By Jeff Budlong, On the Rebound

After two and a half years covering sports in Albert Lea and the surrounding communities I have a lot of good memories spanning all the seasons.

State champions, no matter the sport, are always something special and for that reason I will remember Ben Berhow&8217;s run to a state wrestling title two years ago. I was sitting matside at the state tournament shooting another Albert Lea wrestler when Ben was up on a mat across from me. I believe it was a semifinal match in which he was put on his back for a split second. I remember holding my breath for a split second, but he quickly got off his back and easily won the title.

I will also remember the Tiger team that year which was perhaps the best team I have ever had the chance to cover. The lineup was loaded with talented and experienced seniors as well as younger but accomplished wrestlers. Albert Lea came up just short against Apple Valley but it was a great team and season nonetheless.

I will also remember NRHEG champs Krey Cory, who was a surprise titleist his junior year, and Mitch Brekke for going from first-round loser as a junior at the state tournament to state champion as a senior.

And, of course, USC&8217;s Jake Bonsack this year as he concluded a dominating run with a state title for the Rebels.

I will always remember the Northwood-Kensett boys&8217; basketball team winning the school&8217;s first state title last season.

Every game they played was exciting and fun to watch, but having Dan Bestul and Cody Hanson on the same floor I just had a feeling they would win the game no matter what.

Having the chance to follow the Albert Lea boys&8217; hockey team to the state tournament was an experience I will never forget. The high school hockey tournament rivals many college and professional sporting events I have witnessed.

I have had a chance to work with some great coaches during my time here but no coach has been better to work with than Roy Nystrom. The boys&8217; hockey coach is a legend in the state which is well deserved, but I was actually very intimidated the first few times I talked to Roy. Talking to a coach who really has forgot more about the game than I could ever hope to know was an intimidating thing.

However, getting to know Roy and his teams I quickly came to learn that he is one of the nicest and most helpful people I have ever come across.

While I have been fortunate to work with good coaches in all of the sports I have covered, I probably enjoyed it most with the following because of the way they allowed the Tribune to cover their teams.

Albert Lea wrestling coach Larry Goodnature has a classy program and it is a point of pride for the community. From Larry and all his assistants all the way down to the kids they are all great people to deal with.

USC wrestling coach Eric Wegner always took time to answer any questions I had, Northwood-Kensett head basketball coach Marty Cotter allowed me to go along for a fun ride with the Vikings, Mindy Sparby has built quite a program with the New Richland girls&8217; basketball team and Bill Byrnes and his Lake Mills football and wrestling teams have been successful while I have been able to cover them.

It has been a sports-filled two-plus years working at the Tribune but today is my last day as I will be taking a sports writing position in South Dakota.

I have gotten a chance to meet a lot of people with some great stories that have taught me lessons I will take with me for the rest of my life.

Most of all I have had the fortune to work with some great people at the Tribune that have made my job fun and helped make me the writer I am today. Thanks to everyone at the Tribune it has been a fun two years.

I want to thank everyone for their help. There are a lot of people in the community who submit things to me to run in the newspaper and that is invaluable to what we do. Whether I received praise or criticism it was all important as I tried to give you the best sports page possible.

Good luck to all area sports teams in the future and goodbye.

Sports Editor Jeff Budlong will write for the Rapid City Journal.