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Sports Memories by Tom Jones

15 years

• Mariah Leach scored the game-winning goal with four minutes to go to give the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team a 4-3 win over No. 1 seed Northfield in the Class A Section 1A semifinals at Four Seasons Arena in Owatonna. It was the first time in six years the Tigers had reached the section finals.
• The Albert Lea boys’ basketball team traveled to Winona and was defeated by the Winhawks 78-38. Sean Templeman scored eight points to lead the Tigers.
• The Glenville-Emmons girls’ basketball team fell 41-38 to Houston. Reina Saltou scored 12 points and Kailey Davis added nine for the Wolverines, who were 5-19 on the season.
• Katie Schou scored a career high 23 points including seven 3-pointers in the Albert Lea girls’ basketball teams 65-58 loss to Winona. Morgan Stadheim added 17 for the Tigers.

20 years

• Ben Enger, Austin Larson, Tyler Woodside and Dillon Stolt had goals as the Albert Lea A Squirt hockey team defeated Luverne 4-1.
• The Albert Lea Tigers wrestling team advanced to the state tournament for the first time in 23 years when it defeated Faribault and Rochester Mayo in the Section 1AA Championship. Larry Goodnature’s Tigers team would be entering the state meet with a 28-1 record.
• Albert Lea wrestler Cody Hansen went 4-0 on the day to earn the c-squad state championship at 95 pounds.
• Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor and Minnesota Wild chief executive Jac Sperling were looking at uniting in an effort to buy the Minnesota Vikings if the team didn’t secure financing for a new stadium. The Vikings were owned by Red McCombs and were valued at $524 million.

50 years

• Minnesota Vikings fullback Bill Brown was going to be the guest speaker at the Viking banquet at the Eagles Club. The dinner and program cost $3 per person.
• The Albert Lea b-squad hockey team saw their season come to an end with a 7-1 loss to Burnsville. Steve Stadheim scored the lone goal for the Bengals, who finished their season 6-9.
• Albert Lea wrestlers Larry Kihlstadius, Steve Eglund, Gary Serrano, Steve Ferrie, Bob Jean and Reid Katzung were the No. 1 seed for the District II wrestling tournament that was being held at the Southwest gym.
• The duo of J. David Bothum and Milt Ost defeated Bob Quackenbush and Mike Christian in the finals of the Albert Lea YMCA men’s doubles racquetball tournament.
• The Wells girls’ basketball team defeated Waseca 49-31. Sally Larson and Sheri Mitchell each scored 15 points to lead the Wildcatettes.
• In Glenville city basketball play, the Falcons defeated the Bombers 98-49. Clark Cipra led the scoring attack for the Falcons with 28 points with Larry Knutson adding 24.
• Mankato State College football coach John Coatta announced the team had signed Albert Lea fullback Mike Curry to a tender to play football for the Indians.
• Minnesota North Stars general manager Wren Blain promised team members and their wives a post-season trip to Miami Beach if the team made the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Alumni update

Peter Dress, who recently completed his senior season of basketball at Kamiakin High School in Kennewick Washington where he became the Braves all-time leading scorer with 1333 points and all-time leading rebounder with 601. He will be continuing his basketball career this fall at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. He is the son of 1979 Albert Lea High School graduate Jeff Dress and his wife Tami, who reside in Kennewick.