Sports Memories by Tom Jones

 

50 years ago: 1969

• A carload of Albert Lea cheerleaders heading to the Region One wrestling tournament rolled near Rochester, sending all the girls to a Rochester hospital where they were treated and released in time for the majority of wrestling that day.

• The Albert Lea B-squad boys’ basketball team saw its record go to 9-2 with a 42-37 win over Winona in the Southwest Middle School gym. Jim Smith and Greg Nelson each scored 10 for the Tigers.

• The Albert Lea Tribune all-star basketball team gouged the Austin Daily Herald all-stars 50-34 in the first of what was expected to be an annual game. Long-time Tribune pressman Roger “Buck” Jackson and composition man Loren Murray were part of the team that was coached by sports editor Howard Lestrud.

 

25 years ago: 1994

• The Lake Mills boys’ basketball team saw its season come to an end with a 53-45 loss to North Iowa in District 2A tournament play. Andy Stensrud led the Bulldogs with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

• Trent Struck’s 20 points were not enough as the Albert Lea Tigers boys’ basketball team fell to Mankato West 72-55. Jake Veldman added 10 points for the Tigers.

• The Albert Lea B Squirts hockey team picked up a 2-1 win over Fairmont. Jerrod Vietze and Josh Tubbs scored for Albert Lea with Matt Tubbs picking up the victory in the nets.

 

10 years ago: 2009

• The Albert Lea wrestling team captured its fourth consecutive Section 1 championship when the Tigers defeated Owatonna 25-18. Ethan Reed picked up the lone pin for the Tigers at 215 pounds.

• In his 35th year of coaching the Albert Lea boys’ hockey team, Roy Nystrom was named the Big Nine Conference Co-Coach of the Year along with long-time friend Lorne Grosso of Rochester Mayo.

• The Albert Lea girls’ hockey team was defeated by Red Wing 4-0 in the Section 1A championship game. It was also announced that the Tigers were the Section 1A academic champions.

 

This year

• Austin native Michael Wuertz, an 11th round pick of the Chicago Cubs in 1997 who pitched for the Cubs from 2004-08 and the Oakland A’s from 2009-11, has been named the pitching coach for the Inland Empire 66ers, the Class A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels in the California League. He posted a 21-11 record in eight major league seasons.