Aaron Salzman

Alexandra Desotelle

In a battle of national-caliber programs, The College of Wooster women's swimming and diving team was edged by Case Western Reserve University 133-104 during a dual Friday night at Cleveland, Ohio, and the host Spartans also won the men's meet, 172-65 over the Fighting Scots.

Wooster's women's team, slotted No. 28 in the latest collegeswimming.com NCAA Div. III rankings, took its first loss of the season due in part to No. 21 Case's 20-point advantage from the diving events.

In the pool, the two northeast Ohio rivals were virtually even, and the Scots got off to a fast start with two of the top-three 400 medley relays. Courtney McGovern, Alexandra Desotelle, Morgan Hughes, and Jillian Saccogna won the opening event in 4:05.91.

McGovern continued her strong sophomore season with individual wins in the 200 freestyle (1:58.55) and 200 backstroke (2:12.45), while Hughes led the field in the 100 free (54.91).

Also of note, the final race of the evening – the 400 freestyle relay – was dramatic. Wooster's team of Saccogna, Hughes, Jamie Hibbs, and Anna McGlade settled for a very close second, as the Spartans outstretched them at the wall, 3:42.70 to 3:42.83.

In the men's meet, Brian Maddock was the Scots' lone event winner, taking top honors in the 200 back (1:58.80), though, several teammates finished as runner-ups.

The 200 breaststroke came down to less than four-tenths of a second between Case's first-place swimmer and Evan Hagedorn (2:18.64), while Aaron Brown was exactly four-tenths off the pace of the winner in the 50 free with his 22.53 sprint. Also in second for Wooster was Conner Gelwicks in the 200 free (1:48.62) and diver Aaron Salzman on the one- (216.80) and three-meter (203.65) boards.

The Scots continue a busy weekend of competition by hosting a tri-meet with Hiram College and Olivet College on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m.