John Carroll holds off Ohio Northern in tight finish on the final day of 2018 Men's OAC Swimming & Diving Championships

By Tim Glon

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AKRON — John Carroll held off a late charge from Ohio Northern, winning the team title by a scant three points, to highlight the final day of the 2018 Men's Ohio Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships on Saturday at the University of Akron's Ocasek Natatorium.

The Blue Streaks won the meet with 826.5 points, edging the Polar Bears in second with 823.5 points.

Ryan McClelland of John Carroll shattered the Ocasek Natatorium record in the 3-meter diving by scoring an OAC record 602.55 points, more than 67 points more than the previous mark of 535.45 in 2012. He broke the 17-year old previous OAC record of 552.10 by Mount Union's Brandon Smith by more than 50 points.

He swept the 1- and 3-meter diving for the second consecutive season.

Ohio Northern's Nolan Huey set his third OAC record of the championships by winning the 200 back in an NCAA "B" Cut of 1:49.93. He broke the previous mark of 1:50.57 set in 2017 by John Carroll's Jack Garrow, who finished third in this year's race.

Both men were honored after the meet as McClelland was named the OAC Diver of the Year and Huey was named the OAC Swimmer of the Year.

Ohio Northern was named the OAC Coaching Staff of the Year.

JCU's Mason Beck won the 200 breast in an OAC record and NCAA "B" Cut 2:03.68.

Mount Union's Cole Ellsworth swept the distance free events by winning the 1650 free in 15:59.81 and John Carroll's Matthew Ramsey completed the sweep of the sprint free events, winning the 100 free in :45.60, just .05 of a second off the OAC record.

Ohio Northern's Pete He completed his sweep of the butterfly events as he won the 200 fly in 1:54.54.

The Ohio Northern men edged John Carroll in the 400 free relay by just .28 of a second, winning the race in 3:05.30, making it the closest 400 free relay in OAC history. ONU also extended its winning streak in the event to six consecutive years.

JCU's lead was 35 points with two events to go, but ONU had a 46-20 advantage in the 3-meter diving to close the gap to nine.

Northern then won the 400 free relay, but John Carroll finished second in the race to hang on to the team title by three points, which is the closest finish in the team standings since John Carroll and Mount Union tied for the top spot in 1996.

The top three finishers in each individual event and the top two relay teams earn All-Conference honors.

Final Team Standings

1. John Carroll 826.5, 2. Ohio Northern 823.5, 3. Mount Union 696, 4. Baldwin Wallace 319, 5. Wilmington 312.