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Sports Memories by Tom Jones

10 years

• At an event rain-shortened to nine holes at Wedgewood Cove, the Albert Lea girls’ golf team won a triangular with Faribault and Rochester Century with a score of 190. Chelsey Battle shot a 44 to lead the Tigers.
• Garrett Wangsness, a 2013 graduate of Albert Lea High School was named the Most Valuable Freshman on the Luther College wrestling team. He finished his freshman collegiate season with a 16-7 record.
• Albert Lea Tribune outdoor columnist Dick Herfindahl was traveling north to report on the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener that was being held in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
• The Albert Lea boys’ golf team placed sixth out of 16 teams at the Albert Lea High School Invitational at Wedgewood Cove. On day one of the event, Lucas Peterson and Alex Syverson led the Tigers with a 76. Sam Chalmers followed with a 74 to lead the Tigers on the second day of the event.

20 years

• Albert Lea resident Jason Howland took home the top prize of $10,000 at the Gander Mountain Pro-Am Bass Fishing Invitational that was held on Lake Pepin.
• At the Section 2A True Team boys’ track and field meet held in Fairmont, Jason Kuipers recorded 42 points for the Tigers, taking second place in the 400-meter and third place in the 100-meter and 200-meter.
• The Glenville-Emmons boys’ golf team finished the Southeast Conference dual meet season with a 164-180 win over LeRoy-Ostrander at the Northwood Country Club. Kelsey Martinson was medalist for the Wolverines with a 40.
• Erin Anderson pitched her third no-hitter of the season and 11th of her career to lead the NRHEG softball team to a 13-0 win over Blooming Prairie in five innings.

50 years

• Great Northern Sporting Goods store was advertising Pro Ked basketball shoes for $5.99 as part of the Moonlight Madness event being held in downtown Albert Lea.
• The Minnesota Buckskins of the World Team Tennis league recorded their first win of the franchise as they defeated the Los Angeles Strings 35-22 at the Met Sports Center. At the end of the season, the team ceased operations. The Strings were owned by long-time Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss.
• Mary Fynbo, a 1973 graduate of Albert Lea High School, was a member of the Concordia College women’s track team. David Knutson was also a member of the Cobber’s men’s golf team.
• Julius Irving led the New York Nets to a 4-1 win over the Utah Stars in the American Basketball Association’s championship series. For the second straight season he was the league’s Most Valuable Player and also led the league in scoring.
• Coach Jim Silliman’s Albert Lea b-squad baseball team traveled to Glenville and defeated the Trojans 8-0. Mark Lair picked up the win for the Bengals.
  Les Anderson picked up the victory as Trades & Labor defeated the Cozy Bar 7-1 in City American League softball play. In Church League action, Hollandale Christian, led by aging righty Larry Zevenbergen defeated Central Lutheran 9-6.
• The Albert Lea girls’ track team advanced six entrants to the regional track meet in Rochester. Qualifiers included Mary Pat Ehrhard, Kris Jacobus, Marilyn Claasen, Nancy Shepard, Ellen Brouwers and Kris Nelson.

Did you know?

The Albert Lea vs. Austin rivalry began as a rugby contest played in Austin in 1892.