“We told her (Martin), if you’re not false-starting at least once this season, you’re not trying,” Aquagirls assistant coach Chris Forsyth said.

While Patterson said she wasn’t expecting to win the event, the disqualification did allow Ankeny to take an early 8-6 lead. The NCMP foursome of sisters Sidney and Sierra Griffith, freshman Liz Myers and sophomore Jeannie Etnyre still managed to take second in 2 minutes, 18.57 seconds and the “C” team took third.

“When we won that medley relay, it was unbelievable because we were trying to take second and third,” Patterson said. “When we were disqualified, I could feel our mood lower a bit. But then they bounced right back. They were not going to take no for an answer.”