It was quite the dramatic finish between the John Carroll University Blue Streaks
and the visiting Ohio Northern Polar Bears at the Johnson Natatorium.

And that doesn't even do it justice.

Competing in their 2012 season openers, the Polar Bears and Blue Streaks exchanged
punches before JCU eventually came from behind to pick up the win, 141-139, after edging ONU in the final event (200 Freestyle Relay).

Complete Results

Rachel Libertin put on an impressive performance in the 1,000-yard Freestyle,
winning the event by a whopping margin of 25 seconds with a time of 11:19.03. Megan
Carrig (3rd, 11:53.73) and Lindsay Eddingfield (4th, 11:56.03) also scored points in the
event for JCU.

Victoria Watson was the next Blue Streak to earn a first place finish, winning the 200-
yard Freestyle with a time of 2:00.83. Katie Sheffield finished narrowly behind Watson
to claim third place with a time of 2:04.47.

In the 100-yard Backstroke event, Julia Adams helped the Blue Streaks' cause as
she won with a time of 1:01.32 while teammate Maggie Donoghue
secured third place (1:05.53).

As for the 200-yard Butterfly, Libertin again picked up another first place finish
in impressive fashion as she finished with a time of 2:21.52, more than 12 seconds better
than the next challenger.

The Blue Streaks racked up vital points in the 50-yard Freestyle as Karyn Adams
25.80), Watson (2nd, 25.98) and Brittany Bockanic (4th, 26.93) all secured points for
JCU.

All in all, this afternoon was a statement for JCU, which placed third (behind Ohio Northern and Mount Union) at last season's OAC Championships.

The Blue and Gold will compete again next weekend on both Friday, Nov. 2 and
Saturday, Nov. 3 as they travel to Case Western Reserve University for the 2012
Cleveland Championship.