Cardinal and gold will collide with black and gold when Iowa and Iowa State meet in a watery blue pool.

The Cy-Hawk rivalry will continue when the Cyclones host the Hawkeyes this Friday.

Many athletes on the ISU swimming and diving team have different perspectives on the Cy-Hawk rivalry, but there is one thing every Cyclone could agree on: They said they have will to take down the Hawkeyes.

“[The rivalry] is a pretty big deal,” said freshman Karyl Clarete. “Winning would mean a whole lot to the team and to the school.”

Clarete is originally from Canada and didn’t know much about the Cy-Hawk rivalry prior to coming to Ames. Now it’s a big deal.

ISU coach Duane Sorenson described the Cy-Hawk series as a natural rivalry.

“No matter what we would do this week, both teams get up for it,” Sorenson said. “It’s an in-state rivalry, so everybody gets excited for it. It’s an important event for us.”

Since 2001, Iowa State is 4-2 when competing in Ames against Iowa.

“A little more pride is put on the line,” Sorenson said of a home-pool advantage. “Water is water. It’s 25 yards. The blocks are the same height. But because you know the surroundings, it’s a little more comfortable and I think that’s a big difference.”

Expectations are high for Friday’s meet and many of the ISU swimmers and divers believe they will win and are confident in saying so.

“I expect for us to beat them,” said sophomore Maria Gannon. “I expect to compete and give it all we have.”

Gannon is from Iowa City, so she has experienced this rivalry for most of her life.

“Being from Iowa City and coming to the Cyclones, it’s a fun rivalry,” Gannon said.

Senior Sarah Thompson, a Davenport, Iowa native, originally went to school on the east coast and transferred to Iowa State and quickly had feelings for Iowa.

“As soon as I signed to come to Iowa State, I immediately disliked the Hawkeyes. The rivalry was always there, right away,” Thompson said. “There’s definitely added motivation because it goes back to that rivalry. We’re both from really big schools in Iowa, and we want to be the better school.”

The meet against Iowa will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday at Beyer Hall.