WINNIPEG — There’s no greater rivalry in the city than pitting two competitive Winnipeg universities against each other in the arena of athletics.
The 24th annual Duckworth Challenge returns on Thursday, as the University of Manitoba Bisons and University of Winnipeg Wesmen fight it out on basketball and volleyball courts for ultimate bragging rights.
For the second time in the challenge’s history, women’s soccer will be included, as both teams battle on the pitch for supremacy.
The action gets going on Thursday at the Investors Group Athletic Centre with both women’s and men’s volleyball teams getting play underway at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. CT.
The basketball portion will be completed at the Duckworth Centre on Friday, January 30 with women at 6 p.m. and men at 8 p.m. CT.
“I think it’s kind of neat how volleyball and basketball kind of come together as a whole,” said Bison women’s volleyball player Rachel Cockrell. “That usually doesn’t happen — we just see them practicing separately, but it’s neat because we’re all working for this trophy together and the title of the Duckworth Challenge winner.
All games played in the challenge will count in the Canada West standings, as they are regular conference season matches.
In the 2013-14 season, Winnipeg won the challenge with a 5-0 margin — only the fourth sweep in Duckworth Challenge history. However, the Bisons hold an overall winning record of 12-6-5 in the contest’s 23-year history.
Spectator tickets are available at the door.
