Kansas University swimmers Terri Shramka, front left, Erin Goetz and Brittany Potter scream from poolside. KU fell to Arkansas on Thursday at Robinson Natatorium.

An asterisk was put next to Kansas University freshman Erin Mertz’s name on the three-meter diving results to signify a first-place tie with Arkansas’ Madison Palmer.

For KU fans at Robinson Natatorium during Thursday’s swimming and diving dual between Kansas and Arkansas, the asterisk takes on a different meaning.

On Mertz’s final dive, KU diving coach Eric Elliot awarded a 7, while Arkansas’ diving coach stuck up a 51â2 – bringing boos and groans from the crowd. Then when Arkansas’ coach awarded Palmer a 6 on her dive, resulting in a tie for first, the Kansas crowd became even more restless.

Though there still were two swimming events to follow, the split points for first ended up being a big factor in the Jayhawks’ 150.5-149.5 loss to the Razorbacks.

“Normally that dive is pretty shaky, so I was actually kind of shocked at how well it turned out,” Mertz said. “I guess the Arkansas coach just saw something that my coach didn’t catch, which sometimes just happens. I guess that’s unfair, but you’ve got to deal with it. I was proud of it.”

Elliot added: “Diving is such a subjective sport that if you’re really looking you can find a deduction anywhere. Compared to the rest of the dives that we saw in that meet, I thought it was the best dive in the contest. The judge from the other team saw a little leg break or whatever. He can go back and try to justify it.”

On the swimming side, junior Maria Mayrovich propelled the Jayhawks in the tight race for the overall score. Mayrovich won both 50- and 100-yard freestyle races; her time of 50.25 seconds in the 100 set a pool record.

“I’m feeling all right, right now, in the water and been working really hard,” said Mayrovich, who finished the 50 freestyle in 23.44. “My times were OK. It wasn’t my best time, but it was good. I’m very happy with my performance.”

“She’s just doing absolutely awesome,” head coach Clark Campbell said about Mayrovich. “She has really stepped up to the plate. Every week we’re seeing her realize more of her potential.”