Sports Memories by Tom Jones

 

75 years ago: 1943

• The Albert Lea Tigers football team defeated Faribault 27-0 for its fourth-consecutive victory. Chuck Reed scored two touchdowns for the Tigers.

• The Minnesota Gophers football team was defeated 49-6 by Michigan and learned that Stu Scheer, their regular end was ordered to Navy Seal duty.

 

50 years ago: 1968

• Minnesota Twins pitchers Al Worthington and Jim Kaat were scheduled to appear at Albert Lea High School for an event sponsored by the Christian Business Men’s Committee and Albert Lea’s Youth For Christ.

• The Lea College football team defeated Mayville State College, 26-20. Bob Swanson scored twice and Gary Murphy once to lead the Lancers.

• The Minnesota North Stars defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-1. Claude Larose scored two goals with Moose Vasko and Danny Grant each netting one.

 

25 years ago: 1993

• After attending a Progress edition kickoff in Bloomington, former Albert Lea Tribune advertising representative, youth sports coach and current columnist Tom Jones had his first date with New Prague High School assistant volleyball coach and future wife of 19 years, Nancy Heck.

 

10 years ago: 2008

• Awards were handed out at the Albert Lea girls’ tennis banquet. Kelli Hansen was named Most Valuable Player, Mikaela Pierson received the Leadership Award and Kellsie Dieser was named Most Improved.

• The Albert Lea Tigers defeated the Austin Packers for the third straight year. With 9.9 seconds to go in the game, Cody Hansen connected with Aaron Klatt on a 25-yard scoring pass that gave the Tigers the 27-20 win.

• The Albert Lea girls’ soccer team earned its second straight trip to state with a 2-1 shutout win over Willmar.

• Albert Lea resident Scott Christensen was inducted into the Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame.

 

This year:

• Longtime Albert Lea track and field and cross country coach Jerry Kaphers is now a varsity assistant with the boys’ cross country program at Mankato East High School, helping the team to a third-place finish in this week’s Big Nine Conference meet. He is a member of the Minnesota Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches hall of fames and the Albert Lea High School Athletic Hall of Fame. In the spring he will coach the boys’ distance runners for the Cougars.