Athletics

The starting gun has sounded and construction workers are off and running building Mountaineer Center, a community wellness facility at Mylan Park featuring competitive and community pools and a track and field complex that will also attract visitors from across the region. In addition to school and community use, the estimated $40 million, state-of-the-art center will also be home for West Virginia University’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving and track and cross-country teams.

With preseason nearly complete and two exhibition wins to its name, the No. 1-ranked West Virginia University women’s soccer team can now turn its attention to its season opener, a 4 p.m. match at No. 5 Georgetown on Friday, Aug. 18, at Shaw Field, in Washington, D.C.

As part of its partnership with WVU and IMG College, West Virginia Illustrated is set to kick off the 2017 season by airing its "Mountaineer GameDay - The Fall Football Special” this weekend. The special will first air on Friday (Aug. 11) at 5 p.m. on AT&T Sports Network, Saturday (Aug. 12) at 11 a.m. and Aug. 16, at 12:30 p.m., prior to the Pirates-Brewers pregame show.

Alumni and friends of West Virginia University and the Mountaineer Marching Band are being asked to help the band travel this fall, including a planned trip to Landover, Maryland, for the Sept. 3 football game against the Virginia Tech Hokies.

A.J. Monseau, M.D., WVU Medicine Emergency Medicine and Sports Medicine physician, has been selected to serve as head team physician and medical director for WVU Athletics.

For the first time in program history, the West Virginia University women’s soccer team will open a season ranked No. 1 nationally, as the Mountaineers own the top spot in the 2017 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women National Preseason Ranking.

One of the greatest seasons in WVU sports history is encapsulated in the 2016-17 West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Annual Report, now available online through WVUsports.com.

West Virginia University women’s soccer defender Kadeisha Buchanan has been named the 2016-17 Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year.

Sign-ups for the Mountaineer Kids Club, presented by Chick-fil-A on Patteson Drive, are now available for the 2017-18 season.

Fairgoers can play games and be involved in activities at West Virginia University exhibits, learn about WVU Extension Service programs and celebrate WVU’s 150th birthday at the State Fair of West Virginia, Aug. 10-19 in Fairlea.