For the third time in four years, the Albion men claimed the MIAA Swimming & Diving Championship.

Using a balanced performance the final three days of the competition at the Venema Aquatic Center in Grand Rapids, the men overcame a third place showing after the first day and dominated the final three, postng 933.5 points, finishing well ahead of second place Calvin (838 points) and third place Hope (693).

"Being balanced in a lot of diferent areas really helped," coach Nick Stone said. "This was a full team effort and they didn't stop the entire meet. They motivated each other."   

The Briton men won their first title since 1971 in 2017 and, after a second place showing in 2018, won it all again last year.

"This is definitely something we want to continue," Stone said. "It's something we're going to strive to continue. It's cool to come home with the trophy."

The Briton women swam superbly all week but couldn't make up ground Saturday, finishing third with 819 points. Calvin won the women's title with 867 points and Hope was second with 857.

Stone said his team showed strength in the butterfly and demonstrated that Saturday as the men went 1-2-3 in 200-yard butterfly with performances by Gerardo Huidobro, Drew Fogel and Nate Cobb followed the women's 200 fly which finished first with Samantha Swingewood and third with Sarah Griffiths.

In other highlights Saturday, Connor Robertson won the men's 200-yard backstroke wih Cole Nelson third; Rileigh Eding won the women's 100-yard freestyle; Tyler Kimbrell finished first and Jake Huttenlocher was second in the 200-yard breaststroke; Katy Henning was second in the women's 200-yard breaststroke and Justin Huttenlocher qualified for the Division III Central Region meet in two weeks with a second place finish in the three-meter diving.

FINAL RESULTS

MEN

Albion 933.5

Calvin 838

Hope 693

Kalamazoo 546.5

Olivet 339

Alma 187

WOMEN

Calvin 867

Hope 857

Albion 819

Kalamazoo 558

Alma 246

Olivet 218