For the second time in as many years, the swimming & diving meet between John Carroll and Ashland came down to the very end.

In 2019, John Carroll rallied from 26 points down with two events remaining to force a draw.

This year, JCU only had to make up 18 points to create a tie and 19 to win. Or so the Blue Streaks thought.

The Blue and Gold left the building thinking they had tied the Eagles, 121-121, but a scoring discrepancy in diving revealed that John Carroll had actually lost, 124-118

Results

The unexpected and delayed setback was the first time John Carroll has lost since November 9.

Friday evening began with a win by the 200 Medley Relay. Maddie Panus, Gwyn Ledrick, Tori Vale and Rachel Halapchuck swam the race in 1:53.44

In the 200 Free and 50 Free, JCU maintained a single digit lead by earning the 2-3-4 places in both events. In the 200 Free, it was Lynch (2:03.70), Halapchuck (2:07.32) and Vale (2:08.52) that finished second, third and fourth, respectively. In the 50 Free, it was Gwyn Hamilton (26.08), Shelbi Shearer (26.11) and Hope Scherger (26.31) occupying that order.

Ledrick swam her first 400 IM of the year and promptly won the race in 4:38.57.

A big point haul for John Carroll came in the 100 Fly, where the Blue Streaks swept the podium. Monica McKie was the winner (1:00.32), followed by Emily Yoos (1:02.71) and Vale (1:03.12).

Panus was the runner-up in the 100 Back (1:02.13) and Maddie Dolce was the runner-up in the 500 Free (5:33.23).

Ledrick won the 100 Breast in 1:07.48. She was followed to the wall in third place by Shearer (1:13.84) and McKie in fourth (1:14.39).

The quartet of Panus, Dolce, Scherger and Olivia Talamo posted a victory in the final race of the night, the 200 Free Relay, in 1:43.75, just .20 ahead of the Eagles' top foursome. Talamo's final leg of 25.91 edged Ashland's anchor leg of 26.25 turned in by Maura Delaney.

John Carroll, now 4-2 on the year, will conclude its regular season Saturday at Wilmington College. The Ohio Athletic Conference dual meet will commence at 1:00 p.m.