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Sports Memories by Tom Jones

10 years

• Albert Lea’s Caleb Troe took first place in the 3200-meter run with a time of 10.22.9 at the Faribault Track and Field Invitational.
• The Albert Lea boys’ tennis team opened their season with a 5-2 win over Mankato East. Picking up wins in singles play were Taylor Herfindahl, Garrett Matz and Matt Carlson.
• Minnesota Twins pitcher Ervin Santana was given an 80-day suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
• The Duke University men’s basketball team won their fifth national title in program history with a 68-63 win over Wisconsin.

25 years

• The Minnesota Twins announced that radio play-by-play announcer Bob Kurtz would replace Bob Casey as the public address announcer at Twins home games. Casey had the announcing duties until his passing before the start of the season and had been with the team since its inception in Minnesota in 1961.
• Albert Lea Tigers hockey coach Roy Nystrom was the head coach for Section I in the Great Eight All-Star Series. His team featured Tigers Jon Breuer, Cory Ellertson, Quinn Ellingson and Dustin Trail.
• The Albert Lea Tigers baseball team opened their season at Hayek Field with a 5-3 win over Owatonna. Brandon Klukow picked up the win giving up three earned runs on five hits in six-plus innings.
• The Glenville-Emmons baseball team defeated Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther 13-3 in their season opener. Dustin Rayman went 3-for-3 with three RBIs to lead the Wolverines.

50 years

• Albert Lea’s Mark Simunds broke his own state record when he ran the 300-yard dash in 32.5 at the U Golden Gopher Track Classic. Dan Fjelstad also took first place with a time of 9:41.0 in the two-mile run.
• A record crowd showed up at the third annual Ducks Unlimited Banquet chaired by Ray Hangee that was held at the Eagles Club. Dennis Haukoos took home a canoe as one of the prize winners.
• Albert Lea graduate Chuck Pappas was named as the new manager of the City Arena that was beginning construction early in the summer.
• Mark Knutson, Mike Edling, Jeff Elseth and Paul Peterson were returning lettermen for Ken Ulman’s Albert Lea boys’ golf team.
• Bobby Darwin, Larry Hisle, Lyman Bostock, Dan Ford, Tony Oliva and Steve Brye made the opening day roster as outfielders for the Minnesota Twins.
• The Albert Lea girls’ swimming team took a triangular win over Austin and Owatonna. Kathy Wodash took first and Margo Lybeck second in the 50-yard backstroke.
• Bowlus Minnesota heavyweight boxer Duane Bobick, who was managed by Joe Frazier was set to fight Cookie Wallage. He was ranked as the No. 2 contender to Muhammed Ali.
• Craig Rayman poured in 23 points as the Gophers defeated the Green Briars 68-50 to win the Glenville City League basketball title. Gary Buchanan and Ken Cafourek led the Green Briars with eight points.

Changes ahead

Starting this coming winter sports season, both the Albert Lea boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will be switching from Section 1AA to Section 2AA for the next two years.