SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Crookston High School will host a Parents, Athletes, and Coaches (PAC) meeting for the upcoming fall sports season on Thursday, August 6, at 7:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
The meeting will begin with Pederson reviewing district policies and updates before everyone breaks off into groups by sport. Fall sports offered at Crookston High School include football, boys’ and girls soccer, girls’ volleyball, and girls tennis.
Ahead of the meeting, Pederson advises families to download Bound, the district’s new activity management software. transitioned to Bound ahead of the 2026-27 school year following a review of Bound and the previous system, Arbiter. Bound is widely used throughout Minnesota and will provide more accurate schedules, improved communication, and better coordination for students, families, coaches, and staff.
Bound is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. More information about Crookston High School activities, along with links to download the Bound app, is available at https://www.crookston.k12.mn.us/activities.
Click here for the Crookston Pirate varsity Fall sports schedules
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The Minnesota State High School League met this week and made two big decisions.
The first decision was to hold the 2026 Cross Country State Meet at Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake on Saturday, November 7.
The second decision was to hold the State Girls and Boys Basketball tournaments a week later due to facility availability. The 2027 Girls State Basketball tournament will be held March 24-27, and the 2027 Boys Basketball State Tournament will be held March 31-April 3. Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus will be the semifinals and championship venue for each event.
The meeting recap is below –
A new venue for the Girls and Boys Cross Country State Meets, a schedule adjustment for the Girls and Boys Basketball State Tournaments and continued dues credits to Member Schools were among the formal decisions made on Tuesday, Aug. 4 when the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors met for the first of six in-person meetings during the 2026-2027 School Year.
The first meeting of the school year followed a traditional two-day workshop of learning and information sharing at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort.
The Board of Directors affirmed an Executive Committee approval to hold the 2026 Girls and Boys Cross Country State Meets at Majestic Oaks Golf Course in Ham Lake on Saturday, Nov. 7. Majestic Oaks has been a longtime host venue for numerous high school cross country events.
The past three cross country state meets were held at the Les Bolstad University of Minnesota Golf Course, but the facility was closed shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 event when the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents opted to explore selling the property which came to fruition in late June 2026.
The Board of Directors also affirmed an Executive Committee approval for a schedule adjustment for the 2027 Girls and Boys Basketball State Tournaments. The Girls Basketball State Tournament will be played March 24-27, and the Boys Basketball State Tournament will be played a week later, March 31-April 3.
Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus will be the primary venue for the two events. The schedule adjustment was necessary, in part, because Williams Arena was booked for the NCAA women’s tournament on March 17-20, 2027.
The Board of Directors also approved an Audit and Finance Committee recommendation to extend a membership dues credit to Member Schools for the fourth consecutive school year. Membership credits are funded by excess revenues generated from state tournaments, League sponsorships and broadcast and streaming rights. A total membership credit of $620,000 will be earmarked for the coming school year.
A base membership fee is $100, $160 per activity and a $2.25 fee per student. The credits will reduce the activity fee by $30 and the per student fee by $1.25.
In other Board of Directors’ actions:
- Approved an Audit and Finance Committee recommendation to increase ticket prices for 2026-2027 State Tournament events to a base price of $15 for adults and $10 for students.
- Affirmed the Executive Committee approval of hiring Dr. Jennifer Jacobs as an Associate Director.
- Affirmed the Executive Committee approval to accept the Member School application of Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy and the Associate Member School application of St. Augustine School.
- The Board of Directors approved a Resolution in Appreciation and Recognition for Service and Dedication to Renee Corneille, LeRoy Fairbanks, Jed Helwig, Brent Schimek, Brad Skogerboe and Jake Timm, who completed their service terms in June.
- The Board of Directors approved the Speech Books and Topic for the 2026-2027 School Year:
- Discussion Task: America As It Ages: The Challenges Facing Americans at Every Age
- Prose: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart, Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2019
- Poetry: Swing (Blink) by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess, 2019
- Storytelling: Selected stories from Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org), a free e-book website
- The Board of Directors approved five annual publications: The League Official Handbook, the Board of Directors Policy Manual and Guidelines, Region Secretaries Manual, Officials Policy Manual, Media Policy Manual. In a separate motion, the Board of Directors approved the Dance Team Rules Book for the 2026-2027 School Year.
“Through their hard work and decision making, this Board of Directors group has set a strong course for the coming school year,” said Board President Keith Cornell, the activities director at St. Michael-Albertville High School. “At the center of all they do is a deep commitment of service to the Member Schools.”
During the Discussion portion of the meeting:
- League Staff shared an update on the timeline for Classification, Competitive Section Placement and District Football for the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 School Years. The next deadline for the Classification and Competitive Section Placement is Sept. 11. That is the deadline for Member Schools to submit opt-ups for any team in sports or activities according to board policy. Completed applications for new co-ops or dissolutions of existing co-ops for 2027-2028 are also due on that day. In the District Football placement, Sept. 11 is the deadline when school information forms are due and when Member Schools must inform the League of new football co-ops.
- League Staff shared the continued work on the development model, representation and potential areas of decision-making for the approved Bylaw and Policy Review Committee.
- Spring Activity Advisory Proposals included updates on:
- Robotics: League Staff shared information on a proposal that would lengthen the state tournament from a one-day, 36-team event to a two-day event. A second proposal would be to expand from 36 teams to 42. An additional six teams would potentially increase participation opportunities for approximately 90-150 students.
- Girls Softball: League Staff shared information on a proposal that would implement an NFHS approved tie-breaking rule during regular season contests only. If a game remains tied after eight innings, each half-inning would begin with the batter scheduled last in that inning to be placed on second base.
- Speech: League Staff shared information to rename the “Great Speeches”category to “Communications Analysis.” Within the proposal, eligible source material would expand beyond traditional speeches to include any written, digital or verbal communication intended to convey a message to an audience.
- Boys Tennis: League Staff shared information on a proposal that would change the method of determining classification to an even class split with approximately 82 teams in both Class A and Class AA.
The Board of Directors also received informational updates on three Emerging Activities:
- Girls Wrestling: League Staff shared Draft Policy Language on the maximum number of contests exception. Currently, a wrestling team may schedule up to eight team events for girls only without counting against the 16 dates/45 matches permitted. The proposal would create flexibility and eliminate the reference to eight team events and read, thusly: “A girls team is limited to 16 dates/45 matches in a season. All individual wrestlers must not exceed those limitations.”
- Girls Flag Football: League Staff shared an update on the work of the Girls Flag Football Advisory Committee that continues to further identify an initial model and step-by-step process that could be used to move to full sanction. The next action step is to survey its membership regarding Girls Flag Football prior to its next meeting on Oct. 8.
- Esports: League Staff shared an update after attending a preseason workshop last week in Rochester. The 2026-2027 School Year will be called a “shadow” year when the League will work closely with Fenworks, a technology company that provides after-school curriculum and competitive leagues in a Presenting Partner model. The League’s first Esports State Tournament will be held during the 2027-2028 School Year.
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SECTION 6 9-PERSON FOOTBALL
Section Quarterfinals- October 27 at high seed
Section Semi-finals- October 31 at high seed at 2:00 PM
Section Championship November 5 at the Fargodome (Time to be determined)
SECTION 8 9-PERSON FOOTBALL
Section Quarterfinals- October 27 at high seed
Section Semi-finals- October 31 at high seed at 2:00 PM
Section Championship November 5 at the Fargodome (Time to be determined)
SECTION 8A FOOTBALL
Section Quarterfinals- October 27 at high seed
Section Semi-finals- October 31 at high seed at 2:00 PM
Section Championship November 5 at the Fargodome (Time to be determined)
SECTION 8AA FOOTBALL
Quarterfinals – October 27 at high seed 6:00 PM
Semi-finals – October 31 at high seed 2:00 PM
Championship – November 6 at the Fargodome 12:30 PM
SECTION 8AAA FOOTBALL
Quarterfinals – October 27 at high seed 6:00 PM
Semi-finals – October 31 at high seed 2:00 PM
Championship – November 6 at the Fargodome 5:30 PM
SECTION 8A VOLLEYBALL-
Pigtail matches – October 26 at high seed 7:00 PM
First round matches – October 28 at high seed 7:00 PM
Quarterfinals – October 30 at high seed 7:00 PM
Semi-finals – November 2 at UM-Crookston – first match at 6:00 PM, second to follow
Championship – November 6 at UM-Crookston – Time to be determined
SECTION 8AA VOLLEYBALL-
First round – October 28 at high seed 7:00 PM
Quarterfinals – October 30 at high seed 7:00 PM
Semifinals – November 4 at TBD at 6:00 PM and 7:45
Championship – November 7 at TBD at 7:00 PM
SECTION 8A GIRLS TENNIS
Team tournament – October 13 (tentative) site to be determined
Team tournament finals and Individual first rounds – October 14 (tentative)
Individual finals – October 15 (tentative)
SECTION 8A CROSS COUNTRY
Section meet – October 30 at Bagley – 4:00 PM
SECTION 8A SWIMMING AND DIVING
Section meet is proposed to be in Bemidji – November 11-14
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The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Volleyball team will kick off the Kathleen Rustad era and the Northern Sun Coaches have picked UMC to finish 15th in the NSIC, which is a spot above where they finished last year!
UMC opens the new era on Friday, August 28, in Rapid City in the first match of the season at South Dakota Mines.
POLL RESULTS –
1. Concordia-St. Paul (11) – 220
2. Wayne State (3) – 207
3. St. Cloud State (2) – 199
4. SW Minnesota State – 177
5. Sioux Falls – 158
6. Minnesota State Mankato – 156
7. Minnesota Duluth – 143
8. Northern State – 140
9. Augustana – 104
9. Winona State – 104
11. MSU-Moorhead – 86
12. Jamestown – 78
13. Bemidji State – 59
14. U of Mary – 40
15. Minnesota Crookston – 25
16. Minot State – 24
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The Northern Sun Conference has released the preseason football poll and Minnesota State Mankato is the top team. It is the same teams at the top and the same teams on the bottom.
OVERALL POLL –
1. Minnesota State Mankato (10) – 166
2. Minnesota Duluth (3) – 154
3. Augustana (1) – 145
4. Sioux Falls – 126
5. Wayne State – 125
6. Northern State – 106
7. Bemidji State – 97
8. MSU-Moorhead – 86
9. Winona State – 83
10. Minot State – 52
11. U of Mary – 51
12. Concordia-St. Paul – 34
13. Jamestown – 29
14. SW Minnesota State – 21
NORTH DIVISION POLL-
1. Minnesota Duluth (6) – 36
2. Northern State – 29
3. Bemidji State – 25
4. MSU-Moorhead – 23
5. Minot State – 15
6. U of Mary – 15
7. Jamestown – 9
SOUTH DIVISION POLL –
1. Minnesota State Mankato (6) – 36
2. Augustana (1) – 29
3. Sioux Falls – 27
4. Wayne State – 22
5. Winona State – 16
6. Concordia-St. Paul – 9
7. SW Minnesota State – 8
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There will be a Meet the Kittson County Central Bearcats event on Thursday, August 27th at the Kittson County Fairgrounds! Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, alumni, student, or community supporter, everyone is welcome! Join us for a community meal (5:30-7:00), player & coach introductions (7:15pm), and a chance to celebrate all of our Bearcat student-athletes as we head into the fall season.
Bearcat apparel (youth and adult t-shirts, crewneck sweatshirts, and hooded sweatshirts) are available for PRE-ORDER ONLY!
To ensure your apparel is ready for pickup at Meet the Bearcats, all orders must be placed by Saturday, August 8th.
There are two convenient ways to order:
Stop by J. Lily Boutique in Hallock to place and pay for your order in person.
All apparel orders will be available for pickup at Meet the Bearcats on August 27th.
https://shopjlilyboutique.com/collections/kcc-bearcats
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The 22nd annual Crookston Blue Line Club Golf Scramble will be held at the Minakwa Golf Club in Crookston on Friday, August 14. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. Individual entries are $100, or team entries are $500 with a limit of five golfers per team.
The event will include on-course contests such as longest drive and closest to the pin, a hole-in-one contest, and prize drawings and raffles, including a chance to win a Lab putter. Lunch will be provided.
All proceeds from the golf scramble will go toward the Crookston Youth Hockey program. To register for this event or for more information, contact Katie Fee at 218-280-1330 or crookstonhockey@gmail.com.
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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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Four surgeons were sitting around discussing who they like to operate on.
The first surgeon said, “I like operating on librarians. When you open them up everything is in alphabetical order”.
The second surgeon said, “I like operating on accountants. When you open them up everything is in numerical order”.
The third surgeon said, “I like operating on electricians. When you open them up everything is color coded.
The fourth surgeon said, “I like operating on lawyers”.
The other three surgeons looked at each other in disbelief. One of them asked why.
The fourth surgeon replied, “Because they are heartless, gutless, spineless, and their ass and head are interchangeable”.
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A mother and her very young son were flying Southwest Airlines from Kansas City to Chicago. The little boy (who had been looking out the window) turned to his mother and asked, “If big dogs have baby dogs, and big cats have baby cats, why don’t big airplanes have baby airplanes?”
The mother (who couldn’t think of an answer) told her son to ask the stewardess.
So the boy went down the aisle and asked the stewardess. The stewardess, who was very busy at the time, smiled and said, “Did your Mom tell you to ask me?”
The boy said, “yes she did.”
“Well, then, you go and tell your mother that there are no baby airplanes because Southwest always pulls out on time. Have your Mom explain that to you.”
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One day in philosophy class they spent a great deal of time debating whether the glass was half full or half empty. After the class, one student was feeling pretty good about himself and what he was learning at university, so when he went home he tried to continue the discussion with his family.
With maximum drama, he took a 12 ounce glass from the cupboard and poured in 6 ounces of water. Then took it into the dining room and placed it in the middle of the table. He proudly asked his family, “can anyone tell me whether this glass is half full or half empty?”
Without missing a beat, his grandmother replied, “Depends if you’re drinking or pouring.”
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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..
