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A large number of Albert Lea athletes were named to the Big Nine All-Conference teams for their hard work throughout the winter season.

A total of 20 athletes were named to either their respective Big Nine All-Conference first teams or honorable mention teams. Five players from the girls’ hockey team were honored; the wrestling team and boys’ hockey team each had four, the boys’ basketball team had three, and the girls’ basketball team and dance team each had two.

On the girls’ hockey team, senior Mia Fjelsta and juniors Alli Dulitz and Maddie Schnieder were named to the All-Conference team. Senior Katelyn Steven and sophomore Lucy Stay were awarded honorable mentions. The team went 12-15 this season under first-year head coach Mark Goskeson.

The boys’ hockey team also had three players make the Big Nine first team in seniors Campbell Cichosz and Culley Larson and junior Blake Ulve. Senior Danny Chalmers was named as an honorable mention. The Tigers went 10-15-2 this season and notched a win in the opening round of the section tournament.

The youthful wrestling team had four athletes named to the All-Conference team. Junior Caleb Talamantes at 152 pounds, sophomore Cameron Davis at 138 pounds, and freshmen Aivin Wasmoen at 113 pounds and Cole Glazier at 145 pounds all made the cut. The team went 9-10 in dual action this year and Wasmoen made a trip to the state tournament.

Senior Chay Guen was the sole boys’ basketball player to make the All-Conference first team. Guen was joined by fellow seniors Koby Hendrickson and JJ Mucha-Owens, who both made the honorable mention list. The boys’ team went 13-13 this season and were set to play in their first section championship game since the 2005-06 season before the COVID-19 pandemic closed down the postseason statewide.

Junior Elise Grzybowski was named to the Big Nine All-Conference dance team and fellow junior Hannah Conn was named as an honorable mention.

The girls’ basketball team saw senior Sam Skarstad named to the All-Conference first team and sophomore Taya Jeffrey on the honorable mention list. The team went 10-18 this season under second-year head coach Jason Thompson.