The Ashland University men and women’s swim and dive team traveled to Alliance, Ohio to take on the Mount Union Raiders Friday Jan. 17. 

The Eagle women won 127-78 while the men lost by a small margin of 103-102. 

Sophomore Payton O’Toole won in the women’s 1,000-yard freestyle (11:15.28) and the 100 free (56.10) while freshman Brooke Patel won in the women’s 200 individual medley (2:19.92) and 200 breaststroke (2:37.92) for individual events. 

Both O’Toole and Patel won the women’s 200 free relay (1:43.91) alongside sophomores Blair Pichola and Juliana Pignato. 

The women’s 200 medley relay (1:56.25) was also won by the Eagles consisting of freshman Yasmin Tomita, senior Colleen Cox, sophomore Payton Meyer, and freshman Raechel Serafimov. 

Head Swim & Dive Coach Hueston Holder found that despite the team lacking exceptional times, the women still stuck through for every yard. 

“Even though it wasn’t an exceptional meet based off times, the women still competed for every yard,” Holder said. 

Other Eagles also earned first placings such as Cox in the 50 free (25.86 seconds), Pignato in the 200 butterfly (2:17.76), and Tomita in the 200 backstroke (2:15.22). 

On the men’s side finding gold, junior Nick Girz won the 50 free (22.19 seconds) and 100 free (47.98 seconds), junior Nick Olquin won the 200 fly (2:00.96), and junior Jack Elliott took the men’s 200 breaststroke (2:15.19). 

The men also found success in the 200 medleys (1:39.21) consisting of sophomore Colin Pham, junior Andrew Oates, freshman Daniel Correa Hammer, and Elliot.   

These performances weren’t enough for the men to bring home a win. 

“After missing a handful of opportunities to close out the meet and win on our end, it was too late by the time the guys kicked it into high gear,” Holder said. 

The team will next compete on Friday Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. against Bluffton University.