St. Michael-Albertville Swimmers Poised for Huge Matchup with Monticello

For the first month of the girls’ swimming season, St. Michael-Albertville has been the picture of perfection.

The Knights have rolled to wins at home and visiting other pools, including dominating Mississippi 8 rivals like Becker and Big Lake over the last two weeks.

Head coach Tom Gillou’s squad is 5-0, and now poised to take on the Monticello Magic, the class of the Mississippi 8 for the past decade, and the only other undefeated squad in the conference.

“We know they’re the top program. It’s been them and everyone else for the past how many years,” Gillou said. “They’re very strong again.”

Caley Oquist leads the Magic into Thursday for the 6 p.m. dual.

So far, St. Michael-Albertville’s youth movement has been everything the squad advertised going into the season. Kasey Roberts broke a school record Thursday, Sept. 29 with her performance in the 100-yard backstroke vs. Big Lake. That swim also put her in the mix for the State AA meet.

“She kind of leads the way,” Gillou said.

“The younger swimmers are just really talented,” said co-captain Haeska. “They work hard.”

The 200 freestyle relay just missed a pool record (held by Monticello) at Becker with a solid swim by Roberts, Courtney Hanson, Morgan Haeska and Katie Schmitz.

In the deep end, Krista Erickson is poised to make another state meet appearance, as the diver dominated the 1-meter diving competition vs. the Bulldogs.

“She finished just a point shy of the school record,” Gillou said.

After hosting the Magic, the Knights will be on the road Oct. 13 at Buffalo. That’s also a 6 p.m. swim.