Competing against your rivals is always fun, but it's even more fun when you roll past them.

The Saint Ignatius swimming & diving team did just that on Friday evening, winning every single event in a 140-45 rout of St. Edward at Cleveland State University's Robert Busbey Natatorium.

The talent and depth were on full display on Friday. The Wildcats put forth an absolutely commanding effort, not only winning everything, but notching a total of six 1-2-3 sweeps. You can't get much more dominant than that.

The Wildcats roared out of the starting gate. Erik Seicean, Robert Gavigan, Cormac Nolan, and Will Van de Walle sailed to first in the 200 medley relay, tallying a time of 1:39.54. Sam Hessler, Jack Johannessen, Cam Marcie, and John Soeder corraled third place, tabbing a time of 1:44.80. 

The first of six 1-2-3 sweeps occurred in the 200 free. Thomas McIntyre starred in the event, touching the wall at 1:54.23. Marcie snagged second and Kian Carmichael snatched third with times of 1:54.23 and 1:54.41, respectively. 

The Wildcats locked in another sweep in the 200 individual medley. Michael Bednar took center stage, flying to a time of 2:09.64. Thomas Metz clicked a mark of 2:11.24 for the silver, and Van de Walle lassoed a time of 2:16.73 for the bronze.

The 50 free featured a familiar face in an unfamiliar place. The Saint Ignatius coaching staff inserted Tyler Hong into the 50 free, a race that the junior does not typically participate in. But Hong did not look out of place, flying past the field with style. The Wildcats' stud swam with reckless abandon in clocking a time of 20.98. Hong's effort caused jaws to drop all throughout the natatorium. According to some in attendance, Hong's time is the second-fastest in the state. Not bad for your first effort of the season in the event. 

Joe Richmond and Michael Bednar also accrued points in the 50 free. The two juniors tallied times of 22.53 and 24.17 for third and fourth places, respectively.

The Wildcats also reigned supreme in the diving portion. Will Claus and Noah Keim framed first and second places in a great showing by the men of Tom Blankenship. 

The victories continued to roll in after the diving break. Brian Johnson started the offensive, winning the 100 butterfly with a time of 55.76. Seicean also scored with a third-place mark of 57.90 and Micah Murtha placed fourth with a time of 58.48.

Hong returned to the fore in the 100 free. The junior claimed the gold with a time of 46.10. Metz and Marcie also fought hard, earning third and fourth place times of 50.01 and 51.51.

Zach Toothman, McIntyre, and Brendan Kiskorna thrived in the 500 free. The trio claimed the top three spots with ease. Toothman excelled with a winning time of 5:01.77. McIntyre charged ahead to the runner-up spot at 5:02.01. Kiskorna closed things out with a third-place mark of 5:17.38. 

Nolan, Murtha, Marcie, and Hessler worked together in the 200 free relay. The quartet raced to the finish line with a time of 1:30.72 for the top spot. Soeder, Johnson, Vincent Elmore, and Bailey Detering worked together in the event, as well, finishing not far behind with a third-place mark of 1:34.48. 

The Wildcats then closed things out with back-to-back-to-back 1-2-3 finishes.

Seicean stormed the water in the 100 backstroke. The freshman swam like a shark, eating up the field with a time of 57.27. Toothman also raced through the water like a predator, clipping a runner-up time of 59.82. Soeder rounded out the Saint Ignatius contingent with a mark of 1:02.13.  

Joe Richmond stole the limelight in the 100 breaststroke. The talented junior tore off a time of 1:02.20 to win the gold. Carmichael nipped at his heels, though, pushing him with a time of 1:03.80. Murtha completed the sweep with a third-place clock at 1:09.58.

The 400 free relay completed a fun evening at the pool for the Wildcats. The all-junior relay of Bednar, Hong, Toothman, and Van de Walle raved through the water for a time of 3:25.75. Hessler, Benjamin Stavar, Nolan, and Metz didn't make it easy, finishing only a second off with a mark of 3:27.00. McIntyre, CJ Navarrete Velez, Daniel Anthony, and Detering finished off the Eagles with a third-place effort of 3:40.90.

The Wildcats also competed in two JV races – the 50 free and the 100 free. 

Detering led the Wildcats' party in the 50 free. The sophomore notched a very solid mark of 24.85 in the fast event. Humbert Wirtz ‘23 (25.52), Brice Cerar (25.59), Luke Slabe (27.23), and Cameron Phillips (36.07) also repped the blue and gold.

Detering again topped the Saint Ignatius delegation in the 100 free. The Willowick native topped the Wildcats' field with a time of 55.46. Navarrete Velez trailed closely with a time of 56.05. Wirtz (58.45) and Slabe (1:00.51) rounded out the pack.

With the huge victory over St. Edward, the Wildcats remain undefeated in dual meets at 5-0, winning every contest by 56 or more points, including four matches by 90 or more. 

Next up is a match vs. University School on Wednesday. The dual meet will be held at Hathaway Brown.