Blue Streaks Fall Short to Upstart Ohio Northern in Season Opener

10/30/2021 9:18:00 PM | By: Adam Lenz, Staff Writer

Erik Sriubas won the 1,000 freestyle for the Blue Streaks.

ADA, Ohio -- The Blue Streaks attempt to shake off early season rust fell short in a roller coaster of a meet.

After a tough 157-139 defeat to conference foe Ohio Northern, the John Carroll University Blue Streaks finished on the wrong side of history this weekend.

In the opening race of the day, JCU's 200 medley relay quartet of Liam McDonnell, Austin Davis, Forrest Campbell, and Michael Heller surrendered to the Polar Bears. Finishing second with a time of 1:35.83, the back and forth race set the tone for the remainder of the contest: punch for punch swimming.

In the 1000 freestyle, senior Erik Sriubas (1st, 10:19.71) and junior Nick Mudry (3rd, 10:43.63) carved their way into the scoring column for the Blue Streaks. With momentum looking to be swung back in JCU's favor, the team's eyes were set onward.

In the 200 freestyle, ONU's Jeremy Adams responded to JCU's strong showing prior with a victory of his own despite the mid-race surge from junior Aidan O'Neill (2nd, 1:48.13).

John Carroll benefited from a back-to-back 1-2-3 finish in the following to events:

In the 100 backstroke, juniors Liam McDonnell (52.38) and Jonny Simoes (54.07) followed by sophomore Jacob Clark (56.72) provided a sight for sore eyes surge in points for the team

In the 100 breaststroke, the trio of junior Jonah Venos (1:00.71), sophomore Austin Davis (1:00.95), and senior Adam Lenz (1:01.89) flowed along with the surge and posted a clean sweep of their own.

Sophomore River Flatley (2nd, 2:02.76) and senior Sriubas (3rd, 2:04.91) respectively showed up strong in the 200 butterfly.

In the 50 freestyle, ONU stole another victory despite efforts by McDonnell (2nd, 21.94) and Heller (3rd, 22.00).

Entering the first diving break, the meet had become a never-ending back and forth transaction of victories. ONU achieved a 1-2-3 finish of their own in the 1M diving, and the meet was very much up for grabs by either team.

With a number of remaining events ahead, both teams could feel a sense of urgency sweep across the pool deck. The victor of the meet was beyond close to being named.

In the 100 freestyle, senior Forrest Campbell (2nd, 47.86) was the lone top three scorer for the Blue Streaks. With Lenz (48.70) notably posting an exhibition swim that would have scored valuable third place points for the team.

As the 200 backstroke came up, JCU's dominance in the stroke held firm in the longer distance this time around. Simoes (1:57.60) led the team to yet another 1-2-3 finish, followed by Flatley (2:00.23) and Clark (2:03.22).

In the 200 breaststroke, Davis (3rd, 2:16.82) raced his way into finishing as the lone Blue Streak amongst the top three in the race.

The Polar Bears had snatched the momentum for their own yet again and began to pull away the victory for their own. After posting 1-2 finishes in the 500 freestyle and 100 butterfly, ONU positioned themselves perfectly to execute the upset.

Senior Christian Litwinowicz valiantly dove his way into a third place finish in the 3M boards (150.95), but the door was quickly closing for the team as a whole.

With two races remaining, the 200 individual medley and 200 freestyle relay, the Blue Streaks could only finish strong and swim their best races.

In a defiant manner, juniors McDonnell (1:59.38), Simoes (2:01.79), and Mudry (2:05.38) did go gently fade away. Their 1-2-3 finish was a clutch last stand effort to remain in the meet.

The stage was set for the final relay, JCU's quartet against ONU's quartet; only one could come out on top. The Blue Streaks fought hard, but in the end, Forrest Campbell, Westin Fishel, Michael Heller, and Austin Davis, could only leave it all in the pool. No holding back.

This marks the first dual meet loss since 1/12/2019 when JCU fell on the road to Gannon University (113-124), and the first OAC dual meet loss since 11/11/2018 when JCU fell on the road to ONU (80-216).

Despite the breaking of the aforementioned winning streaks, JCU still holds a home dual meet win streak against OAC opponents. The last time the Blue Streaks lost at home was to Mount Union back on November 21, 2015 (L, 119-175).

The Blue Streaks are back in action next Saturday, November 6, at Cleveland State University's Robert F. Busbey Natatorium. There they will host the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders and look to keep the home dual meet steak alive against OAC opponents.

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