Sports Memories by Tom Jones

 

50 years go: 1970

• The Lea College Lancers basketball team defeated Midwestern College of Denison, Iowa, 88-71 at Lea College Fieldhouse. The game marked the end of a four-year career for Jim Roberts, who was the only surviving original Lancer. Howard Wilkens led in scoring with 28 points.

• Minnesota Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew signed a new contract for the 1970 season for an estimated $90,000-$95,000. It was a raise of $17,000 from 1969, when he was named Most Valuable Player in the American League.

• The Albert Lea Jaycees basketball team won the Jaycees Region 14 basketball tournament at the Albert Lea Armory by defeating Austin 68-55. Tom Hanratty led the Jaycees with 17 points, with Gerry Gehling adding 14 and Tom Allen 10.

 

25 years ago: 1995

• Thirty racers competed in the first Winter Fest 10K cross country ski race at Green Lea Golf Course. Steve Williams of Brownsdale was the men’s overall winner, with Sue Blenka of Albert Lea capturing the women’s race.

• Kris Johannsen became Alden-Conger boys’ basketball’s all-time leading scorer with 1,542 points when he netted 26 points in the Knights’ 62-37 win over Faribault Bethlehem Academy.

• The Albert Lea hockey team opened the Section 1AA tournament with a 3-0 shutout over Austin at Albert Lea City Arena. Matt Erickson, Jeff Hagedorn and Adam Knutson scored for the Tigers. Josh Larson stopped 17 shots to get the win in the nets.

 

10 years ago: 2010

• Kenzie Martin scored 15 points as the Alden-Conger girls’ basketball team defeated Medford 53-50. Ariel Keller added 13 and Katie Hallman 10 for the Knights.

• For the first time in four years, the No. 7-ranked Albert Lea Tigers wrestling team was defeated 46-7 in the finals of the Section 1AAA championship by No. 3-ranked Owatonna. Corey Hansen and Trevor Rasmussen had wins for the Tigers.

• Lauren Klick, Lauren Draayer and Sophie Jepson were named to the Big Nine All-Conference girls’ hockey team. Sam Stanley and Sydney Conley were named honorable mention.

 

This year

• Hunter Waning, an original member of the Albert Lea Lakers, is a senior third baseman for the University of Indianapolis baseball team. Through three games Waning is hitting .286. The Greyhounds are off to a 2-1 start with both wins coming over Hillsdale College.