After a tough regular-season schedule that seemed like it included about eight contenders for the Big Nine girls’ swimming and diving title, the Albert Lea Tigers were matched against a similar opponent Monday night.

Tuesday, October 26, 1999

After a tough regular-season schedule that seemed like it included about eight contenders for the Big Nine girls’ swimming and diving title, the Albert Lea Tigers were matched against a similar opponent Monday night.

They made the most of it.

The Tigers won their second dual meet of the fall and finished the regular season with a 97-87 victory over Waseca.

The win was special for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the fact it was the final-ever girls’ swimming and diving meet in the current ALHS pool. The Tigers responded by tossing coach Jon Schmitz into the water at the end of the meet.

&uot;That’s always fun,&uot; said Schmitz, whose young Tigers finished 2-9 in dual meets.

It was also parents night and, according to Schmitz, there were a lot of exciting races.

&uot;We had a lot of come-from-behind wins tonight,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s good to see that. We haven’t had that in a while. We took very few sixth places, which means we showed some depth. It was a nice win for us.&uot;

The Tigers won two of three relays. Naomi Gregerson, Laura Grund, Brooke Kaasa and Chelsea Cole combined to take the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:51.25. The same foursome was also fastest in the 400 freestyle relay, clocking 4:10.1.

Gregerson, whose goal was to set the pool record in the 50 freestyle, fell a bit short but still won in 25.25 seconds. She took the 100 free at 56.71.

Grund also finished first in a pair of individual events, winning the 200 individual medley in 2:32.99 and the 100 backstroke in 1:10.74.

Kristin Rietsema won the 500 freestyle in 6:11.31. Cole won the 200 freestyle in 2:18.45 while placing second in the 100 butterfly in 1:13.36.

Amber Paulson/Jordahl, who recently set the school record in diving, finished second in that event with 177.0 points.

Rachel Nelson, Jennifer Osmundson, Nicole Paulson/Jordahl and Amy Leach were second in the 200 medley relay in 2:17.79.

Other Albert Lea places: Laura Linnes, second, 200 free, 2:19.88 and second, 500 free, 6:15.8; Rietsema, fourth, 200 free, 2:20.84; Megan Austin, fourth, 200 IM, 2:45.48 and fifth, 100 breaststroke, 1:24.73; Kaasa, third, 50 free, 29.58 and second, 100 free, 1:03.92; Kasey Pagel, fifth, 50 free, 31.56; Jade Flores, third, diving, 128.9; Kassi Gaul, fifth, diving, 105.45; Nicole Paulson/Jordahl, fifth, 100 butterfly, 1:20.86 and fourth, 100 breaststroke, 1:24.33; Nelson, fourth, 100 free, 1:06.68 and second, 100 backstroke, 1:13.55; Leach, fourth, 100 backstroke, 1:18.49; Osmundson, third, 100 breaststroke, 1:22.54.

The Albert Lea junior varsity won 91-67. Placing first for the Tigers were Osmundson, 200 IM; Lonna Vanderploeg, 50 free and 100 free; Amber Erb, diving; Jackie Montag, 100 butterfly; Jill Wilke, 100 back; and Krista Horejs, 100 breast.

The Tigers take the long trip to Winona for the Big Nine meet Saturday. The swimming will be conducted entirely at St. Mary’s University beginning at 10 a.m., with the finals set for 1 p.m. The swimming events are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at Winona High School.