FARMINGTON – The Albert Lea High School boys’ swimming and diving team is still relatively young.

Saturday, February 02, 2002

FARMINGTON – The Albert Lea High School boys’ swimming and diving team is still relatively young.

But the Tigers, who have only three seniors and three juniors, have another year of experience. And that’s made a big difference, according to coach Jon Schmitz.

&uot;We knew we were going to have a good team this year,&uot; said Schmitz. &uot;Compared to last year, it’s like night and day.&uot;

The Tigers finished their dual-meet schedule 8-2 with a 96-85 nonconference victory at Farmington Thursday. It was an easy win for the ALHS boys, who built a 90-64 lead and gave Farmington 21 points in the last two events.

Sophomore Mitch Johnson was the lone double winner, taking the 200-yard freestyle in 1:56.83 and the 100 free in 52.01 seconds.

Also winning individual events were Josh Elwood, 100 butterfly, 1:04.82; Colton Jensen, 500 free, 5:26.68; Ethan Berg, 100 back, 1:02.81; and Ben Schreiber, 100 breast, 1:08.28.

Berg, Justin Elwood, Schreiber and Ryan Lowe won the 200 medley relay while Josh Elwood, Chris Borge, Matt Hagen and Jensen were fastest in the 400 free relay.

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

The Tigers’ next competition is the Big Nine meet Saturday at Faribault, with diving set for 10 a.m. and swimming at 1 p.m.

&uot;We think we’ve got a strong Big Nine lineup,&uot; said Schmitz. &uot;Faribault’s real tough, with a lot of depth. We don’t have any superstars, but we may surprise some people. We’re kind of a sleeper.&uot;