Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Sports Memories by Tom Jones

10 years

• Jacob Wallin scored 12 points and added 16 rebounds to lead the Alden-Conger boys’ basketball team to a 65-55 win over Cleveland.
• The third-ranked Albert Lea wrestling team defeated Adrian 33-21 on Alumni Night. Five straight wins from Zach Glazier, Brody Nielsen, Gavin Ignaszewski, Garrett Aldrich and Beau Johnsrud at the beginning of the meet led the Tigers to victory.
• Rochester Century defeated the Albert Lea boys’ hockey team 4-3. Dalton Flatness scored two goals for the Tigers with Alex Claassen adding one. Garrett Matz stopped 30 of 34 shots he faced in the nets.
• LeRoy-Ostrander defeated Glenville-Emmons 59-35 in a girls’ basketball game played in Glenville. Payton Cech had 13 points and Mady Wangen added nine for the Wolverines.

20 years

• Kenny Sandt of the United South Central/Alden-Conger wrestling team won the Class A 135-pound state wrestling championship at the Xcel Energy Center.
• The Albert Lea boys’ hockey team notched their 20th win of the season with a 9-1 win over Winona. Quinn Ellingson and Jon Breuer each recorded a hat trick with Mark Walton, Cory Ellertson and Alex Stadheim each adding one goal.
• Niki Hendrickson scored 13 points and her sister Hali added 12 as the Albert Lea girls’ basketball team defeated Winona 56-42. With the win, Karol Hansen’s team was 7-13 on the year.
• Jenna Christensen’s goal at the 1:44 mark of overtime led the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team to a 3-2 win over Mankato West in a Section 1A girls’ quarterfinal game played at the City Arena. With the win, the Tigers were advancing to the semi-finals against top seeded New Prague.

50 years

• Sandy Pieper and Ruth Ann Gayken were the returning doubles champions competing at the Albert Lea Women’s City Bowling Tournament. Zola Wayne was also returning to defend her singles, handicap and all events titles.
• The Minnesota Vikings selected defensive lineman Mark Mullaney of Colorado State with their first round pick in the NFL draft.
• Glenville and Ellendale advanced to the finals of the Gopher Conference Girls’ Basketball Tournament with wins over Blooming Prairie and New Richland. Pam Follmuth scored 14 points to lead the Trojans with Maureen Adams and Marcia Carroll adding 12 each. Chris Phillips paced the Raiders with 18 points with Kathy Phillips adding 12.
• The Albert Lea girls’ gymnastics team defeated Mankato West 67.45-54.90. The uneven bars foursome of Sue Tatarek, Mary Jacobus, Lori Loesch and Paulette Bergh took the top four places in the event.
• Area fishing manager Mels Haugestad of Lanesboro notified the Tribune that there was a lack of oxygen in Fountain Lake and fish were starting to come to the surface.
• Jeff Curry scored 15 points and Bob McCamy and Rich Wendorff added 14 to lead the Albert Lea boys’ basketball team to a 60-43 win over Mankato East. In the b-squad game, Bill Dress poured in 17 points to lead the Bengals to a 60-43 win over the Cougars.
• Alden came back from a three-point halftime deficit to defeat Emmons 50-49 in Border League boys’ basketball play. Glenn Lutteke led the Blackhawks with 15 points with Bruce Davidson scoring 14 for the Eagles.
• Gary Buchanan scored 20 points to lead the Green Briars over the Vikings 81-51 in Glenville City League basketball play. Mike Budach led the Vikings with 17 points.
• Mike Hansen and Larry Carroll recorded pins for Glenville in the Trojans 43-18 loss to Southland in high school wrestling action.

Alumni update

After being an assistant coach for the Bemidji State Women’s Volleyball team in 2024, Alden-Conger graduate Erika Bute has been named the head coach for the Beavers in 2025.