Warming up is a tall order in November. That’s just what the Albion College men and women’s swimming and diving teams are finding out. As of now, the men are 1-1 in dual meets, while the women are 0-2. Luckily, dual meets have no affect on championship determination. The dual meets merely serve as warm-ups for the MIAA Championships on Feb. 14-16.

Both teams were in action against the Dutch Nov. 10. Hope floated and swam past the Brits, defeating the men, 152-121, and the women, 167-109.

"We just got beat," said Keith Havens, head coach. "A lot of people went faster against Hope than they did against Calvin. Most people improved, even a little. I was very proud."

Albion won the day in diving events, as Emily Magyar, Gobles sophomore, and Ty Lattimore, Grosse Pointe Farms sophomore, swept the diving events.

So far, diving has been the strength for both teams in the 2007 season. Magyar has placed first in both competitions in the three-meter dive and second and first consecutively in the one-meter dive. Lattimore has taken first in both one meter dives and second and first in the three-meter. Mason Irvin, Novi first-year, took first in the three-meter dive against Calvin. All three divers; Magyar, Lattimore, and Irvin; earned qualifying marks for the NCAA Division III Championships Nov. 3 against Calvin. Magyar met qualifying standards again this week with a total score of 246.15. Irvin was unable to compete due to a shoulder injury and illness.

"I almost qualified for Nationals last year," Lattimore said. "It would be real cool to make it this year. It’s a lot closer [at Miami (Ohio) University]. I feel like I have a really good chance."

The trouble came in the swimming events for the Brits. Albion was only able to win one of the 28 swimming events. Scott Venettis, Troy first-year, brought Albion its only first-place finish in a swimming event against Hope. Venettis took first in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:02.19. Venettis was also second in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:21.18.

"All we can do is keep our times dropping," Havens said. "Our divers are working on new dives which should help them. Our swimmers have to keep working and stay healthy so those times can continue to drop."

Albion did turn in a handful of second place finishes.

Rounding out the men’s scoring for the day were Andrew Drake, Dearborn junior; Ryan Gunderson, Grosse Pointe junior; Matt Keyes, Taylor first-year; and Paul Krone, Cincinnati, Ohio, junior. Drake finished second behind Venettis in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:00.18.

Gunderson took second in the 50 and 100-yard sprint freestyle events, Keyes in the 200-yard individual medley, and Krone in the 500-yard freestyle.

A pair of first-years took second place in three events for the women’s team. Ashley Collins, Saginaw first-year, took second in the breaststroke events. Collins was mere seconds behind the first place finisher in both events. Allison Vial, Farmington first-year, took second in the 200-yard individual medley.

As Albion winds into December, the swimming and diving teams can only hope to stay healthy and focused. With the first semester ending soon, the Britons will have to stave off home sickness.

"There are lots of injuries and illnesses," Havens said. "A lot of the swimmers and divers are going through two- a-days ,and with exams coming, a lot of them are burning the candle at both ends."

This weekend will prove to be a busy weekend for the Britons at the Dean Aquatic Center. The women’s team will host Saint Mary’s College Friday, Nov. 16 for a dual meet. Both the men and women’s team will host Alma on Saturday, Nov. 17.

"I think we should be able to beat both of them," Collins said. "Alma has a smaller team this year. Saint Mary’s should be a good match up. I expect we should get two wins."

Lattimore and the diving team are ready as well. Lattimore was close to beating Albion’s school diving record of 300 points at Calvin with a total score of 289. Chances might be better at home.

"I like diving at home," Lattimore said. "I’ll try to get the school record, it just means doing one dive a little better."