The Brandeis men's and women's swimming teams set the tone for their season with a victory at the Michael Zarrilli Memorial Invitational. After falling short in the season opener to Boston College, the Judges rebounded to defeat Keene State College and Gordon College. Brandeis won the meet with 169.5 points, while Keane State came in second with 103.5 points and Gordon had 56 points. Both the men's and women's teams are 1-1.The Judges dominated the meet, placing first in every event except for the 150-yard freestyle feet first relay and the 250-yard freestyle relay.

Brandeis finished first in the 400-yard medley relay with a team of Matt Christian '05, Brittany Cindric '08, Chris Pai '07 and Sarah Evans '06. They then took the 200-yard freestyle relay with Rachel Dionne '08, Hal Grossman '07, Leon Rosefigura '07 and Alison Smizer '07.

"The meet was great because it was a team we usually don't have much trouble against," Smizer said. "We were able to put people in events they usually don't swim."

The third event, the 300-yard backstroke relay, went to Brandeis' Ben Paquette '05, Lalin Anik '06, Christian, and Tsveta Teneva '08.

In the diving competition, Aly Karp '08 took first place. The team of Makowsky, Rosefigura, Keara DeKey '08 and Ross Gercenstein '06 won the 400-yard freestyle streamline kick relay. Grossman, Cesar Olivier '08, Jennifer Gordon '07, and Zahava Alter '08 took the 300-yard butterfly relay.

Paquette, Evans, Rosefigura and Smizer won the 800-yard freestyle relay, while Paquette, Cindric, Matthew Lerman '07 and Silver Deutsch '07 came out on top of the 300-yard breaststroke relay.

"We all swam really well," Lerman said. "All our hard work is starting to pay off."

"The female divers stepped it up and we had some good times from the males swimmers in the distance events,"Olivier said.

Overall, it was an excellent performance from both the men's and women's teams.

One point of enthusiasm is that the Judges finally have a diver. Olivier dives as well as swims, and his presence will help the Judges immensely. In previous meets the Judges had been forced to forfeit points because they had no divers, a problem they will no longer face.

"I've never dove before so I could use some help," Olivier said. "But overall things look pretty good."

The Judges will look to draw strength from a roster rich in young talent but also filled with capable leadership.

"We have a great bunch of new freshmen," Smizer said.

"Our captains are awesome and the upperclassmen in gerenal are leading the team really well."

With more than a week off, the Judges still have much to work on.

"We're not in tip top shape yet," Smizer said. "For the point we are at in the season we look great. It looks like a great season."

The next meet will take place Nov. when the Judges travel to take on Babson College.

"We want to improve on our standings in the UAA from last year," Smizer said. "Our goals are to send more people to nationals and have other people improve on their times.