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Sports Memories by Tom Jones

10 years

• Albert Lea Area Schools groundskeeper Bob Hamberg was retiring after 34 years with the district. He was being replaced by Albert Lea graduate Spencer Dahl.
• NRHEG graduate Carlie Wagner played her first game for the maroon and gold, scoring six points as the University of Minnesota women’s basketball team defeated Southeastern Louisiana 109-60 at Williams Arena.
• The Albert Lea girls’ hockey team lost 7-2 to Mankato East/Loyola at the City Arena. Maddy Carstens scored both goals for the Tigers.

20 years

• The Albert Lea girls’ hockey team opened their season with a 6-2 loss to Farmington. Tessa Christensen and Laura Hillman scored goals for the Tigers.
• Albert Lea’s Nate Lombardi was named to the Big Nine All-Conference soccer team with Andy Stapleton and Ethan Berg being named Honorable Mention.
• After going 20-6 and leading the American League with a 2.61 ERA, Minnesota Twins pitcher Johan Santana was named as the American League’s Cy Young Award winner.
• Albert Lea swimmer Leah Matheson advanced to the state meet after placing second in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:10.40 at the section meet held in Austin.

50 years

• In the first round of the District II volleyball tournament being held in Austin, Albert Lea’s season came to an end as they were defeated 2-1 by Blooming Prairie. Coach Lois Fagerquist noted the team was frustrated by the fist hits and bumping the ball across the net by their opponent.
• Minnesota Vikings stars Jeff Siemon and Doug Kinsgwriter were coming to Brookside Junior High to speak at an event sponsored by the Albert Lea Area Youth For Christ.
• Minnesota Twins President Calvin Griffith announced that the left field seats at Metropolitan Stadium would be shortened by 16 feet for the benefit of the hitters.
• Burt McGlynn, president of the Minnesota Buckskins World Team Tennis franchise announced that the team would not operate in Minnesota in the coming season and would be sold or dissolved.
• Deanna Reyerson scored 19 points and Natalie Politz added 17 as the Alden-Conger girls’ basketball team defeated Hayfield 49-48 in a District 2 semi-final game played at the Southwest Gym.
• The Blackhawks were slated to play Lyle in the district championship.
• Gay Iverson, Bruce Davidson, Jack Thompson, Ken Helland and Joe Lair of the Emmons Eagles football team were selected to the Border League All-Conference team.
• All-Star Wrestling was coming to the Albert Lea Armory. Besides having midget wrestlers on the card, the event also featured Baron Von Raschke vs. Ivan Putski and Rock Riddle vs. Kenny Jay.
• Ringside tickets were $4 and general admission $3.
• A crowd of 1,500 saw the girls’ marketing club defeat the senior high faculty 10-8 in the championship game of donkey basketball played at the Southwest Gym.

Alumni update

Josh Behrends, a 2023 graduate of Albert Lea High School, is in his second season as a defenseman for the Badlands Sabres hockey team in the North American Tier 3 League that is based in Rapid City, South Dakota. Through 20 games, he has registered two assists.