Rayhill and Lohnes lead Women's Swimming & Diving past John Carroll in OAC opener

By Chahdael Smith

ADA -- Senior Lindsey Rayhill won three individual events and sophomore Allison Lohnes won two more, to lead the Ohio Northern women's swimming & diving team 187.5 to 88.5 over John Carroll on Saturday afternoon at the ONU Sports Center.

The Polar Bears move to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the OAC, and the Blue Streaks fall 0-1, 0-1.

Rayhill won the 200 yard butterfly with a time of 2:14.32. 

She also won the 100 yard butterfly in 1:00.86 and the 400 yard IM with a time of 4:49.13.

Lohnes won the 100 yard backstroke in 1:02.06 and also touched first in the 200 yard backstroke in 2:15.63.

Senior Rachael Aufdenkampe came in second in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:05.20 and freshman Kelsey Brebbernan was right behind in third, touching in 1:06.50.

In the 100 yard freestyle, ONU captured the top three positions. 

Freshman Jillian Chapman came in first in 55.36, junior Ashley Zoeller came in second in 57.65 and Aufdenkampe came in the third in 57.79.

Freshman Sydney Liber captured the 1 meter diving with a final score of 185.35 points.

The Polar Bears also swept both relay events.

The 200 yard medley relay was won by freshman Molly Wheeler, freshman Emily Uhrin, Lohnes and Rayhill finishing with the time of 1:53.53.

Wheeler, Chapman, Uhrin and Lohnes won the 200 yard freestyle relay, finishing in 1:41.99.

"It was exciting to open our OAC regular season with a home meet," said head coach Peggy Ewald. "The added support motivates the team. We have many areas to work on, but today's competition proved we're making progress and can continue our course."

Ohio Northern will compete again on Friday at Wilmington at 6pm.