Every point counts in Division III swimming, particularly when the stakes are high and the races are competitive in a tightly contested affair.

The John Carroll University women's swimming and diving team held on for a 117-114 win over the College of Wooster on Friday evening at the Johnson Natatorium.  A very competitive battle throughout the evening came down to the final handful of events, as the Blue Streaks mustered just enough magic to improve to 4-2 on the winter campaign.

Complete Results

JCU started on the right foot, with the team of Carly Adams, Chloe Ruggiero, Tori Vale and Olivia Talamo claiming the 200 Medley Relay (1:53.44) crown. Carmen Ferrante followed suit with a 2:16.62 time in the 200 IM, enough for a top mark among 12 competitors over two heats.

Vale returned to the scoring column when she swam a 1:00.89 time in the 100 Butterfly to top the field. Adams showcased her specialty stroke and earned first with a 1:00.92 mark in the 100 backstroke.

A second intermission provided John Carroll with an opportunity to rest, recover and roar back into contention for a victory.

Trailing by nine points (95-86) with three events to go, some Blue Streaks stepped up big.

The first was Ashley Cresap, who followed her win in 1-meter diving  (203.55) with another on the 3-meter board (194.45).

Gwyn Ledrick energized the Blue and Gold by winning the 100 Breaststroke (1:09.61). Just as big was a second place finish by Jessica Morrow (1:11.45), who out-touched third place by .29 of a second. Also aiding the cause was Monica Rzepka (1:12.39), who finished fourth. JCU entered the 100 Breast trailing by four, but finished the event leading by eight points.

That meant for the second consecutive year, the JCU-Wooster meet would come down to the final relay. In 2017, Wooster won the relay and had enough points to close out a 125-116 win. In Friday night's meet, the Blue Streaks just needed two of its relays to finish in the top three to secure the win.

Wooster took the victory in the race (1:41.75), but the JCU "A" team of Shelbi Shearer, Maddie Dolce, Hope Scherger and Carmen Ferrante was second in 1:41.89, and the "B" team of Adams, Marisa Crisci, Vale and Anne Crowley secured the win by finishing third in 1:43.40, almost a full three seconds clear of the Wooster "B" foursome.

The victory was just the second in 25 all-time meetings against Wooster and the first since 2005.

Next, JCU will take on the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets on Saturday at 1 p.m. in University Heights. John Carroll will host a senior day in which nine seniors will make their final Johnson Natatorium appearance: Carly Adams, Amanda Alikhani, Emma Connell, Anne Crowley, Megan Hawk, Alex Iosue, Allison McGreer, Sam Needham and Teresa Prinster.