SPORTS FEEVER – Written by Chris Fee (chrisjfee@yahoo.com)
I had the stats about Aaron Judge in high school last week and received this email from CHS Grad Eric Longtin and I am glad he sent it because Louie Varland has played against the University of Minnesota Crookston, just like Adam Thielen, CJ Ham and many others. Here is what Eric had to say –
Great comment on Aaron Judge and the multi-sport athlete.
Closer to home and definitely not on the same level. Louie Varland just got his first win for the Twins and is minor league pitcher of the year. (Again)
Louie’s HS stats.
2-year starter at safety in football on the North St. Paul football team, including the 2015 section champions. 4th on the team in tackles (53). All-time punting leader 42.3 yds/punt. 3 int. All conference.
State participant in wrestling 3 times I think he placed in 2016.
Played baseball and lots of honors.
Honor roll.
Lifted year round
Then goes D2 at Concordia SP
His secret. Work hard, stay humble.
His brother is in the Dodgers organization and was a multi-sport athlete as well.
And….Struck out Judge the first time he faced him. The second time wasn’t so nice.
Thanks, Eric and we could go on and on with the Minnesota kids like Joe Mauer, Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor and so many more that were three or four athletes.
— — —
We have posted the Crookston Pirate Winter Sports team’s schedules on our site. Click on the link below to go to the page. The schedules, of course, are likely to change more than once for several reasons, including winter storms.
– – –
We have the latest Minnesota State High School fall sports polls with football, volleyball, soccer all updated. Tennis hasn’t been updated for several weeks so we sent an email and will hopefully have something new on Thursday.
CLICK HERE to see the latest polls.
— — —
The Section 8A Girls Tennis tournament starts today (Thursday) and all the matches will be held at Courts Plus in Fargo. The seeds and schedule, along with my predictions are below –
Team tourney seeds –
1. Staples-Motley
2. Crookston
3. Park Rapids
4. Wadena-Deer Creek
5. Roseau
6. Parkers Prairie
7. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle
First Round – Thursday, October 13 at Fargo Courts Plus
Bye – Staples-Motley
Wadena-Deer Creek vs Roseau 10:30 AM
Park Rapids vs Parkers Prairie Noon
Crookston vs Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 1:30 PM
Semi-finals – Thursday, October 13 at Fargo Courts Plus
Staples-Motley vs WDC/Roseau winner at 4:00 PM
Park Rapids/Parkers Prairie winner vs Crookston/LPGE. 5:30 PM
CHAMPIONSHIP – October 14 at Fargo Courts Plus
Championship at 10:00 AM (winner goes to state)
Singles tournament first two rounds to follow after the championship match.
INDIVIDUAL TOURNEY – October 15 at Fargo Courts Plus
Semi-finals and Championship
To see all the individual tournament seeds, CLICK HERE
So here are the Tennis Guru’s (Chris’) team predictions –
No upsets in the first round – Crookston, Park Rapids, and Wadena-DC all win.
Semi’s – Crookston and Staples-Motley both win
Championship – #9 ranked and #2 seeded Crookston wins 4-3 over #8 ranked and #1 seeded Staples-Motley. KROX will have coverage of all the Crookston matches and update scoring as the matches go.
— — —
The Section 8A Girls Soccer tournament seeds and schedule have been released. The first round of the tournament will start on Thursday, October 13.
West Sub-section –
1. Fergus Falls
2. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy
3. Crookston
4. Pelican Rapids
East Sub-section –
1. St. Cloud Cathedral
2. St. John’s Prep
3. Melrose
4. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
Tournament –
1st round – Thursday, October 13 at high seed
Game 1 – Pelican Rapids at Fergus Falls 4:30 PM
Game 2 – Crookston at Hillcrest Academy 4:15 PM
Game 3 – Walker-Hackensack-Akeley at St. Cloud Cathedral 5:00 PM
Game 4 – Melrose at St. John’s Prep. 4:00 PM
Semif-finals Saturday, October 15 at high seed
Game 5 – Winner game 2 vs Winner game 1. 11:00 AM
Game 6 – Winner game 3 vs Winner game 4 11:00 AM
Championship – at Sauk Centre High School
Winner game 5 vs Winner game 6 – 7:30 PM
Click on the link below for the tournament bracket –
https://www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2022-section-8a-soccer-girls-tournament
— — —
The Section 8A Boys Soccer tournament seeds have been announced. The tournament will begin with a play-in game on Tuesday, October 11 and the quarter-finals begin on Thursday, October 13.
West Sub-section –
1. Hillcrest Lutheran AcademyFergus Falls
2. Fergus Falls
3. Crookston
4. Pelican Rapids
East Sub-section –
1. St. Cloud Cathedral
2. Central Minnesota Christian
3. Minnewaska Area
4. St. John’s Prep
5. Melrose
Tournament –
1st round/Play-in game – Tuesday, October 11
Melrose at St. John’s Prep 4:00 PM
Thursday, October 13 at high seed
Game 1 – Pelican Rapids at Hillcrest Academy
Game 2 – Crookston at Fergus Falls – 7:00 PM
Game 3 – Winner play-in game at St. Cloud Cathedral 7:00 PM
Game 4 – Minnewaska Area at Central Minnesota Christian 4:00 PM
Semif—finals Saturday, October 15 at high seed
Game 5 – Winner game 2 vs Winner game 1. 1:00 PM
Game 6 – Winner game 3 vs Winner game 4 1:00 PM
Championship – Tuesday, October 18 at Sauk Centre High School
Winner game 5 vs Winner game 6 – 5:30 PM
https://www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2022-section-8a-soccer-boys-tournament
— — —
The Minnesota State High School Swim Coaches Association Section 8A True Team Meet will take place Saturday, October 15, 2022. The meet will be conducted in its entirety at the Warroad Indoor Swimming Pool.
SWIMMING: This is a pre-seeded timed final meet. Each team will be allowed to enter four relay teams and four swimmers per event. Please mark your relays entries as A, B, C, & D. Note: Enter relay orders as A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B2, B3, B4, C1, C2, C3, C4, and D1, D2, D3, D4.
The pool will open for swimming warm-ups at the conclusion of diving (11:00), and the swim meet will start two hours after diving is completed. The meet will not start before 1:00 pm.
DIVING: Divers may perform 6 or 11 dives. The number of dives must be declared on each diver’s entry sheet, as this will determine the diving order. The number of dives cannot change at the time of the meet. The first warm-up period will begin at 7:00 A.M. and the diving meet will start at 9:00 A.M. Each school is allowed to enter four divers. Prelims: Rounds 1 – 5: (2 required dives and 3 optional dives). Rounds 6 – 8: (2 required dives and 1 optional dive). Finals: Rounds 9 – 11: (1 required dive and 2 optional dives).
Warm-up:
7:00 – 7:30, 7:30 – 8:00, 8:00 – 8:30, 8:30 – 9:00-General warm-up
SCORING:
First place will be worth as many points as the number of possible entries in the event. For example: If there are 9 teams entered in the meet there is a possible 36 entries per event. Thus making first place worth 36 points, second place worth 35 points etc. etc. Relay points are double the value of individual events.
For example: If 9 teams participate in the meet the scoring would be as follows:
Relays: 72, 70, 68, 66, 64, 62, 60, 58, … 24, 22, 20, 18 , 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
Individuals: 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, … 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
— — —
— — —
For the District 9 North 9-man football statistics CLICK HERE.
— — —
For the Northwest District 11-man football statistics CLICK HERE.
— — —
The Minnesota Wild and West Bend Mutual Insurance today announced the return of the high school hockey captains program. The High School Hockey Captains Program presented by West Bend honors two high school hockey captains, one male and one female, from November through March.
Candidates will be chosen based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrates passion for the sport of hockey
- Exemplifies leadership and hard work on the ice and in the classroom
- Exhibits qualities of a good teammate
- Contributes to their local community
- Goes above and beyond to help create a Greater State of Hockey
High school hockey coaches can nominate their captains for the High School Hockey Captains Program presented by West Bend at www.wild.com/captains.
The 10 honorees will receive a custom Wild jersey, be highlighted on social media and the webpage throughout the month of their nomination, and receive 2 tickets to the Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights game on Monday, April 3, 2023 at 7:00 pm.
— — —
The Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors met on Thursday, October 6 and here is a rundown of what happened in the meeting.
Clay Target, one of the fastest-growing high school co-curricular activities in the nation over the past decade, took another step in its development on Thursday, Oct. 6 when the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors approved a girls-only division in the League’s annual state tournament. The approval came during the board’s bimonthly business meeting amid a series of decisions on Spring Activity Advisory proposals.
The board’s approval adds a girls-only division to the individual competition of the Clay Target State Tournament, which is held in late June. The approved proposal keeps the top 100 participants in the open competition and adds an additional 25 female participants that would compete in a girls-only individual division.
During the 2022 Clay Target regular season, 16.7 percent of the 11,110 participants were females. Of the 92 individuals that competed in the open division during the 2022 state tournament, 10 were females.
In other board business:
-
The Board of Directors affirmed an Executive Committee approval to hold the Alpine and Nordic Skiing State Meets over three days. The Alpine State Meet will be moved to Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at Giants Ridge near Biwabik. The Nordic Skiing State Meet will be at the same venue on Wednesday, Feb. 15 and Thursday, Feb. 16 as originally scheduled.
-
A Guitar category was approved for section level contests. The approval adds these events: Guitar Solo, Guitar Ensemble (2-4 participants; Guitar Ensemble (5-16 participants) and Guitar Orchestra (8-30 participants).
- In Speech, a proposal was approved that will permit body contact (I.e. handshake, high five, etc.) during the introduction of Duo Interpretation. In the Extemporaneous Speaking category, the Board approved the use of computers and the internet to conduct research during the preparation period.
- The proposal to increase the number of regular-season games in Baseball and Softball from 20 to no more than 24 was not approved by the Board of Directors. The four additional games, per the proposal, were intended to be played on Friday nights, Saturdays or when member schools have mutual days off from school.
- The Board of Directors approved a proposal that was a recommendation from the Music Advisory Committee to update the band Approved Music List for section contests. The updated list now better represents diversity and the evolution of today’s educational music.
- A proposal to require that one eligible official be assigned at all Cross Country Running meets was approved. The approved proposal moves to the Administrative Regions for review, and if the required number of regions approve, it will advance to the Representative Assembly for bylaw amendment consideration on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
- The Board of Directors approved a timeline for the Competitive Section Placement process and District Football Placement for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years. This is an every-other-year process.
- The latest draft of the Activity Advisory Proposal process was approved by the Board. This updated form will assist Activity Advisories in the information-gathering process and aim to ensure that impacted stakeholders are included in the process.
- An update was shared by Board of Directors Vice President Jim Smokrovich, the principal at East Ridge High School, on the Adoption of Programs Task Force. This task force is defining a process for emerging activities and sports and is charged with providing a recommended process to the Board of Directors prior to the Board Meeting on Dec. 1, 2022.
- League Staff and Board of Directors members shared feedback from the “Together We Make a Difference” regional meetings that have taken place over the past month. More than 1,500 students from more than 150 member schools have participated in these listening and learning sessions led by Forbes Solutions and supported by League partners including MASA, MASSP, AMSD, MNIAAA, MSBA, and MSHSCA. A statewide event is planned for late November or early December.
— — —
Crookston Park and Rec fall and winter activity registration are now open. To see what the city has to offer, click here.
— — —
The Crookston Youth Basketball Association will hold a free Back to Basketball event on Sunday, October 16, at the Crookston High School gym. K-3rd grade will meet from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., and fourth through sixth grade will meet from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Enjoy some gym time, grab a treat, receive season info, and there will be prizes.
— — —
— — —
— — —
JOKES
— — —
A man drives his date up to lovers lane and parks. “I have to be honest with you” the woman says as the guy makes his move.”I`m a hooker”.
The man thinks about this for a bit and decides he`s ok with it. He agrees to pay her $25 and they go at it.
After they finish, the guy says,
“Now I should be honest too. I`m a cab driver and its going to cost you $25 to get back to town”.
— — —
A 90-year-old man said to his doctor, “I’ve never felt better. I have an 18-year-old bride who is pregnant with my child. What do you think about that?”
The doctor considered his question for a minute and then said, “I have an elderly friend who is a hunter and never misses a season. One day when he was going out in a bit of a hurry, he accidentally picked up his umbrella instead of his gun. When he got to the Creek, he saw a beaver sitting beside the stream. He raised his umbrella and went, ‘bang, bang’ and the beaver fell dead. What do you think of that?”
The 90-year-old said, “I’d say somebody else shot that beaver.”
The doctor replied, “My point exactly.”
— — —
How are former Crookston Pirates athletes doing in college or elsewhere?
****LET ME KNOW OF OTHERS TO ADD TO THE LIST. Email me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Jacey Larson is a freshman playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau
Olivia Huck is a freshman playing soccer at Minnesota State Moorhead.
Brooks Butt is a freshman playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Aleah Bienek is a freshman playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Elise Tangquist is the Assistant Girls Volleyball and Assistant Girls Golf Coach this year at Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove.
Emma Borowicz is a sophomore running track at Minnesota State Mankato.
Kaleb Thingelstad is a sophomore playing golf at North Central University in the Twin Cities.
Joslynn Leach is a sophomore playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brady Butt is a Junior playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Rachel Hefta is a Senior playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Ty Hamre is playing football at Bemidji State University.
Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Norway.
Kate MacGregor is senior swimming at Minnesota State Moorhead.
Aleece Durbin is a Junior on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team.
Nick Garmen is a junior playing tennis at the University of Minnesota Morris.
Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.
Crookston School District Coaches –
Emily Meyer is the Pirate head girls hockey coach and softball assistant coach.
Lacia Hanson is the Junior High softball coach.
Jeremy Lubinski is a Pirate 8th Grade Football coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Cody Brekken is the Crookston Community Pool Supervisor
Marley Melbye is the Head Girls Swimming coach
Brock Hanson is a Pirate Baseball volunteer assistant coach.
Ben Halos is a Pirate Baseball assistant coach.
Alex LaFrance is a Pirate Baseball volunteer assistant coach.
Jeff Perreault is the Pirate Girls Golf head coach
Wes Hanson is the Pirate Wrestling Head Coach and assistant boys golf coach
Kevin Weber is a Pirate Boys Basketball volunteer assistant coach
Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Sam Melbye is the Pirate Boys J.V. Hockey coach
Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling Coach
Colton Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching –
Collin Reynolds is the head baseball coach for the University of Colorado Buffalo Club Baseball team.
Trent Stahlecker is a School Security Specialist & he works for the Brevard Public Schools, Florida
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown
Josh Edlund is the head football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach in Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is Head Wrestling coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.
Katy Westrom is Head Girls Tennis Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Monticello High School.
Matt Harris is an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Marty Bratrud is the Superintendent and High School Principal at Westhope High School.
Gordie Haug is an assistant football coach at the University of Wyoming.
Mike Hastings is the Minnesota State Mankato Men’s head Hockey coach.
Mike Biermaier is the Athletic Director at Grand Forks Schools.
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football and volleyball and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for the Bison media relations
Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College
Chris Myrold is the Director and Fitness at Mission Ranch and Fitness in Camel, California.
Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Ben Andringa is serving our country with the Army and is deployed to Iraq for nine months.
Jarrett Butenhoff is serving our country with the U.S. Navy.
Joshua Butenhoff is serving our country on a Submarine with the Pacific Fleet with the US Navy.
Peter Cournia is a 2002 Crookston High School Graduate and a grad of West Point and currently serving in the U.S. Army.
Erik Ellingson is serving our country with the U.S. Air Force at Minot.
Philip Kujawa, class of 2004, from Crookston High School. He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.
Rob Sobolik is the General Manager of the Fargodome
That’s it for this week. Thanks for the comments, and if you have anything to add or share, please e-mail chrisjfee@yahoo.com or call. Thanks for reading and listening to KROX RADIO and kroxam.com.