Last year, the Albert Lea High School boys’ swimming and diving team lost to Faribault in a regular-season dual meet.

Friday, December 10, 1999

Last year, the Albert Lea High School boys’ swimming and diving team lost to Faribault in a regular-season dual meet.

The Tigers got revenge, though, beating the Falcons by five points for the championship in the Big Nine meet.

Faribault, apparently, did not forget.

The Tigers traveled to Faribault for the season opener Thursday night and absorbed a 102-83 defeat.

&uot;It was a good meet, a close meet,&uot; said ALHS coach Jon Schmitz. &uot;We won a lot of close races, but they pretty much got us with their depth. We had a lot of great swims though.&uot;

The Tigers won seven of 12 events, though the Falcons took two of three relays.

Erik Johnson, the defending Big Nine and section champion in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle, won the 50 free in 24.42 seconds and the 200 free in 1:53.06.

Jeff Eaton also was first in two events, winning the 50 free at 24.42 and the 100 butterfly in 55.89.

The other individual wins were by Mark Hickman, 100 backstroke, 1:00.40; and Scott Kallemeyn, 100 breaststroke, 1:08.93.

Hickman, Kallemeyn, Eaton and Patrick Bell won the 200 medley relay in 1:47.1.

Other Albert Lea places: Ryan Lowe, fourth, 200 free, 2:09,79 and fourth, 500 free, 6:05.59; Ben Lindeman, fifth, 200 free, 2:14.02 and fifth, 500 free, 6:06.31; Hickman, second, 200 individual medley, 2:24.42; Justin Elwood, fourth, 200 IM, 2:34.05 and fourth, 100 butterfly, 1:11.01; Bell, fourth, 50 free, 25.33 and fifth, 100 free, 57.67; Andy Witt, fifth, 50 free, 25.43 and fourth, 100 free, 57.06; Dan Nelson, third, diving, 125.15; Kallemeyn, third, 100 butterfly, 1:07.13; Colton Jensen, fifth, 100 back, 1:12.44; Ben Matheson, fourth, 100 breast, 1:16.47.

The Albert Lea junior varsity lost 61-36. Placing first for Albert Lea were Ethan Berg, 200 IM; Matt Hagen, 50 free; and the 200 medley relay team of Jensen, Tim Pirsig, Berg and Hagen.

The Tigers are off until next Thursday when they host Owatonna for the home opener.