Entering Saturday's 1 p.m. meet at Eastern Michigan University, the Ball State University swimming and diving teams are not expecting to win.
"We'd like to win but we don't have the manpower to win at this point," co-coach Bob Thomas said.
Eastern Michigan is coming off Mid-American Conference championships in both men's and women's swimming and diving. Last season was the 26th championship for the men's team and the second consecutive title for the women's team.
Also, the Eastern Michigan women's team beat Ball State the past three seasons.
The Eastern Michigan men's team beat Ball State in each of the past 15 meetings. The Cardinals' last win against the Eagles came during the 1992-93 season.
"With the stronger competition it should push us to a higher level," Thomas said.
Also pushing Ball State to a higher level will be the facilities at Eastern Michigan, Thomas said.
The pool at Eastern Michigan is faster than Ball State's Lewellen Aquatic Center, Thomas said, which means the Cardinals will have the opportunity to swim their best times.
Senior Addison Del Rio said the faster pool will be to the Cardinals' advantage.
"Because they swim in their pool all of the time, they're used to it," she said. "But to us, we swim in Lewellen, so swimming there is actually beneficial to us because it's just a faster pool."
Thomas said in addition to the faster pool, the fact that the Cardinals will face faster swimmers will make them faster. Swimming against people and pushing themselves makes the swimmers faster, he said.
With the tougher competition, Thomas said, Ball State will focus more on individual performances rather than the team outcome.
Del Rio said while the individual aspect is bigger, it is still important to the team performance because good individual finishes mean more points for the team.
Thomas said some athletes take the idea of facing the best differently than others. It is up to the individuals to get themselves ready to face the Eagles, he said.
"I'm sure there are a few that may be hesitant to go up against that kind of strength or power," Thomas said. "As far as I'm concerned it's an opportunity to go against the best, and anytime you get those kind of chances you use them."
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