MINNEAPOLIS &045; It was a successful opening day of the state boys’ swimming and diving meet for the Albert Lea Tigers.

All three relays and four individuals in four events advanced to the finals during Friday’s preliminary round at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.

Mitch Johnson made the finals in two events, qualifying second in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:46.27 and third in the 100 freestyle in 47.89 seconds.

Also reaching the finals as individuals were Ethan Berg, Ben Schreiber and Ben Matheson. Berg qualified fifth in the 100 backstroke in 56.42, Schreiber was third in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:01.01, and Matheson was seventh in the breast in 1:03.42.

The top relay was the 200 medley, where Berg, Schreiber, Matheson and Josh Elwood combined for third in 1:40.39. Sauk Rapids qualified No. 1 in 1:39.96.

Johnson, Matheson, Schreiber and Elwood teamed for fourth in the 200 freestyle relay, clocking 2:06.29.

Johnson, Elwood, Matheson and Berg qualified seventh in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:22.56.

Four Tigers advanced to the consolation finals. Berg was 12th in the 100 butterfly in 55.83, Elwood 14th in 55.91. Schreiber was 12th in the 200 individual medley. Josh Anderson qualified 16th in the breaststroke.