50 years ago – 1963

• Albert Lea High School wrestling coach Paul Ehrhard greeted nine returning letter-winners for the 1963-64 season. They were Dick Chapman at 103 pounds, Gary Neist at 112 pounds, Barry Allen at 120 pounds, Frank Trejo at 127 pounds, Dave Jacobson at 145 pounds, Neil Skaar at 154 pounds, Jim Carrol at 165 pounds, Tom Countryman at 165 pounds, and Mike Roberts at heavyweight.

• Freeborn High School opened its basketball season with a 53-51 victory over Ellendale. Chuck Hinckley scored 27 points and Dick McKean 14 for Freeborn. Dan Jensen scored 19 points and Paul Otto 14 for Ellendale.

• Named to the Minneapolis Tribune All-State football team were defensive end Dan Jahns of ALHS and offensive guard Ross Schmidt from Alden High School. Receiving honorable mention were Mel Stensrud, Tom Olson and Gary VanWyngeeren of the Tigers.

• Dennis Kruckeberg scored 19 points to lead Blooming Prairie to a 54-52 season-opening basketball win over Wells.

25 years ago – 1988

• The South Central High School girls’ volleyball team finished with a 30-3 record and finished second in the Minnesota state tournament after losing to Win-E-Mac in the title game 3-2. Tia Albers was 29 for 34 serving with 14 ace serves.

• Lisa Sveen scored 23 points and had 18 rebounds for Glenville-Emmons High School’s opening basketball game victory over Lyle 54-38.

• New Richland-Ellendale defeated Alden-Conger-Freeborn 58-38 to start their basketball season. New Richland-Ellendale was led by Scott Johnson with 20 points, Tyler Peterson, 16, and Tim Boyer, 10. Chad Miller had 16 points and Aaron Phillips, 11, for Alden-Conger-Freeborn.

10 years ago – 2003

• In action at the Minnesota state swimming meet, Samantha Cole from ALHS placed 10th in the 50-yard freestyle and Leah Matheson — also from ALHS — finished 13th in the 100-yard breaststroke.

• The ALHS girls’ hockey team defeated Mankato East 5-1. Scoring goals for Albert Lea were Laura Hillman, 2, Brittany Arendt, 2, and Tessa Christensen.

• Rich and Pam Hobson of Albert Lea shared the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association’s Volunteer of the Year award.