Sports Memories by Chuck Anderson

50 years ago: 1968

• Albert Lea High School head golf coach Ken Ulman started practice with 18 players on the roster. Steve Erickson, John Carnahan and Steve Nelson were the three returning letter winners.

• Tom Countryman, a 1965 graduate of ALHS and a junior at Carleton College, had won two varsity letters in both wrestling and football.

25 years ago: 1993

• Named to the Albert Lea Tribune 1992/93 high school girls’ All-Area basketball team were the following: First Team – Anne Chicos from NRHEG, Mollee Ludtke from ALHS, Julie Zebro from United South Central, Punky Kraft from Northwood-Kensett and Jane Passer from USC. Second Team – Becky Schmidt from ALHS, Becky Castle from Lake Mills, Amanda Lindeman from Alden – Conger, Jill Anderson from NRHEG and Coleen Hill from USC. Receiving Honorable Mention were Kristen Adams from ALHS, Ann Grandt from A-C, Sara Knudsen from N-K, Sherri Larson from NRHEG, Laura Otteson from USC and Krisanne Pederson from Lake Mills. Named as the A.L. Tribune Player of the Year was Julie Zebro from USC and the Coach of the Year was John Schultz from NRHEG.

• Voshon Leonard scored 17 points for the Minnesota Gophers basketball team in its 86-72 victory over Oklahoma in the second round of the national invitational tournament.

10 years ago: 2008

• Named to the Albert Lea Tribune high school girls’ All-Area basketball team were the following: First Team – Kate Hartman from N-K, Alyssa Kerkhoff from NRHEG, Abbey Arends from ALHS, Val Sahr from USC and Megan Miller from A-C. Second Team – Morgan Stadheim from ALHS, Kelsey Christensen from NRHEG, Alyssa Hagen from NRHEG, Hali Hendrickson from ALHS and Jordyn VanRyswyk from Glenville – Emmons. Third Team – Lauren Schuster from USC, Alyssa Bangert from A-C, Jordynn Brackey from Lake Mills, Kristina Cole from NRHEG and Lauren Hartman from N-K. Named as the A.L. Tribune Player of the Year was Kate Hartman from N-K

• Triton defeated NRHEG 74-65 and ended the season for the Panthers. Brad Kuckeberg scored 20 points for NRHEG.