The producer of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Networks, John Focke, will emcee Albert Lea High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame banquet on July 11 at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club, according to a press release.

Focke got his start in radio at KATE radio in Albert Lea as sports director. From August of 2002 through July of 2006, Focke had the opportunity to cover ALHS athletics that sent teams to the state tournaments in hockey and basketball and individually in wrestling and swimming.

In 2006, he became the voice of Northern Michigan University’s Division I hockey team, as well as studio host and color commentator for football and basketball.

In October of 2007, Focke made the move to the Twin Cities. He took over as radio producer for the Timberwolves and Lynx Networks and over the past seven seasons has seen his role grow both on the radio and television side as he serves as co-host of “Wolves Weekly” on Fox Sports North.

Social hour at the banquet starts 5:30 p.m., and the program will begin an hour later. A four-person best-shot golf tournament will be at 10 a.m. July 12 at Wedgewood. The cost is $75 per player.

Proceeds go to the ALHS athletic department to offset the costs of athletic participation. Last year’s event raised $6,500. Dinner and golf outing reservation forms are available at Tiger City Sports, the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau and Motor Inn.

Seven new members will be inducted.

 

Mollee Tscholl

Mollee Ludtke Tscholl graduated from ALHS in 1994. While in high school, she lettered three times in volleyball and basketball and four times in track and field. She was a two-time Big Nine All-Conference selection in volleyball and was First and Second-Team Big Nine All-Conference in basketball. When she finished her basketball career, she was the Tigers’ fourth all-time leading scorer and third all-time leading rebounder. In track and field, she set the school record in the 800-meter run. She is still a part of the 1600- and 3200-meter relay teams that hold the school record, and she was second all-time in the 400-meter dash when she graduated. At state track meet, she had a sixth place finish in the 800-meter run to get All-State honors. She was also the anchor of the 3200-meter relay team at the state meet that finished third her junior year and second her senior year. She continued her career at Concordia College, where she was an All-American in track and field. She set school records in the indoor 600-meter run, the 800-meter run and the 3200-meter relay and was part of the team that set the MIAC Conference 3200-meter relay record. Tscholl and her family live in Albert Lea.

Jon Schmitz

Jon Schmitz graduated from ALHS in 1979. While in high school, Schmitz lettered four times in swimming, where he achieved All-Conference and All-State honors. He also lettered twice in track and field. He was part of the 1978 state-champion 200-yard medley relay team and earned All-American honorable mention honors. In 1979, he was the state champion in the 100-yard butterfly in boys’ swimming. He set records for ALHS, the Big Nine Conference and the region along the way. Schmitz was a letter winner in swimming at Bemidji State where he was a four-time All-American. Schmitz teaches physical education at ALHS and has coached both the boys’ and girls’ swimming programs over the last 26 years. Jon and his family live in Albert Lea.

Orrie Jirele

After coaching Rochester Lourdes to three state high school basketball championships and spending five years in Green Bay, Wis., Jirele came to Albert Lea in 1973. He was a long-time counselor in Albert Lea and a successful basketball coach through the 1987 season, which was the last time Albert Lea has won or shared a Big Nine Conference basketball title. He coached 21 players who won awards including Big Nine All-Conference, Mr. Basketball finalist, All-State Team and Minnesota All-Star Game participant. In six of his seasons, Jirele’s teams either were region finalists or Big Nine champions. He has the second-highest winning percentage in the history of Albert Lea basketball and had the most wins with a record of 160-108 while guiding the Tigers. Jirele also coached boys’ and girls’ tennis for the Tigers. In April of 2013, Jirele was honored by being placed on the Albert Lea High School’s Wall Of Inspiration. Jirele’s energy and passion for helping others reach their potential had and will continue to have a profound effect on the lives of the many people who had the opportunity to cross paths with him.

Doyle Freemyer

Doyle Freemyer graduated from ALHS in 1967, where he lettered four years in hockey, four years in track and field and three years in football. He lead the Tigers’ hockey team in scoring his sophomore, junior and senior years, including 20 goals and 15 assists his senior year. As a football player, he was the Tigers’ second all-time leading rusher when he graduated with 747 yards and was named both All-Conference and All-State honorable mention. Doyle played football at Winona State his freshman year. Prior to starting his sophomore year, he volunteered for the draft and served two years in the U.S. Army, including 11 months in Vietnam. He returned to Winona State where he graduated. In 2000, Doyle and his wife started a real estate business in the Twin Cities area, where they currently live in Cottage Grove.

Pam Stoltz Adams

Pam Stoltz Adams graduated from ALHS in 1991. While in high school, she lettered three times in volleyball and was twice named Big Nine All-Conference. She lettered four times in basketball and was All-Conference honorable mention as a freshman to go along with being named three times to the All-Conference team. She was the first Tiger girls’ basketball player to reach 1000 points and was named All-State honorable mention as a senior. She lettered three times in golf and was named All-Conference her sophomore year. She was a two-time captain of the basketball team, and she captained the volleyball team her senior season. In 1991, she became the only female girls’ basketball player from Albert Lea to accept a Division I scholarship, when she signed to go to Kansas State. She finished her collegiate career by playing two years at the University of North Dakota. She lives with her family in Fort Hill, S.C., where she coaches high school and Amateur Athletic Union basketball.

Tricia Reichl Cyr

Tricia Reichl graduated from ALHS in 1984. While in high school, she was a three-time letter winner in volleyball. She was named to the Big Nine All-Conference team twice in volleyball and was a two-time captain for the Tigers, including her senior year where the Tigers became the first and only volleyball team to make it to the state tournament. She ran track as a freshman and lettered twice in basketball for the Tigers and was captain her senior season. She continued her volleyball career at North Dakota State, where she was a four-year letter winner, three-time All-Conference selection and was a First Team All-American. Tricia lives in Fargo, N.D., where she is a business and leadership coach with Mary Kay, Inc.

Clay Lyon

Clay Lyon graduated from ALHS in 1956. He lettered in basketball, football and baseball. His prolific scoring as a forward on the varsity basketball team produced 224 points as a junior and 358 points as a senior, which was the school record and second in the Big Nine Conference. Although Albert Lea had no formal baseball program, Ralph Summers organized a team of players to play an abbreviated schedule of up to eight games. As a lefty, Lyon pitched a no-hitter against Mankato High School. The team subsequently lost in a district playoff to Austin. He lettered four times in basketball at Luther College and was named All-Conference in basketball and baseball. He held the school record of 1,127 points in basketball while at Luther. He lives in Goodyear, Arizona.