SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
The first Minnesota High School Girls Hockey practice was on Monday, November 2. It is that time of year!! There is no going back now folks!!!
— — —
Before we talk fall sports championships, we have to start it off with some exhibition basketball talk!
The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Women’s Basketball team played the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks in an exhibition game on Monday, and UMC won the game 81-68.
UMC outscored UND 28-20 in the fourth quarter to solidify the victory, and they were led by the outstanding sophomore guard from Eveleth (Rock Ridge High School), Anna Westby, with 29 points and 11 rebounds! She was 12 of 21 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. Oh, the second-leading scorer was Maija Lamppa (freshman from Eveleth – Rock Ridge High School) with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting (2-of-3 on three-pointers) and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. She also added 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Rayna Klejeski (6’1 senior from Barnum) added 15 points (6 of 9 from the field) and 8 rebounds. UMC is stealing all the talent from Northeast Minnesota from the damn evil step-sister UM-Duluth!!
And some local talent staying home, Crookston native Halle Winjum scored five points and grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, and had one steal!!!
What does this win for UMC mean? Does it mean UMC is going to be good this year? Does it mean UND stinks this year? I think it means a little bit of both. UMC will be a better team this year. I said it last season and will say it again at the start of this season. They will be a better TEAM with better ball movement, better offense, better play in the paint, and just better offensively. They brought in some solid freshmen, but they will have to learn the ropes of what good NSIC and Division II basketball is like. It is VERY GOOD and physical.
While the game doesn’t count, it matters because it sets the tone for the rest of the season. A nice win over a D-1 team, no matter how good they are or aren’t, is big. And it will help in recruiting too.
We will see how UMC will be when they travel to Nebraska on November 13 and 14 to take on Nebraska Kearney and Missouri Western State before kicking off the home and NSIC season on November 17 when they host Karla Nelson’s MSU-Moorhead Dragons.
— — —
Section Football Championship previews –
SECTION 8 9-PLAYER FOOTBALL–
The defending section champion Kittson County Central Bearcats take on the Goodridge/Grygla Chargers in the Section 8 9-Man championship game at 4:30 p.m. today (Thursday, November 6) at the Fargodome.
Kittson County Central is 10-0 with five shutouts and allows just shy of nine points per game. Goodridge/Grygla is 9-1 on the year with their only loss to KCC back on September 26 (20-14).
KCC averages just shy of 42 points per game, while giving up 9 points per game. Goodridge/Grygla averages 37 points per game while giving up 12 points per game.
KCC –
The Bearcats are led by some impressive athletes, including Ashton Knutson (senior running back), who has 1,266 yards rushing with 13 TD’s; Elijah Muir has 821 yards rushing and 10 TDs; and Eli Peterson at quarterback has 8-4 yards passing. Defensively, they are led by Track Folland, who has 55.5 tackles with 1.5 for a loss; Kellen Johnson has 53 tackles in nine games with 7.5 for a loss, one forced fumble, two blocked kicks, and 3 pass breakups. Keaton Brewer has 47 tackles with 10.5 for a loss and 4 sacks.
Goodridge/Grygla –
The Chargers are led by quarterback Landon Nordby with 1,079 passing yards, 15 TDs, and only 2 interceptions on 95 attempts. On the ground, it is Shay Jacobson leading the way with 1,538 yards rushing and 24 TDs. Blake Stanley is a multi-threat wingback with 403 yards receiving and 258 yards rushing.
On the defensive side, you have Shay Jacobson leading the way with 85.5 tackles, Evan Rubischko with 56.5 tackles and one interception, and Gus Jones with 39 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 4 fumble recoveries.
PREDICTION – KCC wins 28-20 to advance back to state.
— — — —
SECTION 8A FOOTBALL – (Fargodome Thursday November 5 at 7:00 PM)
A rare matchup in the championship game in Section 8A…….two undefeated teams will face off with Mahnomen/Waubun going 10-0 and Park Christian also going 10-0 on the year, and they will obviously meet for the first time this season. Mahnomen/Waubun averages just shy of 41 points per game while only giving up 6 points per game. Park Christian averages just shy of 40 points per game while giving up 14 points per game.
This is only the second year of 11-man football for Park Christian and this will be the last year in Class A (for at least two years) for Mahnomen/Waubun as they will move up to AA next year.
Mahnomen/Waubun is led offensively by Zach Zimma at quarterback and running back Cade Walz, an outstanding two-headed monster in the backfield. The Thunderbirds line seems to be playing its best right now, and so is the entire team (no coincidence).
Park Christian has a variety of offensive weapons and they can put some points up quick. The defense is solid, but Mahnomen/Waubun has the advantage on that side of the ball.
PREDICTION – Mahnomen/Waubun wins 30-13
— — — —
SECTION 8AA FOOTBALL – Fargodome Friday, November 6 at
The Hawley Nuggets will take on the Pelican Rapids Vikings. Pelican Rapids is 8-2 on the year and averages 37 points per game while giving up just shy of 17 points per game. Hawley is 7-2 on the year and averages just shy of 39 points per game while giving up 19 points per game.
The teams met in the season opener with Hawley beating up on Pelican Rapids 42-6. That game was a long time ago and I don’t see that happening again. Pelican Rapids has a great group of seniors and they seem to be playing their best football of the season going into the championship game.
Hawley lost in week 6 and 7 losing to Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 21-7 and Perham 35-18 (the two teams in the Section 8AAA championship game). In week 8, Hawley beat Roseau 56-26 and beat Warroad in the semifinals 64-17.
Pelican Rapids’ other loss was to East Grand Forks 13-12 on October 2. They beat Roseau 60-14 in the first round and beat Barnesville 32-21 in the semifinals.
Both teams are loaded with talent and will be a great game.
PREDICTION – Pelican Rapids 28-27
— — — —
SECTION 8A VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP –
The Section 8A Volleyball Championship will be a dandy as the #8 ranked Sacred Heart Eagles take on the Fertile-Beltrami Falcons for the rights to go to the state tournament next week at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
Sacred Heart is 28-3 on the year and a perfect 18-0 against section opponents, including two wins over Fertile-Beltrami with a 2-0 victory in the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley tournament championship on September 12 and a 3-0 victory on September 15 at East Grand Forks.
Fertile-Beltrami is 23-7 on the year and has won nine matches in a row, including a big 3-1 victory over #2 seed Climax-Fisher in the semifinals.
The teams have the top two all-around setters in the section and two of the top setters in the state and some of the top hitters too!
Sacred Heart has weapons, weapons, and more weapons. Where do we start????
Finley Horken, the senior setter, has 802 assists this season!!! She also has 226 digs, 84 kills, 50 aces, and 25 blocks. It is safe to say she is one of the top setters in the state. But wait….there’s more!!!!!
Lexie Lawrence (6’0 senior) has 304 kills to lead the team. She also has 195 digs, 32 aces, and 13 blocks.
Lydia Riskey (6’0 senior) has 268 digs, 267 kills, 42 aces, and 20 blocks,
Bryn Stevens, the outstanding sophomore, has 216 kills, 62 blocks, and 26 aces. Those are the leaders, but throw in Greta Effhauser, Claire Adolphson, Stella Riskey, Sophia Modeen and others.
Fertile-Beltrami also has an amazing assortment of weapons!!
Bailey Iverson, the senior setter, leads the way with 731 assists, 275 digs, 126 kills, 54 aces, and 34 blocks this season.
Mya Erickson is outstanding and has 268 kills, including 17 in the semifinals. She also has over 130 digs this year, along with 51 blocks and 40 aces. Macy Petry has 254 digs, 213 kills, 27 aces, and 18 blocks. Miley Fladhammer is another big hitter with over 170 kills, over 90 digs, and 45 blocks. Gracie Anderson has really picked up her confidence level and is playing great at the net, and you can’t forget the outstanding defense by Jordyn Rasch with 459 digs this season and Arleigh Brandner with 203 digs! Indigo Oistad is outstanding at the net with 63 blocks this season and over 140 kills this year.
PREDICTION – This will likely be a 4 or 5 setter. Sacred Heart is playing very good volleyball, but Fertile-Beltrami is playing its best volleyball of the season. It is too close to call, but will be a great match!!!
— — — —
SECTION 8AA VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The East Grand Forks Green Wave and the Barnesville Trojans will meet for the Section 8AA Championship at Moorhead High School at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7.
East Grand Forks got a little revenge on the Thief River Falls Prowlers in the section semifinals with a 3-2 victory (21-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-21, and 15-9! The Green Wave victory erased a 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-15) loss to wrap up the regular season. It was a big turnaround for the Green Wave, and they were sparked by one of the better Freshman athletes I have seen in a while, as Camille Julien had 16 kills, 7 digs and 2 blocks! EGF’s Lanee Hams added 17 digs, 15 kills and 8 blocks. Sydney McDonald added 14 kills, 3 blocks, and 3 aces, Brooke Hecht added 11 kills while Hayden Berg was outstanding with 48 assists. On the defensive side, Emma Pieper had 19 digs and Kayla Carpenter added 15.
Barnesville pretty much did the same thing as EGF did. They lost to Dilworth-Glyndon Felton 3-0 in the regular season, but in the Section 8A semifinals, Barnesville got revenge with an impressive 3-0 (25-8, 25-20, 25-21) victory over DGF to advance to the section championship.
Barnesville is 23-8 on the year while East Grand Forks is 22-10. The teams met twice during the regular season, with Barnesville winning both. Barnesville won 2-0 on September 19 in the championship of the Hawley tournament and beat EGF 3-2 on September 29.
EGF has beaten Red Lake 3-0, Wadena-Deer Creek 3-2, and Thief River Falls 3-2!
Barnesville beat Frazee 3-0 and beat DGF 3-0 to get to the championship after having a first round bye.
This will be a rematch of the 2023 Section 8AA Championship match that was played at Glyndon with Barnesville winning 3-1.
PREDICTION – EGF wins another 3-2 match!!!
— — — —
COLLEGE SIGNINGS-
Fertile-Beltrami’s Jack Erickson has signed to wrestle at Concordia College in Moorhead next year.
Park Christian’s Logan Giese has signed to play football at Minnesota State Moorhead next year.
— — —
JOKES
While going out for a ride with his young daughter, a doctor notices the little girl playing with his stethoscope.
He becomes excited, thinking “My daughter is going to follow in my footsteps!”
The girl speaks into the stethoscope like a microphone, “Welcome to Burger King, may I take your order please?”
— — —
The Dean of Women was introducing the newcomers to the college and thought fit to touch the subject of sex morality:
“In moments of temptation, ask yourselves just one question: Is an hour of pleasure worth a lifetime of shame?”
At the end of the lecture, she asked if there were any questions. One of the girls timidly raised her hand and said:
“Could you tell us how you make it last one hour?”…
— — —
A gentleman is preparing to board a plane, when he hears that the Pope is on the same flight. “This is exciting,” thinks the gentleman. “Perhaps I’ll be able to see him in person.” Imagine his surprise when the Pope sits down in the seat next to him. Shortly after take-off, the Pope begins a crossword puzzle. Almost immediately, the Pope turns to the gentleman and says, “Excuse me, but do you know a four letter word referring to a woman that ends in ‘unt?’” Only one word leaps to mind. “My goodness,” thinks the gentleman, “I can’t tell the Pope that. There must be another word.” The gentleman thinks for quite a while, and then it hits him. Turning to the Pope, the gentleman says, “I think the word you’re looking for is ‘aunt.’” “Of course,” says the Pope. “Do you have an eraser?”
— — —
A taxpayer received a strongly worded “second notice” that his taxes were overdue. Hastening to the collector’s office, he paid his bill, saying apologetically that he had overlooked the first notice.
“Oh,” confided the collector with a smile, “we don’t send out first notices. We have found that the second notices are more effective.”
— — —
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
Ashlyn Bailey is a freshman playing hockey at the University of Wisconsin River Falls.
Reggie Winjum is a freshman playing basketball at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Chloe Boll is a freshman playing basketball at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Emma LaPlante is a freshman playing hockey and tennis at Wisconsin-Superior.
Ava Martin is a freshman playing golf at Gustavus Aldolphus.
Matt Contreras is a Sophomore playing baseball at Concordia College in Moorhead.
Conner Hanson is playing Club Hockey at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Brandon Colborn is playing Club Hockey at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Teagen Lubinski is playing Club Hockey at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Riley Benson is playing Club Hockey at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Kadin Edwards is playing Club Hockey at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Garrett Fischer is playing junior hockey for the Pueblo Peppers in the NAHL.
Jay Reese is playing junior hockey for the Gillette Wild in the Na3hl.
Greyson Ecker is playing junior hockey for the Gillette Wild in the Na3hl.
Parker Kelly is playing junior hockey for the Bandlands Sabres in the Na3hl.
Nathan Kelly is playing for the NDSU Club Hockey team
Addie Fee is a Sophomore playing hockey at Wisconsin-Superior.
Kambelle Freije is a Sophomore playing hockey at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Riley Helgeson is a Sophomore playing football at Northern State.
Emily Bowman is a Sophomore playing Softball at North Dakota State College of Science.
Halle Winjum is a Junior playing basketball at Minnesota Crookston.
Naomi Johnson is a Sophomore playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Reese Swanson is a Junior playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a Junior playing football at Minot State.
Isaac Thomforde is a Junior playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Halle Bruggeman is a Senior on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Senior on the University of North Dakota Football team.
Breanna Kressin is a Senior the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Jacey Larson is a Senior playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Paul Bittner is an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
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 Head Pirate Boys Hockey 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..
