There is something catchy about 1997.

The Cleveland Indians are going back to the world series for the first time since 1997, and the John Carroll men's swimming & diving defeated crosstown rival Case Western Reserve University for the first time since that amazing year.

Using some key wins down the stretch, the Blue Streaks opened their 2016-17 season with a stunning 126-115 victory over the Spartans. It was the Blue Streaks first win in the series since a 118-116 decision on January 14, 1997, snapping a span of eight consecutive losses that included a 186-107 defeat last year.

Results

John Carroll got off on the right foot winning the 400-yard Medley Relay. The Blue Streaks relay squad consisted of Jackson Cooper, David Kirtek, Trent Williams and Brian Hulseman. The anchor, Hulseman, touched the wall at 3:38.42 giving the Blue and Gold their first win of the evening.

In the 50-yard free, the Blue Streaks were one man away from completing the 1-2-3 sweep. Matt Ramsey (21.63) placed first with teammate Williams (22.12) earning second.

Kirtek recorded another win for the Blue and Gold, this time in the 200-yard IM (2:00.91).

Ryan McClelland would capture first place in the 1-meter diving event, amassing a score of 163.10 for a winning margin of over 50 points.

John Carroll kept it close against Case Reserve throughout the night, but the Spartans -- who ended the 2015-16 season ranked #20 in Division III -- were still leading with six events to go. It took John Carroll winning five of those final six events to put a stop to a long dry spell against the Spartans.

Ramsey captured another win in the 100-yard freestyle (47.76), while fellow freshman Jackson Cooper placed first (55.81) in the 100-yard back.

A strong effort by Case in the 500 Free put the Spartans on top 96-93, but JCU divers McClelland and Douglas Hinchen went first and third on the 3-meter board to put the home team ahead for good.

Still, victories were needed. Kirtek did his part as he won the 100-yard Breast (1:01.77) to stake John Carroll a 115-109 lead.

That meant the Blue Streaks would need a first place finish in the final race to secure a victory.

As the Johnson Natatorium crowd came to its feet, the Blue Streaks and Spartans put on a show in the 200 Free Relay. Never separated by more than a second at any relay exchange, the JCU "A" relay of Ramsey, Alex Nucerino, Cooper, and Pacak held of the Spartans "A" foursome with a winning time of 1:28.64. the margin of victory was two-tenths of a second.