Sports Memories by Tom Jones

 

50 years ago: 1968

•The Albert Lea Tigers hockey team, coached by Les Etienne, defeated Simley 3-2 to pick up its first win of the year in a game played at The Barn at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. Ken Lien’s goal with 40 seconds left in the game gave the Tigers the win.

• The Albert Lea boys’ basketball team was defeated by the Austin Packers, 84-62. Ron Erickson led the Tigers with 17 points while Jay Gustafson added 16 and Mike Veldman 13.

• The Lea College basketball team coached by Al Arends lost 82-70 to John F. Kennedy of Omaha. Jim Schockemoehl led the Lancers with 22 points and 14 rebounds and Howie Wilkens added 14.

 

25 years ago: 1993

• The Albert Lea girls’ basketball team opened its season under coach Karol Hansen with a 60-56 win over Waseca. Mollee Ludtke scored 24 points and Gretta Melstad had 18 to pace the Tigers.

• The Alden-Conger girls’ basketball team opened its season with a 53-49 loss to Martin Luther. Jenni Sorenson led the Knights with 19 points with Kristen Schmidt added 11.

• The Albert Lea VFW A-Bantam hockey team took third place at the Southwest Tournament played at Augsburg College. Albert Lea defeated Minneapolis Roosevelt 3-0 to take home third.

 

10 years ago: 2008

• The Albert Lea girls’ basketball team opened its season with a 72-51 loss to Waseca. Abbey Arends led the Tigers with 15 points and Katie Schou added eight.

• Led by Krista Mathiason’s 13 points, the Alden-Conger girls’ basketball team picked up its first win of the year by defeating Nicollet 46-43. Megan Miller and Nadean Krueger each had 12 for the Knights.

• The Albert Lea boys’ hockey team defeated Waseca 10-3 in its season opener. Grant Stadheim and Eric Carlson both scored twice for the Tigers.

 

This year

• Dereck Samudio, a 2015 graduate of Albert Lea High School, is a junior on the Waldorf Warriors wrestling team in Forest City. Coming off an ACL injury he suffered in his sophomore season, he has only wrestled once this season. He is the son of Paul and Lisa Samudio of Albert Lea.