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Sports Memories by Tom Jones

10 years

• In the truck division of the Masters of Disaster Demolition Derby at the Freeborn County Fair, Ryan Linde won the hardest hitter award and took home first place in the truck division.
  Former Albert Lea Tiger and Minnesota Gopher wrestler Ben Berhow hosted a three-day clinic at The Barn in Albert Lea.
• Phil Schmidt was the Men’s Championship Flight winner at Green Lea Golf Course’s annual club tournament. Melissa Wittmer won the Women’s Championship Flight.
• Albert Lea was getting ready to host the first-ever Pickleball tournament on the new courts next to the city pool. The event was open to men, women and couples.

20 years

• Adam Elseth finished first, Tyler Fett second and Mike Larson third in the boys’ 16-18 division of the Crossroads Cellular Junior Golf Classic played at Green Lea Golf Course.
• Minnesota Twins first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz had to only switch dugouts and uniforms as he was traded from the Twins to the Red Sox when his new team was playing a weekend series at the Metrodome.
• The Albert Lea Elks U13 soccer team outscored their opponents 19-1 to capture the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Chevy Cup State Tournament Class 3 Championship. The team was coached by Dave Squires.
• Minnesota Twins pitcher Johan Santana was named the American League Pitcher of the Month after going 3-2 with 61 strike outs the previous month.

50 years

• Bobby Darwin hit his sixteenth home run of the season to go along with 65 rbis as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-5. Tom Burgmeier picked up the win in relief for the Twins.
• Albert Lea’s Mark Knutson shot a two-day total of 151 to finish in second place at the Insurance Youth Classic State Golf Tournament held in St. Paul. His score qualified him to play at the National Insurance event that was being held in Cranston, Rhode Island.
• Pam Sigurdson defeated Cynthia Peterson in three sets to capture the women’s “A” tennis championship in a singles tournament sponsored by the Albert Lea Tennis Association that was played at the Brookside courts.
• Minnesota Vikings head coach Bud Grant was scheduled to meet with the striking veterans of the team at an undisclosed location in the Twin Cities.
• In the 10 and under youth girls’ softball league, Academy Park was crowned the play-off champion followed by Hayek Park in second and Hawthorne Park in third. Northside Park captured first in 11 and over league.
• John Keating of the Albert Lea Youth Swim Club placed third in the 200-freestyle, fourth in the 100-meter butterfly, fifth in the 100-meter freestyle and eighth in the 50-meter butterfly and 50-meter freestyle at the Minnesota State AAU swimming championships held in New Hope.
• An organizational meeting was held at Albert Lea High School for starting a local chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Matt Wilson was elected captain, Randy Skophammer captain-elect, Tom Dyrdal, secretary and Steve Egland, treasurer.
• A mixed doubles victory by David Lloyd and Ann Jones led the Minnesota Buckskins to a 26-22 win over the Denver Rockets in World Team Tennis play at the Met Sports Center in Bloomington.

Basketball tournament coming

Former Albert Lea resident Isaiah Kessel is promoting a three-on-three basketball tournament that is set for Sept. 21 at noon at Morin Park. The event is open for players 18 and over with a cost of $50 per person to play. You must register before Aug. 18 on the link found on the Albert Lea Basketball Tournament Facebook page.