By Chuck Anderson

50 years ago — 1962

Albert Lea High School graduate Lewis Kennedy defeated Jim Kain, of South Dakota, for the Minnesota Gophers in their 19-10 wrestling victory.

The Albert Lea basketball team moved into first place in the Big Nine Conference after defeating Owatonna 70-53. Leading the Tigers were Clair Flaten with 29 points, Lowell Syverson with 18 points and Gary Jacobsen with 14 points and 20 rebounds.

Don Osheim scored 20 points, Bob Berg 18, Tom Wadding 16 and Al Rasmussen 14 for Emmons in their 81-57 basketball win over Bricelyn.

Ron Meyer scored 37 points for Wells in their 73-41 basketball win over Lake Crystal.

25 years ago — 1987

The Lake Mills boys’ basketball team improved to 9-1 for the season and 6-1 in the North Iowa Conference with a 48-33 victory over Osage. Jeff Charlson, the Bulldogs 6-foot-5-inch center, scored 17 points, had 14 rebounds and blocked three shots.

The Alden-Conger boys’ basketball team defeated Freeborn 39-34 in overtime. Matt Potter scored 15 points for A-C and Rod Negetti led Freeborn with 16.

Julie Coughlin scored 16 points, Melissa Johnson 13 and Jill Cluppert 10 for the Albert Lea girls’ basketball team in their 53-45 win over Owatonna.

The Alden-Conger girls’ basketball team outscored Emmons 61-52. Kelli Dulas scored 16 points for the Blackhawks, and the Eagles were led by Heidi Shaw with 16 points and Anna Marie Thompson with 13 rebounds.

10 years ago — 2002

Trailing 3-1 with nine minutes and 32 remaining, the Albert Lea boys’ hockey team rebounded to a 4-3 win over Austin. Scoring goals for the Tigers were Wade Westland with two and Tony Dugstad and Adam Boelter with one each.

The Tigers’ Ben Woodside scored 24 points and Tyler Young had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Albert Lea boys’ basketball team in their 70-62 win over Austin.

Award winners for the Albert Lea girls’ swimming and diving team included: Most Inspirational, Megan Pence; Most Valuable, Laura Grund; Most Improved, Brittney Kaasa; Hardest Worker, Brooke Kaasa.