Through the years, the Albert Lea Tigers have grown rather fond of the old Milk Can Trophy.

Friday, December 07, 2001

Through the years, the Albert Lea Tigers have grown rather fond of the old Milk Can Trophy.

There’s no way they wanted to see it go back to Owatonna. And it didn’t.

The boys’ swimming and diving team retained its unique traveling trophy, defeating the Huskies 97-81 in a Big Nine dual meet in the Tigers’ pool Thursday night. The Milk Can has gone to Owatonna only once in coach Jon Schmitz’s tenure, three years ago when the Huskies ended the Tigers’ 64-meet winning streak.

Schmitz was glad to keep the trophy, of course, but even happier with the Tigers’ performance.

&uot;I’m happy with the times,&uot; he said. &uot;The captains got the kids into the water early and they spent a lot of time with preseason training. It looks like we’re going to have a strong team. We’ll take it from here, I guess. It’s a much better start than last year. I don’t want to single anybody out. We had great performances up and down the lineup.&uot;

And the Tigers won handily, building a 97-56 lead and giving the Huskies 25 points in the final two events.

Mitch Johnson and Ben Schreiber were double winners. Johnson won the 200-yard freestyle in 2:01.76 and the 100 free in 52.83 seconds, Schreiber the 200 IM in 2:23.9 and the 100 breast in 1:10.84. Ethan Berg and Justin Elwood tied for first in the 100 butterfly, both clocking 1:03.88. Ben Lindeman won the 500 free in 5:21.79.

Berg, Schreiber, Justin Elwood and Ryan Lowe won the 200 medley relay in 1:52.38. Lowe, Schreiber, Lindeman and Johnson took the 200 free relay in 1:41.43. Lindeman, Berg, Johnson and Colton Jensen were fastest in the 400 free relay, 3:45.8.

Other Albert Lea places: Lindeman, second, 200 free; Jensen, third, 200 free and second, 500 free; Matheson, second, 200 IM and second, 100 breast; Chris Borge, fifth, 200 IM and fourth, 100 back; Lowe, second, 50 free and third, 100 free; Justin Elwood, third, 50 free; Chris Jackson, fifth, 50 free and fourth, 100 breast; Josh Elwood, second, 100 butterfly; Matt Hagen, fourth, 100 free; Josh Elwood, third, 100 back.

Owatonna won the junior varsity meet 71-50. Taking first for the Tigers: Hagen, 50 free; Jon VanErkel, 100 free; Craig Neff, 500 free; Sean Harms, 100 back.

The Tigers return to action next Thursday at Mankato West.