The Albert Lea Tigers may not yet be ready to challenge for the Big Nine Conference girls’ swimming and diving championship.

But they’re making progress.

The Tigers hosted defending Big Nine champ Faribault Thursday and performed admirably, dropping a 95-89 decision in the ALHS pool.

&uot;We swam a great meet against Faribault,&uot; said first-year head coach LaChelle Sandon.

The Tigers had two wins, by Samantha Cole in the 50-yard freestyle and Leah Matheson in the 100 breaststroke.

&uot;Both won because they finished hard into the wall,&uot; said Sandon.

Second-place finishes for the Tigers were by Samantha Cole in the 100 freestyle, Chelsea Cole in the 100 butterfly, Kaeli Wayne in the 100 backstroke and Rachael Hagen in the 500 free.

The Tigers were second in all three relays. Wayne, Matheson, Samantha Cole and Brooke Kaasa swam the 200 medley relay. Chelsea Cole, Lonna Vanderploeg, Krista Horejsi and Whitney Walters were in the 200 freestyle relay. Brooke Kaasa, Wayne, Chelsea Cole and Samantha Cole comprised the 400 freestyle relay.

Other Albert Lea places: Chelsea Cole, third, 200 free; Brittney Kaasa, fourth, 200 free and third, 500 free; Vanderploeg, fifth, 200 free and fourth, 50 free; Matheson, third, 200 IM; Amy Leach, fourth, 200 IM and fourth, 100 back; Jill Wilke, fifth, 200 IM; Brooke Kaasa, third, 50 free and fourth, 100 free; Kassi Gaul, third, diving; Rachael Foster, fifth, diving; Alyssa Nelson, third, 100 butterfly and fifth, 100 back; Heather Carlson, fifth, 100 butterfly; Wayne, fifth, 100 free; Krista Horejsi, fourth, 100 breast; Mariah McGill, fifth, 100 breast.

Faribault won the junior varsity meet 94-80. Albert Lea wins were by Carlson, 200 IM; Horejsi, 50 free; Kacey Pagel, 100 butterfly; Whitney Walters, 100 free; Jackie Elwood, 100 back; and the 200 freestyle relay team of Megan Austin, Trisha Reindl, Emily Gaudian and Heidi VanErkel.

The Tigers compete Saturday in the Panther Relays at Lakeville. Their next home meet is Tuesday, Sept. 24 against Mankato East.