‘Ten Tigers will make the trip to the state meet this week as the squad advanced all three relays and one individual from the weather-delayed Section 1A meet that concluded Monday night at Inver Grove Heights.

Wednesday, February 28, 2001

‘Ten Tigers will make the trip to the state meet this week as the squad advanced all three relays and one individual from the weather-delayed Section 1A meet that concluded Monday night at Inver Grove Heights.

Schmitz, the Tigers’ veteran coach who guided the team to fifth place in last year’s state meet, said this is indeed a time to savor some accomplishments and have some fun.

&uot;It really is,&uot; said Schmitz. &uot;For this team to get three relays up there, I think, is a real big accomplishment.&uot;

Senior Mark Hickman was the Tigers’ individual state qualifier, making it by state standard in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 56.3 seconds. He placed sixth in the section finals.

Hickman, Ben Matheson, Ethan Berg and Ryan Lowe combined for sixth in the 200 medley relay, qualifying for state with a time of 1:46.4.

Patrick Bell, Ben Lindeman, Berg and Mitch Johnson were sixth in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:36.4, again making it to state by time standard.

Lindeman, Lowe, Johnson and Hickman took seventh in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:32.0, under the state qualifying standard.

Schmitz said Colton Jensen, Tim Pirsig and Justin Elwood will join the Tigers at state as alternates.

Lindeman just missed state in the 500 freestyle while clocking 5:20.8, 1.8 seconds off the state standard.

Lindeman placed in the consolation heat of the 500 freestyle, as did Matheson in the 100 breast, and Berg and Elwood in the 100 butterfly.

The Tigers finished eighth as a team in the section meet and, according to Schmitz, performed better than expected all season long.

&uot;Our team has really surpassed a lot of my expectations,&uot; said Schmitz. &uot;It’s a team with a lot of depth. We’re still too young to have the real high point-getters, but this team in a couple years will really turn around from a big-meet standpoint. They have the talent.&uot;

The state meet is Friday and Saturday at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. The Albert Lea boys are scheduled to swim at noon both days.