SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
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Here is an interesting stat about the New York Knicks winning the NBA title.
The New York Knicks have never won a title without a UND alum on their roster or coaching staff. Phil Jackson in 1970 and 1973 Carson Shanks in 2026.
Shanks serves as Assistant Director, Video/Analytics/Player Development for the Knicks.
You could technically say the same thing for the Chicago Bulls with Phil Jackson too!!!
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Crookston Pirate Girls Hockey‘s, Adley Vigness, has been named to the 2026 USA Hockey Girls National 16/17 Player Development Camp (2009’s) that will be held at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio on July 13-18. This camp is an evaluation-based camp to determine which players will advance in the remaining available spots for the Under-18 Women’s National Team Festival in Lake Placid, New York. The final roster for the Under-18 Women’s National Team Festival will have approximately 46 players. Players from Northwest Minnesota are listed below –
Vigness will be a Junior at Sacred Heart High School in East Grand Forks in the fall, and lives in Crookston. Sacred Heart and Crookston co-op in boys and girls hockey. Vigness, as a sophomore, led the Pirates in scoring with 22 goals and 11 assists. She had four power-play goals, three power-play assists, and one short-handed goal. Vigness was named team MVP and the defensive MVP.
The 2026 USA Hockey Girls National 16/17 (2010’s) Development Camp roster has been announced and will also be held at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio July 13-18. This camp is an evaluation-based camp to determine which players will advance in the remaining available spots for the Under-18 Women’s National Team Festival in Lake Placid, New York. The final roster for the Under-18 Women’s National Team Festival will have approximately 46 players.
Players from Northwest Minnesota are listed below –
Olivia Anthony (Warroad) – Forward
Lydia Fylling (Warroad) – Defense
Emma Pieper (East Grand Forks) – Goalie
The 2026 USA Hockey Girls National 15’s Player Development Camp roster has been announced. While dominated by mostly metro area players, there are a few from Northwest Minnesota that made the camp and they are listed below-
Rylie Hagen (Moorhead) – Defense
Reese Kvasager (East Grand Forks) – Goalie
Boys Camp participants
On the boys side, the 2026 USA Hockey Boys Select 16 player development camp list has been announced (2010 born) and will be held June 25-July 1 at the Northtown Center and Daemen University in Amherst, New York. Boys from Northwest Minnesota who made the camp are below-
John Gramer (Moorhead) – Forward
Gage Kallhoff (Moorhead) – Forward
Owen Kraft (Moorhead) – Forward
Easton Lee (Warroad) – Forward
Charlie Marvin (Warroad) – Forward
Wesley Truax (Bemidji) – Forward
Ayven Hontvet (Warroad) – Defense
Drew Kortan (Moorhead) – Defense
Henry Laurila (Moorhead) – Defense
The 2026 USA Hockey Boys Select 17 player development camp list has been announced (2009 born) and will be held July 7-13 at the Northtown Center and Daemen University in Amherst, New York. Boys from Northwest Minnesota that made the camp are below-
Gavin Anderson (Warroad) – Forward
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The Red Lake Falls Eagles’ Softball team had Kylie Klipping named to the 2026 TruStone Financial Credit Union Class A Girls Softball All-Tournament Team! The entire team is listed below.
Laney Weis, Southland
Kylie Klipping, Red Lake Falls
Kaitlyn Flann, BOLD
Abbygale King, BOLD
Eleanor Rolf, West Lutheran
Marissa Tusler, West Lutheran
Alivia Bruegger, United South Central
Olivia Bird, United South Central
Grace Walton, United South Central
Mariah Anderson, United South Central
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The University of Minnesota Crookston athletics department and volleyball program announced the hiring of Sarah Dryburgh as the top assistant coach for the Golden Eagles.
Dryburgh, who was the head volleyball coach at Fosston High School for more than a decade, will be the top assistant for the Golden Eagles under first year head coach Kathleen Rustad.
Dryburgh‘s Greyhounds made the final four of the Section 8A Championship in 11 of the 12 years, more than any other program in that span. Fosston played in the Section Championship four times during that span, winning and advancing to state once.
Under the helm of Dryburgh, the Greyhounds won 20 or more matches 10 times and went to the state tournament in 2019 following a 15 year hiatus.
Dryburgh is excited about the opportunity to move up to the collegiate level and don the maroon and gold. “I am thrilled to be joining the Golden Eagle family and returning to the competitive NSIC,” said Dryburgh. “It is an exciting time to be involved in this new era of the volleyball program under the direction of coach Rustad and am looking forward to getting to know and work with our current and future student athletes.
Dryburgh knows all about the NSIC. The Roseau native played her collegiate volleyball at Bemidji State. In 1999, she was ninth in the NSIC in assists and assists per game and seventh in the Northern Sun in blocks per game with 1.09. She led the NSIC in service aces as a sophomore for the Beavers and helped lead BSU to finish second in a regular season in the NSIC during her four year career.
Coach Rustad is thrilled to announce the hiring of Dryburgh to her staff. “I am excited about working together with Sarah,” said Coach Rustad. “I am more than honored to be a part of this experience with her and thrilled to learn about these amazing female athletes alongside her. Her knowledge of the game and her get-it-done attitude are key in continuing to build this program and specifically, these female athletes. Wings Up!”
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The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball has announced the signing of six to their 2026 class. Local products Reggie Winjum (G, Crookston), Blake Spiczka (G, Pequot Lakes), and Bridger Wilcox (G, Thief River Falls) will continue their basketball careers at Minnesota Crookston. Transfers Ethan Koltz (Jr., C, Sioux Falls, S.D./ Southwest Minnesota State), Q On’gele (Jr., F, Portland, Ore./College of the Seqouias) and Jake Williams (Jr., F, Loomis, Calif./Consumnes River College) round out the class.
Heading into Bryan Beamish’s fifth season, the Golden Eagles are looking to improve on a 6-22 record last season.
Coach Beamish is excited about the class and feels they can mesh well with the returners. “I am very excited about this recruiting class that we have added to our program. We have a good mix of high school and transfers. We were able to return a core group of players, and with these additions, I’m really looking forward to next season.” Beamish credits his assistant coaches, Tim Lubke and Kyle Hunt, for finding the talent and being able to add versatility and depth to next years’ roster. “Coach Lubke and Coach Hunt did a very good job identifying these players and understanding what pieces we needed to add to our roster. We feel like we were able to add depth in all positions, which will help us tremendously next season.”
The signees who are reported in this release either signed an Athletic Aid Agreement or an Institutional Declaration of Intent (IDI). All signees released by the University of Minnesota Crookston have been verified by the compliance office that all documents have been properly signed and dated and have been authorized for release.
Ethan Koltz (Jr., 6-11, C, Sioux Falls, S.D. / Southwest Minnesota State)
Koltz will don the maroon and gold after spending the previous three seasons at Southwest Minnesota State…Will have two years of eligibility left…Played in eight career games as a Mustang, all off the bench…Was a standout at Jefferson High School in Sioux Falls, helping his team to a third place finish at State as a junior, while leading his team in blocks…Was a member of the football team that won the State championship as a senior…Was an academic all-state member and was a part of the Honors Society in high school.
Ethan is the son of Kristi and Chris Koltz…Plans to major in Business Management at Minnesota Crookston.
Blake Spiczka (Fr., 6-0, G, Pequot Lakes, Minn. / Pequot Lakes High School)
Spiczka will join the Golden Eagles after a standout career leading the Patriots of Pequot Lakes…Spiczka was a three-time all-district and all-section performer three years in a row from his sophomore through senior year and is a two-time all-conference performer his junior and senior year for the Patriots…Led the Patriots to four Minnesota State tournaments, finishing fifth place as a sophomore in 2024 and a third place finish this past season as a senior…In the classroom, Blake was a two-time National Honors Society performer.
Blake is the son of Hannah and Rich Spiczka of Pequot Lakes…Plan to major in Economics and minor in English while a student-athlete at Minnesota Crookston.
Q On’gele (Jr., 6-6, F, Portland, Ore. / College of the Sequoias)
Ongele will join the Golden Eagles as the fourth junior college transfer on the roster, joining JQ Strong and Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. and newly-signed Jake Williams…Helped lead the Giants to a 23-7 record this past season…Played in 29 games this past season, starting in nine, while playing 18 minutes per game…Finished the year averaging 6.2 points per game on 176 field goal attempts, with 144 of those from long range…Had nine double-figure scoring outputs.
Q is the son of Lavertis Fuller and Patrick On’gele…Plans to major in Physical Therapy while a student-athlete at Minnesota Crookston.
Reggie Winjum (Fr., 6-2, G, Crookston/ Crookston High School)
Winjum will play for his hometown college and don the maroon and gold…All-conference performer three years in a row for the Crookston Pirates…1,000 point scorer for the Pirates…4.0 GPA all throughout high school…National Honor Society member…His sister, Halle, is a member of the Golden Eagles women’s basketball program.
Reggie is the son of Leah and Chris Winjum of Crookston…He is undecided on his major at Minnesota Crookston.
His grandpa Rod Olson played baseball and basketball at Concordia-Moorhead and his uncle Jake Olson played tennis and football at Concordia-Moorhead…Jeff Olson, another uncle, played baseball at Mayville State and his cousin Cael Olson, played baseball at Concordia.
Bridger Wilcox (Fr., 6-2, G, Thief River Falls/ Lincoln High School)
Wilcox will be another local product donning the maroon and gold, joining the likes of Owen Chervestad, Reggie Winjum and Brady Westphal on the current 2026-27 roster…Scored over 1,000 points and collected 500 rebounds in his high school career for Thief River Falls High School…Averaged nearly 22 points per game as a junior…Three year starter for TRF…One of 12 one thousand point scorers in Thief River Falls history.
Bridger is the son of Lindsey Drury and Erin and David Wilcox…Plans to major in Business Management at Minnesota Crookston.
Jake Williams (Jr., 6-5, F, Sacramento, Calif. / Consumnes River College)
Williams is set to be the fourth Californian on the roster for Minnesota Crookston for 2026-27, which would be the most since last season and 2005-06, when the Golden Eagles had three on the roster…Led the Hawks of Consumnes River College to a 23-6 record, losing in the conference championship game…Played in 26 games, starting in 24…Shot 52 percent from the field last year, averaging 13.3 points per game, being named to the all-conference first team…Had a fantastic freshman year, starting 26 games, averaging 11.7 points per game, being named to the all-conference honorable mention…Scored more than 650 points in two years at Consumnes River College…At Del Loro High School, was named to first team all-league in both basketball and football.
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It looks like Bemidji State’s gymnasium will be getting an update worth over $2 million thanks to a big-time donation from an alumnus.
Alumni Trent and Beth (Buckingham) Baalke are leading the philanthropic charge with a $1 million lead donation to the project, which positions it as a transformational gift within the Facility Upgrades and Faculty Excellence pillar of the For the North campaign. The Baalkes view the renovations as an opportunity to give back in recognition of all they were given as student-athletes.
“We’re fortunate to be in a position to help and to better the experience for students. Because somebody once did it for us,” Trent Baalke said. “We wouldn’t be where we are without Bemidji State University. BSU set us up for success and for the life we have with each other, so we’re excited to give back.”
Bemidji State athletic director Britt Lauritsen sees the Baalkes’ donation as an investment in current and future students, allowing them to learn, grow, and lead in ways that enhance their lives well beyond their time on campus.
“Trent and Beth Baalke’s contribution to this project exemplifies the power of the Bemidji State experience,” said athletic director Britt Lauritsen. “They were deeply impacted by their time at BSU, and they’re bridging generations by generously investing in BSU students for years to come.”
“The gymnasium project is more than just a facility upgrade. It is a recognition that spaces like this are catalysts for building community and connection. This upgraded space will be accessible, functionally nimble, and inviting for all who enter — from athletic events, the longest-running powwow in the state of Minnesota, community events, and student recognition and engagement opportunities.”
The Baalkes’ gift, along with other leadership commitments, helps satisfy longstanding priorities of the facility upgrade commitments within the For the North campaign. Their donation has also positioned the gymnasium’s funding within reach of the $2.5 million goal. The public is invited to join in with their own philanthropic support to see the project through to completion. Donations will be accepted through February 2027 at bsualumni.org/donate/gymnasium.
Those interested in making an impactful contribution or learning more about recognition-level giving opportunities are encouraged to reach out to Jesse Katz for additional information at jesse.katz@bemidjistate.edu or 218-755-2827.
About the BSU Gymnasium
Opened in 1960, the 2,500-seat BSU Gymnasium has been home to Bemidji State men’s basketball for 66 years, and it has been the only home for women’s basketball and volleyball. In the decades since the facility opened, the gym has also been home to a number of high school tournaments and playoff games, the annual BSU Powwow, and other events ranging from concerts and recitals to faculty meetings and Commencement ceremonies.
The BSU Gymnasium was closed for nearly two months in 2004 to undergo a floor replacement project. The facelift not only gave the facility an updated and a fresh look, the new maple-stripped floor is also a softer, more athlete-friendly foundation. The scoreboard was updated in 2007, and in the summer of 2018, the floor was stripped, reconditioned, and repainted. In the summer of 2021, new lighting was installed in the gymnasium to highlight the new look of the historic gym.
About the Baalkes
Beth played basketball for Joan Campbell and the women’s basketball team from 1984-88, and she’s enshrined in the Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1985-86 and 1986-87 squads that won the Northern Sun Conference and District 13 championships. In 2000, Beth was also recognized as one of the top 30 female athletes in Bemidji State history during the women’s athletics 30th anniversary celebration. Trent played football for BSU from 1982-85 after being recruited by new coach John Peterson, and he was part of one of the most impressive program revivals in Beaver Football history.
After his playing career, Trent entered into the coaching ranks as an assistant at Bemidji State. He eventually broke into the NFL as a scout for the New York Jets in 1998. By 2011, he was the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, even reaching the Super Bowl in 2012. Trent held that role for six years and then served as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ general manager from 2021-24. Now, he is a senior consultant for the Cleveland Browns and the University of Alabama football team.
Beth, meanwhile, is the boys and girls golf coach at Tomahawk High School in Wisconsin, and she’s been involved in prep sports in a variety of capacities over the years.
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To register – click the link – https://forms.gle/M5TbwsJPB7cTJyEy9
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To register and pay, click on the following link – https://register.ryzer.com/camp.cfm?sport=4&id=334372
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The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer program will host an ID Camp August 16 for students entering grades nine through college seniors. The campers will get a chance to experience life as a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
The campers will be instructed by Minnesota Crookston Soccer Head Coach Danny Burstein and Assistant Coach Breezie Davis. They will get a glimpse of campus. They will be led through drills and observed by the coaches at Minnesota Crookston, and nearby universities. The camp will include technical training, possession drills, small-sided and 11v11 games. The campers and their families will get a tour of campus and have Q&A sessions with current Minnesota Crookston players and staff. Lunch is provided. The camp will be held August 16 at the Minnesota Crookston Soccer Field from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Check-in starts at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $130 with camp being $125 plus $5 in fees. T-shirt and lunch are included.
“I am very excited to have prospective student-athletes on campus for our ID Camp,” said Head Coach Danny Burstein. It will be a great opportunity for interested players to interact with the whole team during our preseason. They will get a real feel for what it would be like to come and play soccer at UMC. This camp can be a real tool for both us and recruits to find future Golden Eagles.”
For more information on the camp and to register visit soccer.umcsportscamps.com or reach out to Head Coach Danny Burstein at burstein@umn.edu or 218-281-8420.
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JOKES
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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
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College in Moorhead.
Teagen Lubinski is playing Junior Hockey for the Badlands Sabers in the NA3HL.
Parker Kelly is playing Junior Hockey for the Badlands Sabers in the NA3HL.
Addie Fee is a freshman playing tennis and hockey at Wisconsin-Superior.
Kambelle Freije is a freshman playing hockey at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Riley Helgeson is a freshman playing football at Northern State.
Emily Bowman is a freshman playing Softball at North Dakota State College of Science.
Halle Winjum is a sophomore playing basketball at Minnesota Crookston.
Blake Melsa is a sophomore playing soccer and baseball at Alexandria Tech
Jackson Reese is a sophomore playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College.
Naomi Johnson is a freshman playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Paul Bittner is an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
Reese Swanson is a sophomore playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a sophomore playing football at Minot State.
Isaac Thomforde is a sophomore playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Halle Bruggeman is a Junior on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Sophomore on the University of North Dakota Football team.
Breanna Kressin is a Junior on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Jacey Larson is a Junior playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Senior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Seth Heppner – Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Golf at Jessup University
Brady Heppner – Head Coach of Women’s Golf at UMC and Assistant Hockey Coach
Crookston School District Coaches
Blake Bergeron is the head Pirate Wrestling Coach.
Colton Weiland is an assistant Pirate Wrestling Coach
Jason Cassavant is a Jr. High Baseball Coach and Head American Legion Baseball coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Marley Melbye is an assistant girls golf coach
Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ben Trostad is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ethan Magsam is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching/Admin/etc
Elise Tangquist is the Head Girls Golf Coach at Horace High School in Fargo, ND.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson is the head Little Falls Volleyball coach.
Tim Desrosier is an Assistant Coach for Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Pony Boys Basketball
Pat Wolfe is the head wrestling coach for Fosston/Bagley.
Austin Sommerfeld is an Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communication at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
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 at Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is the Head Wrestling Coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.
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 North Dakota.
Mike Hastings is the Wisconsin Badgers 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, volleyball, and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for 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
Jaren Bailey is serving our country and is Lance Corporal in the Marines.
Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
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..
