by Cody Clawson |

When two teams have a rivalry going, usually the teams are somewhat the same. Mizzou and Kansas are both in the Big 12 and have relatively the same size school, Duke and North Carolina are both in the ACC and are also the same size, but a rivalry between Raytown and Liberty does not make a whole lot of sense. These two schools are not in the same class and they don’t play each other in any other sport. So, for these teams to have a rivalry with each other, something big has to keep it going. That something is the little brown jug.
“This rivalry started in 1975. The two coaches of Liberty and Raytown decided to start a rivalry similar to a college one. So they brought out this jug (originally a keg) and whoever won, got it,” swim coach Chris Murphy said.
The original jug between these two coaches got caught in a fire in Raytown in the late 80s, so since then, they have been using the current jug they have now. After every race, the winning school puts a little plaque on the jug with their school name and how bad they won.
“I am super happy to have it and glad our team won it,” junior Shane Witzki said. “We have had it the last five out of six years. I have never lost it.”
When the rivalry first started back in 75’ Raytown won the first seven out of eight. Liberty has won the last five of six and the current overall record for Liberty is 11-25-1. Although this may not look good, Liberty is starting to take control.
“It feels awesome to win the jug. It just means we were better than Raytown this year,” sophomore Cameron McCoy said.
To any non-swimmer, the little brown jug may not seem all that significant. But to the swimmers, it means victory.
“It is significant because it has been a tradition for so long. It keeps the rivalry going,” senior Colton Marnell said.