50 years ago — 1962

The Albert Lea basketball team, ranked sixth in the state, defeated Red Wing 77-47. The Wingers were tied with Austin for the Big Nine Conference lead with a 6-1 record. Leading scorers for the Tigers were Clair Flaten with 18 points, Gary Jacobson 17 and Lowell Syverson with 16.

The Albert Lea wrestling team overpowered Austin 30-12. Winning matches for the Tigers were Mike Callahan at 112 pounds, Pete Fabry (120), Paul Hanson (127), Rog Kittelson (138), Bruce Palmer (154), Dan Jahns (165), Byron Boer (175) and Jeff Brooke at heavyweight.

Elmore lost their first basketball game in the Border League when they were defeated by Alden 45-44. Don Brummer scored 17 points and Gary Johnson 14 for Alden.

Wells basketball improved to 5-0 in the Middle Eight Conference with a 70 – 32 victory over Mapleton. Leading scorers for Wells were Ron Meyer with 23 points and Al Redman with 22.

25 years ago — 1987

The Albert Lea boys’ basketball team raised their Big Nine Conference record to 6-2 with a 54-37 win over Rochester John Marshall and moved into a tie for second place. Mike Petersen scored 15 points, Tim Struck 14 and Matt Sullivan 10 for the Tigers.

The Albert Lea wrestling team defeated Worthington 45-11. Winners for the Tigers were Alex Wangen, Kenny Jacques, Tim Anderson, Kevin Kermes, Al Mullenbach, Alex Skaar, Randy Peterson, Kevin Schlitz and Craig Slocum.

10 years ago — 2002

At the Cliff Keen Tulsa Nationals, Albert Lea won the outstate team national championship trophy as the top placing squad outside of Oklahoma. Six wrestlers out of 10 from Albert Lea earned All-American honors. Crowned national champions were Corbin Hansen 6-years-and-under, 65 pounds, Corey Hansen U-8 pounds and Nick Flores, U-10, 100 pounds.

The Albert Lea girls’ hockey team clinched second place in the Big Nine Conference with a 6-0 win over Rochester Mayo. Eighth-grader Danika Porter gained her fifth shutout in seven games for Albert Lea. Laura Hillman scored four goals, Jasey Porter one and Francis O’Donnell one for Albert Lea.