The cross-town rivalry between the University of Winnipeg Wesmen and the University of Manitoba Bisons flared last week at the 19th annual Duckworth Challenge. The Challenge involved both men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball teams and took place on both campuses.

On Tuesday, Oct. 5, the volleyball portion of the tournament took place at the Duckworth Centre. The Bison women’s volleyball team beat the Wesmen in all three sets with Kristin Hunter and Sarah Morrissette accumulating nine kills each for the Bisons. Bison Tricia Mayba and the Wesmen’s Ariel Smith were the Duckworth Challenge Players of the match.

That same night the Bison men’s volleyball team proceeded to defeat the Wesmen 3-2 with Dane Pischke and Chris Voth each amassing 14 kills for Manitoba. Zack Diboll of the Bisons and Justin Duff of the Wesmen were the Duckworth Challenge Players of the Match.

Continuing the tournament the next day at the Investor’s Group Athletic Centre, the Bison women’s basketball team upset the Wesmen with a score of 88-69. The Bisons’ Lauren Mortier earned 27 points for the team and Kayla Klassen earned another 20. Manitoba’s Caity Gooch and Winnipeg’s Michele Hynes were honoured as the Duckworth Challenge Players of the Game.

In men’s basketball action the Bisons narrowly defeated the Wesmen with a score of 77-71. The high scorers for Manitoba were Richard Reimer with 15 points and Sean Maxwell with 14 points. The Bisons’ Eric Garcia and the Wesmen’s Craig Penniston were named the players of the game.

These four victories for the Bisons earned them the trophy, which they had not held since the 2004-05 season. This challenge was commenced and named after Dr. Henry E. Duckworth who served as both president of the University of Winnipeg and Chancellor of the University of Manitoba. His involvement with both universities made him want to showcase and promote a healthy competition between the two schools. With the Duckworth Challenge in its 20th year next year, the rivalry is still strong.