Sports Memories by Chuck Anderson

50 years ago: 1968

• The Freeborn High School baseball team started practice with 12 letter winners. Players on the roster were John Miller, Bob Chicos, Ray Merritt, Terry Anderson, Gary Young, Jim Johannson, Steve Neubauer, Doyle Honstad, Wayne Hendrickson, Don Boeck, Bob Stensrud, Jim Schuen, Mark Johnson, Terry Kent, Larry Hendrickson and Paul Hinkley.

25 years ago: 1993

• The Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team won the national invitational tournament with a 62-61 victory over Georgetown. Arriel McDonald led the Gophers with 20 points. The Gophers finished the season with a 22-10 record.

• Junior Mollee Ludtke of Albert Lea High School was named to the 1992/93 All-Big Nine Conference girls’ basketball team. Teammate junior Becky Schmidt received honorable mention.

• Coach Marge Wayne of the Albert Lea track and field team greeted 13 letter winners for the 1993 season. The letter winners were Kristine Larson, Melonie Hill, Jessica Polley, Steph Applegate, Kristi Edwin, Becky Hemenway, Kristen Nowak, Lori Rechtzigel, Mollee Ludtke, Laura Halstad, Sarah Lindeman, Paige Stumme and Lori Williamshen.

• Mike Piechowski, Mark Willmert, Reid Olson, Lee Kuiters, Tom Drasher and Dan Willmert started baseball practice under head coach Joe Sczublewski for ALHS.

10 years ago: 2008

• Craig Rayman, head girls’ golf coach for Glenville-Emmons, started practice with five girls on the roster. Letter winners for the Wolverines were Reina Saltou, Brianna Nelson and Jenny Johnson. Also on the team were April Davies and Hayley Waalkens.

• The Albert Lea Blades men’s amateur hockey team had a perfect season. They won the fourth annual A Division of the Brian Fazio Hockey Tournament. They won the tournament back to back and won three of the last six. They also won the Windom men’s hockey tournament.

• Coach Randy Halvorson of the United South Central girls’ golf team greeted Jessica Stenzeaud, Stephanie Herman, Kirsten Amberg, Erinn Hotzler, Ali Wood and Genna Anderson. Stenzeaud went to the Minnesota state golf tournament in 2007.

• Head boys’ golf coach at Alden-Conger, Brett Sindelie, started practice with four letter winners. They were Mitchell Kleinschrodt, Brad Ferree, Matt Bremseth and Sam Reindal.