Intensity.

That is a word you hear a lot this week as UNCW’s Swimming and Diving Team prepares to take on its bitter rival, East Carolina, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. in Hanover Natatorium.

The rivalry between UNCW and ECU is one with plenty of history. The teams have been competing since the early 1980s and they both have long memories. In last year’s meet, the Seahawk men beat the Pirates by default during the final relay and tempers escalated into a shouting match between the teams.

It hasn’t been forgotten.

Each team wants to take home the title as the winner of this year’s battle, and the stakes are high.

“We gotta win. We gotta be tough,” men’s team senior captain Chris Hider said. “We’re going to have to get up and go, no matter what it takes.”

“This meet is always one of the most intense meets that we have all season long,” UNCW coach Dave Allen said. “It’s just been a good rivalry…from the standpoint that both schools don’t want to loose the meet.”

Feelings are high for the event and it is also the Seahawks last dual meet before competing in the CAA conference championships, held Feb. 18-21 at George Mason.

“I think it is a great type of meet for us to prepare for conference championship because that is the type of intensity that we have to have for three days rather than just for a couple of hours,” Allen said.

The swimmers see the home location as an advantage.

“It’s really exciting, especially for the seniors. A lot of parents are coming and there will be a lot of support,” senior women’s captain Jamie Hamill said.