The growth and struggles of Albert Lea High School football
Published 8:54 pm Tuesday, September 11, 2018
- At the close of the 1905 season, the Albert Lea squad played previously unbeaten Mason City at Northwood. Albert Lea was victorious, 6-0. The squad’s final game was against a team consisting of high school alumni. - Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum
Looking Back: High school football by Linda Evenson
The first game played by an Albert Lea High School football team was in 1897. The early years saw growth and struggles for the squads. The 1918 football season came to a sudden halt when the flu epidemic canceled the entire season. Only 14 players turned out for the 1919 season. In November 1923, the team had a frightening experience while traveling to Austin for a game. A spindle on the right front wheel broke, throwing the bus on its side and into the ditch. None of the players were injured. Passing cars took them on to Austin. The cherry and blue squad played a good game but lost to Austin.
In 1934, the Albert Lea High School football team went undefeated (six wins, two ties) and won the Big Eight championship. Coach Rene Wambach’s teams had won the title twice in three years. The following year, the Tigers squad won six of eight games, finishing third in the title race.
Albert Lea’s “grid machine” suffered a slump in the early 1940s, followed by winning seasons for the 1942, 1943 and 1944 football squads.
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- The season opener for the 1908 squad was against Austin. The weather was not cooperative. A steady downpour of rain forced the teams, by mutual agreement, to end the game after 20 minutes. – Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum
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- During his junior year, Lewis Brown served as captain of the 1924 football team. He played the left tackle position. The team had four wins, two losses and one tie. – Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum
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- A 1926 graduate, Ray Hendrickson transferred to quarterback as a sophomore and fullback as a junior and senior. – Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum
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- At the close of the 1905 season, the Albert Lea squad played previously unbeaten Mason City at Northwood. Albert Lea was victorious, 6-0. The squad’s final game was against a team consisting of high school alumni. – Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum
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- Coach Rene Wambach guided the 1936 team to a third-place finish in the conference. Nine of the graduating seniors were winners of football letters. – Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum
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- The 1942 team captured second place in the conference with a record of four wins, one loss and a tie in conference play. – Photo courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum
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