The Tiger swimmers, who haven’t lost a dual meet in nearly a month, won easily again Thursday with a 97-81 triumph over Mankato West in the ALHS pool.

Friday, February 02, 2001

The Tiger swimmers, who haven’t lost a dual meet in nearly a month, won easily again Thursday with a 97-81 triumph over Mankato West in the ALHS pool. The victory improved the Tigers to 6-2-1 in dual meets, with only the conference, section and state meets remaining.

As in their previous two wins – over Farmington and Austin – the Tigers did not count their points in the final events after building a 97-56 lead. Albert Lea finished first in eight of 11 races.

Mark Hickman was the only double winner Thursday. The senior took the 200-yard individual medley in 2:17.62 and the 100 backstroke in 59.20 seconds.

Albert Lea’s other individual firsts were by Mitch Johnson, 200 freestyle, 2:01.97; Ryan Lowe, 100 free, 54.11; Ben Lindeman, 500 free, 5:36.91; and Ben Matheson, 100 breaststroke, 1:11.81.

Hickman, Matheson, Ethan Berg and Lowe won the 200 medley in 1:52.79. Patrick Bell, Lindeman, Colton Jensen and Johnson joined for first in the 200 freestyle relay, clocking 1:42.54. Hickman, Lindeman, Lowe and Johnson were first in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:40.65.

Other Albert Lea places: Lindeman, second, 200 free; Jensen, third, 200 free and third, 500 free; Matheson, third, 200 IM; Justin Elwood second, 100 butterfly; Bell, third, 50 free and fourth, 100 free; Lowe, second, 50 free; Damion Phillips, second, diving; Taylor Zimmerman, third, diving; Berg, second, 100 butterfly and second, 100 back; Josh Elwood, fourth, 200 IM and fourth, 100 butterfly; Johnson, second, 500 free; Tim Pirsig, second, 100 breast; Adam Muilenburg, fifth, 100 breast.

West won the junior varsity meet 69-50.

Finishing first for the junior varsity Tigers were Chris Borge, 200 freestyle; Justin Elwood, 50 freestyle; Jordan Neve, 100 freestyle; the 200 freestyle relay team of Craig Neff, Neve, Jon VanErkel and Chris Jackson; and the 400 freestyle relay team of Borge, Neve, Jackson and VanErkel.

The next action for the Tigers is the Big Nine meet, which they’ll host Saturday, Feb. 10.