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Sports Memories by Tom Jones

10 years

• The Albert Lea girls’ soccer team defeated Mankato West 2-1 in a Section 2A semi-final game played at Hammer Field. Becca Dup and Megan Kortan each scored for the Tigers, who completed their home season with a 9-0-1 record. With the win, the Tigers earned their sixth berth in the section finals in 11 years under coach Rick Barnhill.
• With a time of 16:17.1, Jackson Goodell of Albert Lea captured first place at the Big Nine Boys’ Cross Country Meet at the Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna. Haley Harms led the girls’ team with a time of 15:54.6, which earned her 16th place.
• In the regular season finale at Jim Gustafson Field, the Albert Lea football team fell 41-15 to Red Wing. Jakob Kilby had a 14-yard touchdown run for the Tigers. Tim Christianson also intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter and later ran it in from five yards to complete the Tigers scoring.

20 years

• A 15-yard touchdown pass from Arik Matson to Nate Goodnature was the only score for the Albert Lea Tigers football team as they were defeated by Austin 35-7 at Hammer Field.
• Levi Budd placed ninth with a time of 17:06 to lead the Albert Lea boys’ cross country team at the Austin Invitational. In the girls’ meet, Paige Seadlund placed 13th with a time of 16:37 to lead the Tigers.
• In the Section 2A boys’ soccer quarterfinals played at Hammer Field, Albert Lea defeated Mankato Loyola 4-0. Nate Lombardi, Peter Drachmann, Zach McGinnis and A.J. Kortz had goals for the Tigers.
• Albert Lea freshman Dezaray Jacobs won her first two singles matches to advance in the Section 2AA Individual Tennis Tournament held at Gustavus.

50 years

• The city of Albert Lea was taking over the fieldhouse and classrooms at the defunct Lea College campus with plans for the fieldhouse area to be expanded for use as an ice arena.
• The Minnesota Gophers football team announced that quarterback Tony Dungy, who injured his shoulder earlier in the season, would start their homecoming game against Iowa.
• Great Northern Sporting Goods store in downtown Albert Lea advertised Vikings and Tigers jerseys for $4.44 and NFL football helmets for $5.95.
• With only two teams competing at the District II cross country meet at the Brookside Course, Albert Lea’s Dan Fjelstad took first, Al Toft second, Bruce Anderson fourth and Mike Thompson fifth.
  Randy Whelan ran for 168 yards that put him over 1,000 for the season as Alden defeated Freeborn 50-21 in a Border League football game played in Freeborn.
• In their last home football game of the year, Rochester Mayo came to town and defeated Albert Lea 19-9. Dolph Moon scored the Tigers only touchdown of the game on a two-yard run in the second quarter. Dave Rake added a 31-yard field goal in the loss.
• In five games, the Oakland A’s won their third straight World Series with a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ray Fosse and Joe Rudi hit home runs for the A’s with John “Blue Moon” Odom getting the win in relief of Vida Blue.
• Albert Lea Tigers wrestling coach Paul Ehrhardt spoke to the local Rotary Club about the upcoming season and the Minnesota State High School League approving a dual meet state tournament to go along with the traditional individual meet.

Alumni updates

Sam Chalmers, a 2017 graduate of Albert Lea High School, is now the director of athletic video at Montana State University in Bozeman. His younger brother, Tim, a 2023 graduate of Albert Lea High School is a member of the Clemson University men’s club golf team in Clemson South Carolina.