If there is still any question of whether or not the 2011 version of the Albert Lea Tigers girls’ swimming and diving team is much better than it was a year ago, look no further than the results of a close meet against a talented Mankato West squad.

Albert Lea (3-3) led through the first four events of the evening before surrendering the point total to the Scarlets. Mankato West still had to battle down to the very last event — the 400-yard freestyle relay — to secure the 96-90 victory.

Lindsey Horesji claimed two individual victories and one relay win. Seniors Morgan Field and Galen Schulz each had an individual win and a relay victory. Karli Kriewall was victorious in 1-meter diving for the Tigers.

“I thought we swam a good meet,” Tigers coach Jon Schmitz said. “It wasn’t a great meet, but it was two really good teams. They were a little up on us in personnel.”

Kemma Bergland, Field, Schulz and Claire Nelson combined to win the opening event, the 200-yard medley relay. The foursome touched the wall in a time of one minute and 58.74 seconds, beating the Scarlets relay by 1.24 seconds.

Mankato West sophomore Danielle Nack showcased her talents in the 200-yard freestyle by touching the wall in a pool-record time of 1:55.57.

In return, Horesji was able to fend off Nack’s younger sister, Chantal, in the 200 individual medley, an event that Horesji holds both the pool and school record in. Horesji soared through the water in 2:16.74 for the victory.

Schulz added her first individual victory of the night in the 50-yard freestyle outtouching West’s Nicole Lohman for the win. Schulz finished with a 25.66, while Lohman was a 25.71.

“We did really good,” Field said. “I don’t even care about the score tonight. We had really good swims, and we’ve been working really hard through tough practices, early mornings and late nights.

“It’s finally paying off for us and I’m proud of all of us.”

Kriewall scored a 211.20, just 13.60 points away from her team record to win the 1 meter diving event.

Danielle Nack demolished another Tigers pool record in the 100 butterfly by stopping the clock in 57.23 seconds.

Field picked up her lone victory of the night in the 100 breaststroke, powering her way to a 1:13.34 victory. Eighth-grader Samantha Nielson pulled in second in 1:17.85.

The girls’ 400 free relay was the last team to win an event on Thursday night. Anna Anderson, Haley Simon, Horejsi and Bailey Sandon recorded a time of 4:09.29.

Schmitz said the Tigers will begin lowering their yardage in practice and focusing more on technique over the next few weeks as they prepare themselves for the championship season.

Mankato West 96, Albert Lea 90

Albert Lea results: 200 Medley Relay- 1. AL (Bergland, Field, Schulz, Nelson) 1:58.74, 3. AL 2:08.93, 5. AL 2:17.90; 200 Freestyle- 2. Anna Anderson 2:10.06, 4. Haley Simon 2:17.55, 6. Sara Rasmussen 2:20.80; 200 I.M.- 1. Lindsey Horejsi 2:16.74, 4. Morgan Field 2:28.85, 6. Bailey Sandon 2:39.31; 50 Free- 1. Galen Schulz 25.66, 5. Carly Nelson 27.73, 6. Claire Nelson 27.76; 1 mtr Diving- 1. Karli Kriewall 211.20, 5. Brianna See-Rockers 123.90, 6. Makenna Friehl 117.45; 100 Fly- 3. Galen Schulz 1:08.80, 4. Hannah Hertling 1:11.88, 5. Carly Nelson 1:13.07; 100 Free- 1. Lindsey Horesji 55.33, 3. Kemma Bergland 59.34, 6. Samantha Nielson 1:05.63; 500 Free- 3. Anna Anderson 5:56.72, 4. Haley Simon 6:04.67, 6. Sara Rasmussen 6:17.39; 200 Free Relay- 2. AL (Schulz, Field, Anderson, Horesji) 1:43.14, 4. AL 1:54.83, 5. AL 1:59.24; 100 Back- 2. Kemma Bergland 1:10.22, 3. Bailey Sandon 1:11.65, 5. Claire Nelson 1:14.64; 100 Breast- 1. Morgan Field 1:13.34, 2. Samantha Nielson 1:17.85, 6. Chelsey Battle 1:24.14; 400 Free Relay- 1. AL (Anderson, Simon, Horesji, Sandon) 4:09.29, 3. AL 4:16.26, 5. AL 4:44.08.