UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio - "Ride the Lightning." 

That's the motto of the John Carroll Swimming & Diving program. It reminds every athlete that they are a force to be reckoned with. 

The Blue Streaks have certainly been riding that lightning for quite some time, as they have captured Ohio Athletic Conference crowns in each of the past six seasons and will chase their seventh in a row this starting Wednesday evening.

"I feel like the target on our back keeps getting bigger and bigger," said John Carroll Swimming & Diving head coach Tanner Barton. "That comes when you repeat as a conference. We know what it's like to be at the top of the conference and we want to remain atop the conference."

Barton is nearing the end of his third season as the head coach of John Carroll's storied swimming and diving program. His first two seasons included two OAC Championships, two OAC Coaching Staff of the Year, and one Co-OAC Coaching Staff of the Year. 

The University of Akron's Ocasek Natatorium has hosted the event now since 2009, with a brief pause in 2021 when the championships took place at SPIRE Institute.

After decisive wins against the four other competing OAC schools, John Carroll is primed to have a great week in the water. 

In 2021-2022, the Blue Streaks suffered a 156-137 defeat at the hands of the Ohio Northern Polar Bears. They have not lost an OAC dual-meet since. 

"We have a really strong quartet of breaststrokers and I think they'll swim really well," said Barton. The quartet in the event includes Bojena Gross, Regan Gunzy, Allie Geletka, and Kaitlyn Hilty. 

Gross, Gunzy, Geletka, and Hilty are all seeded inside the top seven for the 200-yard breaststroke. 

Freshman Olivia Goodman is another name to keep track of as the week progresses.

Goodman is seeded first in all five events she is competing in. She is entered in the 200-yard individual medley, 400-yard individual medley, 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard breaststroke, and 200-yard butterfly. 

Another freshman that is sure to make some waves in the OAC Championship is Mary Hoffman. Hoffman is also seeded first in her five events. She is set to compete in the 500-yard freestyle, 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, and 100-yard freestyle. 

The freshman talent will be paired with notable senior leadership as Ashley Lynch, Gwyneth Hamilton, and Maddie Panus will be competing for their four OAC championship during their John Carroll career. 

"They will be great leaders and they'll be successful in their own right," said Barton. "But they'll also help to mentor and ensure that the rest of our team is not succumbing to the pressure and rises to the challenge."

Lynch has won 11 OAC Championship events dating back to 2020. She also placed first in the 400-yard and 800-yard freestyle relay the past three years, and holds the school records for those events. 

Hamilton had an all-time performance in last year's OAC Championship. She took home first place in six different events and won OAC Swimmer of the Year honors after tallying 60 points individually. 

Panus has earned All-OAC honors in the 100-yard backstroke in each of the last three years, with a championship in the event in 2020. She was also on three winning relays at the championships last season.

"The team is incredibly close," said Barton. "The women on our team do a great job of supporting each other and we talk a lot about building up one another."

In the 1 and 3 meter diving events, the Blue Streaks return several successful athletes that will have a prime opportunity to earn points toward an OAC-winning effort. 

Senior Catherine Steinwachs has won the 3 meter competition twice and captured the OAC Diver of the Year award in 2020. Also back for JCU are fellow seniors Kathryn Visco and Sarah Hanlon, who each garnered All-OAC honors in the 1 and 3 meter dives last year.

If the Blue Streaks can bring another OAC Championship back to University Heights, it would be the 23rd in the program's decorated history.

"When it comes to the actual race, you just let them go and let the training take over," said Barton. "I'm excited. I'm ready to go. I'm ready for them to race."
 

Admission

All sales for the OAC Championship will be digital and sold through Hometown Ticketing. 

John Carroll fans attending the event can purchase tickets here. 

Day passes will be available for the following prices: 

$15 - Adults

$6 - Seniors/Military 

$3 - Non-OAC students

All session passes will also be available for purchase: 

$43 - Adults

$15 - Seniors/Military

$10 - Non-OAC students

OAC Students

FREE with ID

OAC Lifetime passes honored