preview: Wrestling, gymnastics highlight weekend slate of athletics

It’s a backyard brawl.

Pitt’s wrestling team has ascended the ranks since the season started, and this weekend it renews its rivalry with West Virginia. The Panthers also feature a surging women’s gymnastics team hoping to keep its undefeated record intact, while the women’s tennis team begins its spring season.

Here’s what Pitt’s weekend in sports has to offer:

Wrestling

Pitt fans yearning for the Backyard Brawl will get a taste of it again, as Pitt’s seventh-ranked wrestling team will travel to Morgantown, W.Va., to face West Virginia University at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Panthers are coming off a dominating 25-9 victory at the Fitzgerald Field House over No. 13 Virginia. Junior Tyler Wilps was pivotal in the win, dismantling his opponent, 12-4. The performance earned Wilps ACC Wrestler of the Week honors. Wilps is the second consecutive Pitt wrestler to receive the conference award, joining senior P.J. Tasser.

Women’s gymnastics

Coming off a 194.025-191.675 win over East Atlantic Gymnastics League opponent New Hampshire, Pitt’s gymnastics team will hope to improve its record to 4-0 today when it takes on North Carolina at 7 p.m. in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Pitt coach Deb Yohman’s team took victories on bars and floor in the match against New Hampshire, though it was edged out on vault and beam.

North Carolina is a formidable opponent for the Panthers, ranking third in the EAGL conference with a 3-2 overall record and a 2-1 record in conference play.

Women’s Tennis

The spring season marks the first season in the highly competitive ACC for Pitt tennis. First-year coach Alex Santos and his team will have to wait until Feb. 22 for the beginning of conference play, though.

In the meantime, Pitt starts its season at 2 p.m. on Saturday when it plays Morehead State at home at Alpha Tennis and Fitness in Harmar, Pa. The Panthers are led by seniors Kimmy Borza, Taylor Washington and Jocelyn Lu. Borza finished last spring with a 10-7 record in singles and a team-best record of 14-7 in doubles.

Track and field

The men’s and women’s track and field teams hope to build on a strong start when they travel to University Park for the Penn State Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

The Pitt teams last competed Jan. 25 at the Hokie Invitational, where Brycen Spratling scorched his competition in the 400-meter dash with a first-place finish and the top time at the meet of 47.40 seconds.

Evann Thompson led the women’s team, winning the 800-meter run in 2:12.91, a new personal record and season best for Pitt.

Swimming and diving

Pitt’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams last competed Jan. 18 when they defeated Denison and James Madison University at Trees Hall Pool. The Panthers will return to Trees Hall again today to take on Villanova at 5 p.m.

In Pitt’s last meet, the women dominated Denison, 237-63, and outscored James Madison, 167-133. The men topped Denison, 226-74.