SPORTS FEEVER – April 11, 2024

SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com

 

Crookston High School has received some bad news as Darin Zimmerman, Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball Head Coach and Social Studies teacher, will be leaving after the school year to take a teaching position in Detroit Lakes.

Darin said it is bittersweet because they like Crookston. I talked to my daughter Macy, one of his former players, on Tuesday night, and she was almost in tears. As a father, I couldn’t have asked for a better person to have coached both of my daughters, especially Macy. My daughter hurt her ankle with a Liz Frank injury, which is a year-plus recovery, and it ended up being over a year. Macy said Coach Zimmerman changed her life and was so good at teaching the importance of things in life and life lessons.

Coach Zimmerman did a great job with the girl’s basketball teams, and every opposing coach interview I have done over the past seven years all said how well-coached Crookston was. Every interview. He got the most out of the girls, and he and his family will be missed.

Darin also coached football and even helped out in softball over the years.

 

There is some more bad news as another young teacher and coach, Brett Brendan, will be leaving after the school year, too. He has coached football, boys and girls basketball, and track since coming to Crookston. Another great young teacher and coach is leaving.

To big blows to Crookston High School, Pirate athletics, and the City of Crookston.

Crookston is really a hard place for young families to live, and it is getting more challenging. The taxes keep climbing and are forcing many people to seriously look at moving or moving to the country.

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The Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors met on Thursday last week.

Some of the biggest items are the proposals of full seeding of the State Hockey and Basketball tournaments of 1 through 8 seeds instead of 1-5 and a random draw for the final three teams. 

The biggest thing that was proposed was in boys hockey. The proposal seeks to align the classification process for Boys Hockey with the method used in all other team sports. The current placement process places the largest 64 teams and any opt-ups into Class AA. The new proposal would limit Class AA to 64 total teams comprised of opt-ups and the largest teams by enrollment. 

Right now there are 72 schools in Class AA so that means eight teams will be dropping from AA to Class A.
With the enrollment numbers from this year, the teams that would drop unless they opt up would be the following – 

Two Rivers (Section 3AA) enrollment 1202
Bemidji (Section 8AA) enrollment 1211
Hastings (Section 3AA) enrollment 1224
St. Louis Park (Section 6AA ) enrollment 1228
Sartell (Section 6AA ) enrollment 1238
Owatonna (Section 1AA) enrollment 1244
New Prague (Section 1AA) enrollment 1255
Chanhassen (Section 2AA) enrollment 1283

All eight of those schools could opt up and stay in AA, but if they don’t, you could see Bemidji in Section 8A. A team like Chanhassen in the Class A state tournament. 

Some teams that opt up already are Roseau, Grand Rapids, Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Thomas Academy and Benilde-St. Margaret’s just to name a few.

The full meeting recap is below.

Action Items  

9A: 2024-2025 State Tournament Calendar   
The Board of Directors approved the 2024-2025 State Tournament Calendar. State Tournament dates for Football, Track and Field and Baseball are still to be determined.

9B: 2024-2025 Meeting Dates   
The Board of Directors approved 2024-2025 Meeting Dates including Board Meetings and Workshops, Representative Assembly and Area Meetings.

9C: Adoption of Programs: Sunset Policy
The Board of Directors approved the final draft of the Sunset Policy established by the Adoption of Programs Task Force. This policy creates a multi-step approach to considering options for programs that have fewer than 32 teams participating. Growing programs in other schools and maintaining them for students remains a priority either under the leadership of the League or under guidance from another organization.

9D: Competitive Section Placement: Boys Volleyball
The Board of Directors approved competitive sections for the inaugural season of Boys Volleyball during the 2024-2025 school year. The sport will be a one-class activity in its first season.

Discussion Items  

10A: Winter Activity Advisory Proposals 

Boys and Girls Alpine Skiing — This proposal seeks an allowance to use any available video to protest a disqualification but would not allow video evidence to implement a disqualification. Currently, the jury does not consider any video review in responding to appeals.

Boys and Girls Basketball — The first proposal seeks to add a Minnesota Rule Modification to the NFHS Basketball Rules Book on the Basket Interference rule. The second proposal is to seed the quarterfinals of the state tournaments for all classes, Nos. 1-8.

Boys Hockey — The first proposal seeks to align the classification process for Boys Hockey with the method used in all other team sports. The current placement process places the largest 64 teams and any opt-ups into Class AA. The new proposal would limit Class AA to 64 total teams comprised of opt-ups and the largest teams by enrollment. The second proposal is to seed the quarterfinals of the state tournaments for both classes, Nos. 1-8.

Girls Hockey — This proposal seeks to seed the quarterfinals of the state tournaments for both classes, Nos. 1-8.

Boys and Girls Nordic Skiing — The first proposal seeks to remove hats and headgear from inclusion in the uniform requirements under Rule 206.1.1 and 206.1.2 unless graphic illustrations are inappropriate. The second proposal seeks to implement a factor system for events, including section and state for student-participants who have confirmed their Para classification with the U.S. Paralympics.

Wrestling — The first proposal is to increase the number of Girls-Only events that do not count toward a team limit of 16, from four to eight. The second proposal seeks to codify the required format used for section individual tournaments. The proposal would require sections with 10 or more teams to administer a two-day tournament. The third proposal seeks the addition of full wrestlebacks for the individual state tournament.

10B: Drone Policy  
The Board of Directors discussed the League’s current Drone Policy and the recent inclusion of drones in the Behavior Expectations document. Requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration were also discussed.

10C: Ninth Grade Governance 
The Board of Directors discussed the steps required in transitioning the League to a 9-12 organization. Included in the discussion was a draft resolution for the Board to consider in June of 2024 which would call a member school vote in early October.

10D: Transfer Eligibility Guide 
The Board of Directors heard a report from League Staff about potential adjustments or amendments to the policy language that could increase consistency in working with transfers and eligibility.

10E: Name, Image and Likeness 
The Board of Directors discussed and reviewed the League’s Name, Image and Likeness Policy. League Staff and the Board of Directors will continue to review and update policy language where needed. The League’s current policy protects the amateur status of all participants.

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The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Baseball team had a “slow” start to conference games in Florida and Kansas, but have been rocking and rolling since they are back to a normal conference schedule.
UMC Baseball started the conference season with four games against the first-place team Wayne State, and went 1-3 in games played on February 21 in Kansas.
They split two games with Sioux Falls March 8-10 in Florida and were 3-5 in NSIC play after two series. Since then, UMC has gone 8-2 with a sweep of a doubleheader over #14-ranked Augustana. They went 3-1 against Concordia-St. Paul, and 3-1 at Winona State.
The team beat Minot State twice on Wednesday to improve to 13-7 on the year and they will have a chance to get a few more wins when they host Southwest Minnesota State for three games this weekend. They host Bemidji State for a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 17, which should be two more wins.
The next five games will be great matchups, with three games vs MSU-Mankato April 20-21, and a doubleheader at St. Cloud State on April 24.
The rest of the UMC regular season is more than favorable as they host UMD for three games, Host Mary on April 30, and travel to Northern State for three games May 3-4.
The NSIC tournament starts Wednesday, May 8, and runs through Saturday, May 11. The top 8 teams make it into the tournament, and while there are a lot of games left, UMC is looking good so far.

The standings are below (NSIC record only)
1. Wayne State 16-4
1. Augustana 16-4
3. MSU-Mankato 16-5
4. St. Cloud State 15-6
5. UMC 13-7
6. Southwest MN State 12-9
7. Sioux Falls 12-10
8. Winona State 10-12
9. Mary 9-11
10. Concordia-St. Paul 9-13
11. Northern State 7-15
12. UM-Duluth 7-15
13. Minot State 6-15
14. Bemidji State 0-22

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The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball program has announced the signing of Landon Dimler (Mankato/ Mankato West High School) and Brayden Carlson (Woodbury/Holy Family)

Landon Dimler
Dimler is a five-time letter winner at Mankato West and has been an all-conference performer every year since 2019. Dimler was also named to the all-section team in 2022 and is a 1,000 point scorer in High School. Dimler also set a school record by scoring 42 points in a win over Albert Lea in 2024.
Both of Dimler’s parents each ran track at Minnesota State University and his sister, Lauren, runs track at Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Dimler is the son of Michael and Karen Dimler of Mankato. Dimler plans to major in Finance while a student-athlete at UMC.

Brayden Carlson
Carlson was named to the All-State, All-Conference and All-Conference honorable mention teams. He was also a two-time team captain and was named to the Mr. Basketball watch list this past season. In the classroom, Carlson was also named to the President’s Honor Roll.
Carlson’s dad, Marc, competed in basketball at both St. Cloud State and Iowa State. His mom, Sheri, played volleyball at St. Cloud State. One of his sisters, Brynn, played collegiate volleyball at Kansas State and finished her career at the University of Missouri. Another sister, Britt, played volleyball at Washington State and finished her career at the University of Central Florida. His brother, Ben, played basketball at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Utah.
Ben is the son of Marc and Sheri Carlson of Woodbury, Minn. Carlson plans to major in business.

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The Minnesota High School Girls Basketball Coaches Association has released the All-State teams for the four classes. AA and A All-State teams are below – 

CLASS AA ALL-STATE
Willow Thiel – Perham
Maddyn Greenway (Providence Academy)
Tori Oehlein (Crosby-Ironton)
Alyssa Sand (Albany)
Addie Mack (Minnehaha Acedmy)
Kylan Gerads (Albany)
Chloe Johnson (Duluth Marshall)
Mallory Czinano (Watertown-Mayer)
Dakota Rich (New London-Spicer)
Brooke Hohenecker (Providence Acadmy)
Cierra Kortan (Sauk Centre)

CLASS AA HONORABLE MENTION
Abby John (Barnesville)
Cora Grismer (Perham)
Morgan Korf (Pelican Rapids)
Ellie Welch (Pelican Rapids)
Josie Foster (Caledonia)
Aubrie Klug (Caledonia)
Clarissa Sauer (Winona Cotter)
Brooklyn Christianson (Glencoe-Silver Lake)
Rylie Cother (Jackson County Central)
Delaney Hanson (New London-Spicer)
Laura Hauge (St. Croix Lutheran)
Jocelyn Land (Holy Family Catholic)
Angel Hill (Minnehaha Academy)
Kylie Waytashek (Royalton)
Anna Stromberg (Legacy Christian Academy)
Tatum Findley (Albany)
Karly Jusczak (Pine City)
Maggie Wessling (Milaca)
Hannah Swanson (Esko)
Marta Forsline (Mesabi East)
Chloe Carlson (Proctor)
Isabel Larson (Pequot Lakes)
Kelsi Martini (Pequot Lakes)

CLASS A ALL-STATE –
Jordan Zubich (Mountain Iron-Buhl)
Elisabeth Gadient (Goodhue)
Natalie Beaver (Hayfield)
Hali Savela (Mountain Iron-Buhl)
Rachel Kottke (Buffalo Lake Hector)
Kaitlyn Rohloff (Hancock)
Kendyl Lodermeier (Goodhue)
Grace Hennen (Minneota)
Kristen Watson (Hayfield)
Elizabeth Lukken (Underwood)

CLASS A ALL-STATE HONORABLE MENTION-
Morgan Turn (Kittson County Central)
Kenzie Dahl (Badger/Greenbush-Middle River)
Kate Thayer (Northome/Kelliher)
Lauren Queensland (Grand Meadow)
Brea Mertz (Sleepy Eye)
Kadence Hesse (Sleepy Eye)
Lainey Braulick (BOLD)
Morgan Mathiowetz (Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s)
Kristi Kottke (Buffalo Lake-Hector)
Isabel Klumber (Wesbrook-Walnut Grove)
Ana Veldkamp (SW Minnesota Christian)
Brielle Janssen (MACCRAY)
Sienna Duininck (Central MN Christian)
Izabelle Keaveny (Mayer Lutheran)
Clara Keaveny (Mayer Lutheran)
Lizzie Corley (United Christian Academy)
Addison Hoof (Lester Prairie)
Aubrey Morrison (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley)
Kallyn Grove (Underwood)
Lyvia Misegades (Henning)
Misti Zempel (Hancock)
Tresa Baumgard (Chisholm)

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The Minnesota High School Girls Basketball Coaches Association has released the Academic All-State teams for the four classes. A and AA All-State teams are below –

CLASS A All-State All-Academic
Fertile-Beltrami – Ava Grunhovd, Tori Erickson
Win-E-Mac – Ava Howard, Luella Strom
Climax-Fisher – Ava Larson, Cambree Solheim, Ella Paulsrud, Halle Reitmeier
Fosston – Brynlea Mahlen, Calli Burrack
Kelliher/Northome – Ella Thayer, Kenly Hallstrom, Meleah Grundmeier
Northern Freeze – Jocelin Lee, Rachel Larson, Riley Fredrickson
Kittson County Central – Ellen Hilman
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo – Hannah Pederson
Red Lake Falls – Jordan Wieland
Stephen-Argyle – Regan Swanson

CLASS AA All-State All-Academic
Crookston – Emma Gunderson, Halle Winjum, Isabelle Smith
East Grand Forks – Allison Kovar, Ella Thorvilson, Kylee Mattison, Mya Langerud
Barnesville – Hadley Pearson, Kenadee Gray, Lindsey Rotz
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton – Ella Olson, Emersyn Bauck
Hawley – Lily Thompson
Menahga – Erica Tormanen
Park Rapids – Amelia Bagstad, Kilea Persons, Macey Lund
Pelican Rapids – Claudia Gurath, Ellie Welch
Perham – Kaia Starzl, Kennedy Pilgrim
Roseau – Kara Ulvin, Megan Mooney
Wadena-Deer Creek – Lola Pulver

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The Minnesota High School Girls Basketball Coaches Association also released the Team Academic Award winners. The Class A and AA area schools are listed below-

GOLD Awards (3.75 to 4.0 team GPA)
East Grand Forks
Barnesville
Menagha
Fertile-Beltrami
Kelliher Northome
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo
Stephen-Argyle
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton
Park Rapids
Perham
Roseau
Wadena-Deer Creek
Pelican Rapids

SILVER (3.5 to 3.749 GPA)
Crookston
Red Lake Falls
Thief River Falls
Fosston
Northern Freeze
Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal
Win-E-Mac
Ada-Borup-West
Nevis

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Warroad High School alum and current Clarkson Men’s Hockey player, Daimon Gardner is transferring to St. Cloud State. Gardner is the fourth-round draft pick of Vancouver.

Good news/bad news for UND Men’s Hockey – Jackson Blake signed an entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. If he plays in the NHL he will get $775,000 next season, and $832,500 the next two years. IF he plays in the AHL, he would receive $80,000 a year all three seasons. A LITTLE bit of an incentive to make the team. He did get a signing bonus of $277,500.

UND will keep Cameron Berg as he announced he will be back for his senior season.

Frozen Four news – The Denver Band isn’t making it to the Frozen Four so the Edina Hornet Pep Band will be the honorary Denver band at the Xcel Energy Center. That is pretty cool.

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Jim Scanlan, longtime East Grand Forks Boys and Girls Hockey coach and Activities Director, has resigned from his job as Head Bemidji State Women’s Hockey coach. The announcement was made on Monday and then on Tuesday afternoon, BSU announced that the assistant coach, Amber Fryklund will be the sixth head coach in Beaver Women’s Hockey history. Fryklund has been an assistant coach for 10 years and was associate head coach under Scanlan.

Scanlan was hired as the fifth head coach in Bemidji State women’s hockey history on June 17, 2014. He is the program’s winningest head coach amassing 122 career victories and is the only head coach in program history to reach the 100 career victories milestone. He is a former USCHO.com National Coach of the Year and WCHA Coach of the Year both achieved during the 2014-15 season, and helped guide the Beavers to a program record 22 wins during the 2015-16 season.

Since taking the reins of the Beaver women’s hockey program before the 2014-15 season, Scanlan has coached one All-American (Brittni Mowat), one WCHA Defensive Player of the Year (Ivana Bilic), one WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year (Mak Langei), eight All-WCHA honorees, 176 WCHA All-Academic Team selections, 132 WCHA Scholar-Athletes and 139 All-American Scholars.

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The 16th Annual Crookston High School Triple A Academics, Arts, and Athletics Senior Recognition Banquet will be held Monday, April 29, at 6:00 p.m. at the Crookston High School. Seniors that have academic letters and have participated in athletics, band, choir, drama, Knowledge Bowl, Leo Club, National Honor Society, orchestra, speech, student council, top academics, visual arts, yearbook, and Envirothon. Tickets for parents, family members, and friends may be purchased at the Crookston High School, KROX, or Wonderful Life Foods and must be purchased by Monday, April 22. The cost of tickets is $17. High school seniors are free, and they can pick up their tickets at the CHS office. Make checks payable to Triple-A. If you have any special dietary needs, please contact Andy or Carol at Irishman’s Shanty at 281-9912. If you have any questions, contact Nate Lubarski at the Crookston High School at 281-2144 or Margee Keller at 218-349-4566. Crookston Rotary, Crookston Lions, Pirate Fine Arts Boosters, and Pirate Boosters sponsor the Triple A Banquet.

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The latest Minnesota High School sports rankings are available by clicking the link below.

Minnesota High School Rankings – KROX (kroxam.com)

JOKES

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A man is in his front yard attempting to fly a kite with his son. However, every time the kite gets up into the air, it comes crashing back down.
This goes on for a while, when his wife sticks her head out of it and yells, “You  , the front door, need more tail.”
The father turns to his son and says, “Son, I’ll never understand your mother. Yesterday,I told her I needed more tail, and she told me to go fly a kite!”

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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

Emily Tate is a freshman playing Softball at Northland Community and Technical College.

Halle Bruggeman is a freshman on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Tennis team.

Grace Fischer is a freshman on the Concordia College (Moorhead) Women’s Golf team.

Ethan Boll is a Freshman on the University of North Dakota Football team.

Breanna Kressin is a Sophomore on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.

Emma Osborn is a Sophomore playing basketball at Northland Technical and Community College in Thief River Falls.

Jacey Larson is a Sophomore playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.

Aleah Bienek is a Sophomore playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.

Elise Tangquist is the Head Girls Golf Coach at Horace High School in Fargo, ND..

Kaleb Thingelstad is a junior playing golf at Kansas Wesleyan.

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.

Ty Hamre is playing football at Bemidji State University.

Aleece Durbin is a Junior on the University of North Dakota Womens Track and Field team.

Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.

Crookston School District Coaches

Emilee Tate is the Pirate 7th grade volleyball coach. 
Todd Miner is a Pirate Football assistant coach.
Ben Parkin is the head Pirate Baseball 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
Marley Melbye is the Head Girls Swimming coach and assistant girls golf coach
Jeff Perreault is the Pirate Girls Golf head 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

Non-Crookston High School coaching/Admin/etc

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.

Katy (Westrom) Horgen is the 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 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

Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.

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.