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Sports Memories by Tom Jones

10 years

• The Minnesota Vikings were preparing for their first training camp under first-year coach Mike Zimmer who had replaced Leslie Frazier.
• The Albert Lea U12 baseball team won the South Central League youth baseball tournament held at Snyder Fields. The team was coached by Jack Rovang, Bryan Tlamka and Dean Dahlum.
• The Albert Lea American Legion Post 56 baseball team kept their season alive with a pair of wins over Kasson and the Rochester Patriots in the consolation bracket of the District 1 tournament, In the first game, Jonathan Fleek went 4-for-5 with three runs and four RBIs. In game two, Wyatt Paulson went 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs.

20 years

• The Glenville-Emmons American Legion baseball team opened up sub-district play with a 4-1 win over Byron in a game played in Emmons. Michael Greibrok pitched a complete game to pick up the win.
• Albert Lea’s Isaac Walton struck out 16 batters as the Albert Lea Colonels defeated Owatonna 2-1 in 10 innings. Matt Felt scored on a wild pitch to give the team their third win of the year.
• The Minnesota Vikings signed professional wrestler Brock Lesnar to a contract. Long-time Viking and Director of College Scouting Scott Studwell described the signing as a project with a capital P.
• Tyler Prihoda scored four goals to lead the Albert Lea Elks U13 boys’ soccer team to an 8 to 0 win over Minnetonka United in the first game of the Chevy Cup MYSA State Tournament.

50 years

• Susan Keating of the Albert Lea Swim Club placed fifth in the 200-yard individual medley, first in the 50-yard backstroke and sixth in the 100-yard butterfly at a “B” division youth swimming meet held in Wayzata.
• Gaylord Perry of the Cleveland Indians and Andy Messersmith of the Los Angeles Dodgers were slated to be the starting pitchers in the MLB All-Star Game being held in Pittsburgh.
• Seventy-five drivers entertained a full grandstand at the annual Albert Lea Jaycees demolition derby at the opening night of the Freeborn County Fair. Art Cain of Austin outlasted Chuck Jensen in the feature event and took home $300.
• Bridley Auto Salvage was advertising they would pay $15 on the spot for a complete demolished car from the demolition derby.
• Hayward lost its chance to win the South Border League Conference baseball title when they dropped a 12-3 game with Austin. John Skaar had three hits and Gerald Wacholz had one for Hayward.
• Minnesota Vikings coach Bud Grant signed a new five-year contract that gave him complete control of the team. Grant had led the team to 65 wins, 30 losses and three ties to go along with five Central Division titles.
• The Joie Chitwood Thrill Show that featured automobiles doing stunt driving including driving on two wheels was putting on two shows in front of the grandstand at the Freeborn County Fair.
• Don and Laura Ruffing of Coon Rapids purchased the Arrowhead Town and Country Club from Harlan and Jean Reindal. The Reindals had built the club in 1969.

A look back
In 1926, the Albert Lea School Board appropriated money to purchase land across from Abbott Grade School to be used as an athletic field. Prior to that, football had been played at the baseball field on West Clark now known as Hayek Park. A year later bleachers were erected that would hold 2,000 spectators.