50 years ago: 1964

• Named to the Gopher All-Conference football team from New Richland were Perry Haugen, Joel Howser, Dale Madison, Dick Reger, Lyle Nuhring, Bruce Babcock and Tom Greenwood. Bob Cook, Mike Spurr, Pat Phillips and Tim Thompson from Ellendale also were named All-Conference.

• Albert Lea basketball head coach, Don Buhr, opened practice with four returning letter winners: Jim Bratvold, Dave Mueller, Warren Shurson and John Hegland.

• The Minnesota Vikings defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-7 with quarterback Fran Tarkenton throwing three touchdown passes in the first half to Tommy Mason, Bill Brown and Jerry Reichow. Tarkenton completed 12-of-18 passes for 195 yards.

 

25 years ago: 1989

• Named Big Nine All-Conference from Albert Lea were Jon Cluppert, tight end; Pete Christian, offense tackle; Chad Bohonek, halfback; Max Jeffrey, quarterback; Eric Nyquist, linebacker; Rudy Duenes, defensive lineman; and Pat Sullivan, defensive back. Receiving All-Conference honorable mention were John Ball, Buck Nelsen, Jason Wellner, Matt Guse and Dave Arbogast.

• Named to the Big Nine All-Conference girls’ swimming team from Albert Lea were Leah Mattson and LaChelle Zeman.

• In the first round of girls’ volleyball region play, Alden-Conger-Freeborn defeated Zumbrota-Mazeppa 3-2 by scores 13-15, 15-18, 15-11, 11-15 and 15-8. Serving for Alden-Conger-Freeborn were Tracy Boettcher, 30-of-30; Kim McKean, 26-of-26 and Darcy Evenson 21-of-21.

 

10 years ago: 2004

• The Northwood-Kensett football team defeated Valley of Elgin 14-6 in the Iowa Class 1A state quarterfinals. Scoring touchdowns for the Vikings were Ben Schipull and Joe Fierova.

• Placing in the Section 1A girls’ swimming meet from Albert Lea and advancing to the Minnesota state tournament were Leah Matheson in the 100-yard backstroke; Kaeli Wayne, Matheson, Samantha Cole and Krista Horejsi in the 200 medley relay; and Whitney Walters, Horejsi, Cole and Jackie Elwood in the 200 freestyle relay.

• The United South Central/Alden-Conger girls’ cross country team finished 13th out of 16 teams in Class A state meet. Team members and their finishes were Jamie Klein, 16th; Becca Bryson, 46th; Katie Schultz, 62nd; Lindsey Rauenhorst, 67th; Marah Robinson, 74th; Megan Jensen, 82nd; and Joelle Elmer, 89th.