Sports Memories by Tom Jones

 

50 years ago: 1969

• The Albert Lea Tigers wrestling team defeated Blue Earth 42-6 in non-conference action. Rick Rieman, Gerald Bakke, Tom Jean and Bruce Severson recorded pins for the Tigers.

• The Albert Lea boys’ gymnastics team, coached by Mark Wilcox, defeated Rochester John Marshall, 79-28. Earl Neist earned 25 points for the Tigers in the meet by having first place scores in the free exercise, high bar and parallel bars. He also finished second in tumbling and still rings. With the win, the Tigers stood at 3-2 on the year.

• Gary Stevens recorded a hat trick as the Albert Lea boys’ B-squad hockey team defeated Fairmont. Mike Skahan and Kim Jacobson also scored for the Bengels, who were at 7-2 on the year.

• Joe Namath and the New York Jets shocked the Baltimore Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III. Namath completed 17 of 28 passes for 206 years. Matt Snell scored the Jets lone touchdown, with Jim Turner adding three field goals.

 

25 years ago: 1994

• Heidi Irvine grabbed 10 rebounds and had five points, but it was not enough as the Albert Lea Tigers girls’ basketball team was defeated by Fairmont 56-36 to fall to 3-8 on the season.

• After losing its first game to Grand Rapids and defeating Eveleth in its second, the Albert Lea B Bantams lost the consolation championship 3-2 in overtime in the John Matchefts hockey tournament in Eveleth.

• Brian Cipra had 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to lead the Glenville-Emmons boys’ basketball team to an 80-76 in overtime win over NRHEG. Coach Craig Rayman’s team saw their record go to 4-7 with the victory.

 

10 years ago: 2009

• Val Sahr scored 10 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the United South Central girls’ basketball teams 48-41 loss to Blooming Prairie in Gopher Conference action.

• The Glenville-Emmons boys’ basketball team fell 61-41 to LeRoy-Ostrander. The Wolverines, who fell to 1-6 on the year, were led by Derek Sanderson’s 19 points.

• Tyler Prihoda scored the loan goal for the Albert Lea boys’ hockey team in a 3-1 loss to Virginia-Mount Iron-Buhl. With the loss the Tigers stood at 8-3 on the year.

 

This year

• A big thanks to local certified basketball officials John Yost and Scott Lorenz for stepping in to officiate the Albert Lea vs. John Marshall boys’ basketball game Tuesday night at Orrie Jirele Gym after the officials assigned to the game didn’t show. A recent report showed most new officials hang up the whistle after three years due to abuse by the crowds. We were very fortunate to have these two step in.