Sports Memories by Tom Jones

 

Editor’s note: Due to microfilm not being available, the 25 years has been replaced with 75 years for the month of September.

 

75 years ago: 1943

• Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, announced he was giving Leo Durocher his release from the team as player-manager.

• Duke Pierson won the 1943 golf championship at the Albert Lea Country Club by defeating Vic Hockett by a 4 and 3 score.

• Philadelphia’s Pop Warner Football Conference announced two “linesladies” would be officiating in the league. The two were to be making their officiating debut wearing black slacks, white blouses and bow ties.

 

50 years ago: 1968

• The Lea College Lancers football team traveled to Elsah, Illinois, and defeated the Principia College Indians, 42-23.

• The Glenville Trojans football team spoiled Rose Creek’s Homecoming game with a 53-0 victory. Coach Allen Christensen noted it was a complete team victory.

• The Minnesota North Stars defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in pre-season NHL action. Parker MacDonald’s rebound off a shot from Lou Nanne was the game winner for the North Stars.

 

10 years ago: 2008

• The Albert Lea girls’ tennis team finished eighth at the Big Nine Conference tournament in Rochester. The No. 2 doubles team of Mikaela Pierson and Erika Blickenderfer placed fourth for the Tigers.

• The NRHEG volleyball team collected its eighth straight win with a 3-0 win over Albert Lea. Nichelle Klatt and Bethany Sekora led the Tigers with seven kills each.

• The Minnesota Twins ended the regular season in a tie with the Chicago White Sox, which forced a one-game playoff in Chicago to determine the Central Division championship. Jim Thome’s seventh-inning home run gave the White Sox a 1-0 win to clinch the division.

 

This year

• Rachel Rehnelt, a 2018 graduate of Albert Lea High School and daughter of Kelvin and Amy Rehnelt of Albert Lea, is a freshman member of the Gustavus Adolphus women’s soccer team, which is 4-4-1 on the year. She scored her first collegiate goal of her career on Sept. 13 for the Gusties against Northwestern.