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Sports Memories by Tom Jones

Twice this past week I was greeted by readers of the Tribune who told me how much they enjoyed the 50-year segment of this column, so I decided this week to have it all focus on the sporting events in March of 1974.

50 years

• A basket by Reid Seip and a big free throw by Maurie Monson led the Alden Blackhawks to a 66-64 win over Southland in a District II semi-final basketball game played in Austin.
• The Albert Lea High School girls’ basketball team ended their season with a disappointing 45-20 loss to Austin. The Tigerettes, under coach Lois Fagerquist finished their season 2-7 which tied them for sixth place in the Big Nine with Faribault.
• Emmons senior John Yost scored a team high 27 points in his final high school game, but his effort fell short as the Eagles basketball team was defeated 91-65 by Hayfield in a District II semi-final game played in Austin.
• Tim Flugum placed third in the rings at the Region One gymnastics meet held in Mankato and would be representing the Albert Lea High School gymnastics team at the state meet. He also placed fifth in the all-around.
• Radue Marine of Albert Lea was filling the entire Skyline Mall with a boat show that was featuring fishing boats, canoes, pleasure boats, motors and sail boats.
• Albert Lea High School senior Steve Gilbertson signed a letter of intent to play football at the University of North Dakota.
• Albert Lea Tiger Kelly Brandt was named to the Southern Minnesota Hockey League’s first team. Mark Brech, Ross Dahl and Steve Webber were honorable mention choices.
• Freeborn High School football player John Ratigan, who was a two-year starter for Dick Paulson’s Yeomen was included in the 1973-74 Prep All-American Yearbook, sponsored by Coach & Athlete magazine.
• Brad Wacholz of Alden and Craig Rayman of Glenville were named to the WCCO Radio All-State Basketball Team of the Week.
• Augustana College baseball players Bill Severtson of Glenville and Steve Schultz of Wells were preparing to travel on a five-day, eight-game road trip to Texas with the Vikings.
• Bill Olson Chevrolet was promoting purchasing advanced tickets to the Minnesota AAU Junior Olympic wrestling event for ages 15-18 that was being held at the Southwest gym and was being sponsored by Chevrolet.
• The Albert Lea boys’ basketball team earned a berth in the semi-final game of the Region A tournament with a 47-41 win over Rochester John Marshall in a game played at Carleton College in Northfield. Darrel Johnsrud led the Tigers with 24 points.
• The Minnesota Twins were set to open their 1974 exhibition season with 20-game winner Bert Blyleven opposing Luis Tiant of the Boston Red Sox.
• The Albert Lea Women’s Bowling Association was celebrating their 25th season at their annual meeting held at the Albert Lea Country Club. Mabel Miller was taking reservations for the event with dinner tickets costing $4.

Alumni update

Kelci Adams, a senior girls’ basketball player for the University of North Carolina at Pembroke recently set the school record for three-point baskets made in a season with 73. She is the daughter of Pam Stoltz Adams, a 1991 graduate of Albert Lea High School and her husband Derrek. The 2020 graduate of Nation Ford High School in Fort Mill, South Carolina, has one more year of eligibility for the Braves.