It’s been a while since the Albert Lea High School boys’ swimming and diving team won the Big Nine Conference championship.

But we may not have to wait much longer.

The Tigers propelled themselves into the role of favorite Thursday while knocking off three-time defending conference champion Faribault 95-90 in a Big Nine dual in the ALHS pool.

&uot;It’s between three teams,&uot; said Tigers coach Jon Schmitz. &uot;Faribault, Albert Lea and Mankato West.&uot;

But the Tigers appear to have the upper hand at 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Nine, with wins over Faribault and West.

Thursday’s performance, in which the Tigers won nine of 12 events, didn’t surprise Schmitz, whose teams have won six conference titles.

&uot;We’ve got a quality team right now,&uot; said Schmitz. &uot;So, no, this isn’t a surprise. We’re recording some really good times. It was a real fun meet.&uot;

The Tigers swept the relays for the second meet in a row.

Ethan Berg, Ben Schreiber, Ben Matheson and Josh Elwood won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:46.54. Ryan Lowe, Colton Jensen, Mitch Johnson and Ben Matheson won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:41.68. Lowe, Jensen, Berg and Johnson took the 400 free relay in 3:28.11.

Johnson and Berg were both first in two individual events. Johnson won the 200 free in 1:50.93, the 100 free in 50.07 seconds, Berg the 50 free in 24.21 and the 100 backstroke in 57.43. Elwood won the 100 butterfly in 59.46 and Schreiber won the 100 breast in 1:05.07.

Other ALHS places: Jensen, third, 200 free, 1:56.38 and second, 500 free, 5:24.69; Schreiber, second, 200 IM, 2:12.53; Matheson, third, 200 IM, 2:18.25 and second, 100 butterfly, 1:02.06; Lowe, third, 50 free, 24.68 and fourth, 100 free, 54.92; Chris Jackson, fifth, 50 free, 25.83 and third, 100 breast, 1:09.27; Matt Stoneking, fourth, diving, 84.65; Matt VanFossen, fourth, 500 free, 6:16.83; Sean Harms, fourth, 100 back, 1:10.14.

The Tigers’ junior varsity lost 94-54.

The ALHS boys are back in the pool Saturday at the Austin Invitational.