FARIBAULT – The Albert Lea girls’ swimming and diving team is young, exciting and getting better all the time, but the Tigers aren’t yet ready to make a run at the top of the Big Nine.

Friday, September 14, 2001

FARIBAULT – The Albert Lea girls’ swimming and diving team is young, exciting and getting better all the time, but the Tigers aren’t yet ready to make a run at the top of the Big Nine.

That was apparent Thursday as the Tigers lost 98-78 at Faribault, one of the conference’s top squads. The Falcons won every event, building a 98-28 lead before stopping counting their points in the last four races. Faribault finished 1-2 in all three relays.

The Tigers’ top finishes were three second places, by Laura Grund in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 back stroke and Leah Matheson in the 100 breast stroke. Matheson was also fifth in the 200 individual medley.

Other Albert Lea places: Laura Linnes, fourth, 200 IM and fifth, 500 freestyle; Lonna Vanderploeg, fifth, 200 freestyle and fourth, 500 freestyle; Amy Leach, fourth, 200 IM and fifth, 100 butterfly; Brooke Kaasa, fourth, 50 freestyle and third, 100 freestyle; Kassi Gaul, fourth, diving; Laura Hillman, fifth, diving; Chelsea Cole, third, 100 butterfly; Alyssa Nelson, fifth, 100 freestyle and fifth, 100 back stroke; Kaeli Wayne, fourth, 100 back stroke; Krista Horejsi, fourth, 100 breast stroke; Megan Austin, fifth, 200 breast stroke.

The ALHS junior varsity lost 99-75. Placing first were Kacey Pagel, 50 freestyle; and Horejsi, 100 butterfly.

The Tigers are scheduled to compete in the Mankato East Cougar Relays on Saturday.