Sports Memories by Tom Jones

 

50 years ago: 1969

• The Albert Lea Tigers wrestling team won all 12 matches en route to a 46-0 win over the Red Wing Wingers. Bruce Severson, Ted Naegeli, Dave Wesemen, Gerald Bakke and Rick Riemann had falls for the Tigers.

• After outscoring Red Wing 21-10 in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime, the Albert Lea boys’ basketball team was defeated 74-67 at the Southwest gym. Jay Gustafson led the Tigers with 25 points.

• The Lea College men’s basketball team picked up its second win of the season with an 85-77 win over Cornell College of Mt. Vernon, Iow, in a game played at Austin State Junior College. Five Lakers were in double figures, with Howard Wilkins scoring 27 and Jim Schockemoehl adding 18.

 

25 years ago: 1994

• The Boston Celtics’ Kevin McHale was honored as his number 32 became the 19th number the organization retired in a half-time ceremony of the Celtics’ 106-94 win over the Phoenix Suns at Boston Garden.

• The Albert Lea boys’ hockey team shut out Rochester Mayo 4-0 in a game played at Rochester Recreation Center. Senior goaltender Josh Heilman earned the shutout for the Tigers, stopping 26 shots. Jeff Hagedorn had two goals for the Tigers.

• Mollee Ludtke scored 15 points and Gretta Melstad added 13, but it was not enough as the Albert Lea girls’ basketball team traveled to Winona and was defeated by the Winhawks 48-41.

 

10 years ago: 2009

• Minnesota Timberwolves coach Kevin McHale was named the Western Conference Coach of the Month after he led the Timberwolves to a 10-4 record during the month of January.

• The NRHEG girls’ basketball team defeated Maple River 61-55 to go 10-0 in the Gopher Conference and 18-0 overall. Alyssa Kerkoff had 27 points and Anna Schlaak added 19 for the Panthers.

• Albert Lea High School graduate Ben Woodside had 21 points as the North Dakota State Bison men’s basketball team defeated IPFW 74-43 in Summit League action. With the win, the Bisons were 16-5 on the year.

 

This year

• Head coach Steve Piper has announced the Albert Lea Grizzlies football team will open its 10th season against the North Iowa Bucks at 5 p.m. April 27 at Grizzly Field in Frank Hall Park. The Grizzlies will also play at home May 18, June 8 and June 29 as part of their eight-game schedule in the Southern Plains Football League. For more information, visit www.algrizzlies.com.