After a 12-year wait, the John Carroll men's swimming & diving team are back at the top of the Ohio Athletic Conference.
The Blue Streaks turned in a complete team performance over three days at the 2017 OAC Championships, topping the OAC for the first time since 2003-04.
John Carroll led the way with 806 points, followed by Ohio Northern -- which had its 12-year reign as OAC champions halted -- with 704 points. Mount Union (637), Wilmington (369), Baldwin Wallace (351), Transylvania (179) and Manchester (132) rounded out the field.
"We talk about team," head coach Mark Fino said. "Swimming for a purpose, the importance of a legacy."
"We talk about the legacy that is JCU swimming, what it means to be a John Carroll athlete. Having a bigger purpose than yourself. And they fulfilled that tonight."
Sophomore Jack Garrow and freshman Ryan McClelland both added individual hardware, claiming OAC Men's Swimmer of the Year and OAC Diver of the Year, respectively.
Mark Fino, Lewis Fellinger, Justin Hill, Eric Schuman and Liz Tamas were also named the 2017 OAC Coaching Staff of the Year.
Garrow was named Swimmer of the Year after earning two individual and three relay championships over the weekend. On Saturday, Garrow broke the OAC record in the 200 Back with a time of 1:50.57, also earning a "B" cut.
Garrow defended his 100 Back championship on Friday, breaking the OAC and school record with a 50.42; this also was a "B" cut for the sophomore. Garrow was also part of the 200 Medley Relay that bested the field by over two seconds on Friday. On Thursday, he was part of the first 400 Medley Relay championship for JCU since 2003, adding another title in the 200 Free Relay. Both relays were school records.
In the 200 Back, Alec Bryson also placed, finishing sixth (1:57.69). Ryan Singler (10th, 1:58.85) and Adam Bozsvai (12th, 2:04.75) fared well in the "B" final.
McClelland, a freshman, dominated both the 1 Meter and 3 Meter Diving events. McClelland won the 1 Meter on Saturday with a score of 488.80, nearly 70 points above the next closest challenger. In Friday's 3 Meter competition, he paced the field with a score of 496.30, with the second-place diver over 100 points behind.
Freshman Matt Ramsey won the 100 Free, topping the field with a time of 45.68. Tom Pacak took sixth in the same event at 47.57. Ramsey set the OAC and school record in the 50 Free final on Thursday, clocking in at 20.50 for a "B" cut.
Brian Hulseman took the runner-up position in the 200 Fly, coming in with a time of 1:55.21. Peter Neal followed in fifth at 1:57.24. Hulseman was also a winner in the 200 Free Relay. Peter Neal followed him to the wall in fifth place (1:57.24). Kehm (13th, 2:04.31) also scored.
David Kirtek earned All-OAC honors in the 200 Breast, finishing at 2:06.32. Egan Paul (12th, 2:16.67), Evan McGoury (13th, 2:18.16), and McNulty (14th, 2:19.94) added to the point haul.
JCU began the night with five scoring efforts in the 1650 Free. Ben Parker led the group with a fifth place showing (17:04.81). Patrick Folan was next line in sixth place (17:07.00). Alex Nucerino (8th, 17:31.15), George McNulty (12th, 17:50.34) and Corey Kehm (13th, 18:25.78) also pulled in points.
John Carroll capped off the weekend with a second-place finish in the 400 Free Relay. The team, consisting of Ramsey, Jackson Cooper, Garrow and Pacak shaved over 13 seconds off their prelim time to take All-OAC honors with a 3:07.91.
For the first time since 2008, the John Carroll women stand atop the world of Ohio Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving.
As the OAC Championships concluded Saturday night at the Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio, the Blue Streaks were the leaders and best. John Carroll scored 869.5 points to stand clear of Mount Union (637.50), Ohio Northern (569.50), Baldwin-Wallace (412.50), Transylvania 9315)_, Wilmington (226) and Manchester (166).
For the second consecutive year, JCU took home the OAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award as Mark Fino, Lewis Fellinger, Eric Schumann, Liz Tamas and Justin Hill received the honor.
"In four years, we've seen what can happen when a group buys into a larger mentality," said Mark Fino after the event. "We saw that tonight. This is just one step in the direction of something bigger we're chasing long-term."
Sophomore Ashley Creasap was named the OAC Diver of the Year after taking first in 3-Meter Diving and second in 1-Meter Diving.
Individually, JCU had three event champions.
Carly Adams claimed the 200 Back title, finishing in 2:05.88. Adding points in the event was Felice Ferrante in 6th place (2:15.03), and Emma Connell in 7th place (2:16.24).
Adams is the first JCU champion in this event since Julia Adams (no relation) in 2010, 2001 and 2012.
Amanda Casamatta swam a 52.68 to claim the 100 Free OAC title. Shelbi Shearer (54.19) and Megan Hawk (54.74) took 4th and 5th in the event, respectively. Anne Crowley scored in the consolation, taking 10th (55.58).
Casamatta follows in the footsteps of Rachel Mizner (2010), HeatherGilmour (2008), Rebecca Gilewicz (2006), Carrie Scherger (1998, 2000, 2001), and Shannon Murphy (1997).
Creasap scored 371.45 to win the 3-meter competition. Teammate Juliana Clark finished third to earn All-OAC status.
She is the first JCU Champion in this event since Jackie Nowak in 2006.
The Blue Streaks also had waves of depth to carry the day.
Madison Dolce earned All-OAC honors with a 18:23.18 in the 1650 Free. She was joined on the scoring list by Alex Iosue (5th, 18:48.44) and Allieson McGreer (9th, 19:03.83).
Jenna Latsko earned all-league in the 200 Breast with a third place finish in 2:24.87. Also scoring were Chloe Ruggiero (5th, 2:26.63) and Teresa Prinster (8th, 2:34.94).
In the 200 Fly, Sophie Kocheff took 5th in 2:14.94, while Margaret Zagrobelny was 8th in 2:23.88.
Casamatta, Hawk, Shearer and Dolce capped the night with a win in the 400 Free Relay. Their winning time in 3:33.80 marked the 10th time the Blue Streaks have won, and first since 2015.
