I am writing in regard to a recent article published on Feb. 6. It reported that LeRoy Maas founded the wrestling program at Albert Lea High School in 1943. 

The fact is Albert Lea High School had a wrestling program previous to this. If you check out the Albert Lea High School Yearbook of 1941, you will find that O.W. Sjowall was the first coach. His wrestlers won the Big Nine Championship, were regional runner-ups, plus sent three team members to state. Wrestling is again featured in the 1942 yearbook. There is no mention of a wrestling team in the 1943 yearbook. The first listing of LeRoy Maas and his wrestling team is in the 1944 yearbook.

I do not wish to discredit the contribution that Mr. Maas had in building the wrestling program, but there are several inaccuracies stated in the article. In the Albert Lea Tribune of March 3, 2011, my father, Milo Belshan, wrote in a correction regarding this same topic. At that time Mr. Ed Shannon was the writer.

 

Marilyn Carrigan

Granada