I have a serious question to start out the Sports Feever column. Is there a better cereal than Fruity Pebbles with marshmallows? (Yes, I have the taste of a 10 year old.) But seriously it is so good. That was my supper Wednesday night and I loved it.
We finally have great weather for the kids playing spring sports. It has been great this week and it looks like next week should be good too. It sure has been fun watching the spring sports with the sun shining. And now with the Minnesota Department of Health allowing the kids to play without facemasks we have seen a lot of smiles!
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The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Baseball team dropped out of the top 25 after losing four of five games after their 10-day Covid quarantine. The good news, they bounced back nicely with two big wins over a very good Northern State team on Wednesday afternoon. UMC looked more like themselves and hit the snot out of the ball in both games, which is great to see. Right now UMC is in fourth place in the NSIC with #11 ranked Minnesota State Mankato at the top. The standings are below –
Rank – Team – NSIC record
1. #11 MSU-Mankato 21-5
2. #20 Augustana 22-8
3. UMC – 14-6
4. St. Cloud State 14-8
5. Winona State 17-10
6. Minot State 16-10
7. Northern State 14-13
8. Mary 12-12
9. Sioux Falls 12-15
10. Upper Iowa 10-17
11. Wayne State 9-16
12. Southwest MN State 9-17
13. Concordia-St. Paul 8-16
14. UM-Duluth 7-17
15. Bemidji State 6-21
The NSIC Tournament in 2021 is a two-week format. The tournament will begin May 13-14 with a best of three game series hosted by the top four seeds (one 9-inning game on Thursday and Friday with another 9-inning game if necessary on Friday)
The remaining four teams move to a four-team double elimination tournament in Sioux Falls May 19-21. Right now UMC would get a first round home playoff game against Minot State.
UMC has eight games left in the regular season and they host Bemidji State for three games this weekend and Bemidji State is in last place in the conference. On May 5, UMC will travel to second to last place UM-Duluth for two games. The final three games of the regular season will be at Minot State May 7 for two games and May 8 for one game.
The games at Minot State could be a preview of their first round playoffs. I am thinking if UMC wins seven of their last eight games, they would have a chance to move into second place if Augustana loses a few games. UMC is just concerned about getting better and make sure they are playing their best going into the playoffs.
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Two area girls basketball players competed in the Minnesota High School Girls Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game last weekend. Crookston’s Emma Borowicz and Red Lake Falls’ Clara Girdler. Emma had a couple of three-pointers and several steals and assists. Clara might have had the highlight shot of the day when she made a half-court shot to end the game. So her last ever high school shot was a made half-court shot in an all-star game. Pretty cool stuff.
We here happy to sponsor Emma in the tournament, as we have for many other Pirate basketball players that have been fortunate enough to play in the game. It is a fast yes everytime. We received a nice email from the Borowicz family and have it below –
Dear Chris and the KROX team,
Thank you for supporting Emma throughout her athletic career at Crookston. The amount of miles, late nights, and the time you spend away from home is remarkable just to cover Pirate sports. You do a wonderful job and have such a great following. By covering the Pirate games and putting them on YouTube, you made this past COVID basketball season one to remember! We had several family members in Arizona, Nevada, and California that didn’t miss a game! Thank you for sponsoring Emma so she could play in this all star game. It was such a cool experience getting to see her play with some girls that will be attending North Carolina State, South Dakota State, Nebraska Omaha, and many other area colleges next year! She also got the opportunity to gaurd some D-1 level players which was fun to watch!
Emma got to compete against Claire Girdler from Red Lake Falls. Claire also put together a nice game and she ended her high school basketball career by making a half court shot at the end of the game.
Regards,
The Borowicz Family
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The Crookston Pirate Baseball team will host the Jim Karn Classic baseball tournament on Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1. KROX will be carrying all five games throughout the two days. The schedule is below –
Friday, April 30, 2021
4:00 pm Red Lake County vs Central Valley/Hillsboro
6:30 pm Crookston vs Central Valley/Hillsboro
Saturday, May 1, 2021
10:00 am Red Lake County vs West Marshall Fusion
12:00 pm Barnesville vs West Marshall Fusion
2:00 pm Crookston vs Barnesville
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Congratulations to Warroad Warrior Girls Hockey player and all-around student-athlete Abbey Hardwick on being named the recipient of the Class A Herb Brooks Award.
Abbey is a five-year member of the Warroad girls hockey team and also plays volleyball and golf. She is competitive and focused as an athlete, scholar, and member of the community.
Characteristics and values nominees should feature:
- True love for hockey — a real passion
- Commitment and loyalty to school, team, and community
- Willingness to sacrifice for the team
- Integrity
- Courage of his/her convictions
- Goal-oriented approach
- Sharp focus and strong competitive drive
- Excellent work ethic
- Willingness to accept challenges
- Mental toughness
- Strong hockey skills
- Strong leadership qualities
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The Minnesota High Performance Spring Festival for the HP 14’s and HP 15’s were held this past weekend. There were several area kids playing in the festival –
Girls 14 District 16 team went 3-0 on the weekend. They beat District 4/9 5-2, beat District 5 4-3, and beat District 15 8-0.
Roseau – Summer Byfuglien, Cora Lundbohm, Karina Christianson, Lily Erickson, Jasmine Hovda, Payton Remick, Jordyn Werk
Warroad – Talia Hanson, Emerson Hardwick, Kaiya Sandy, Katy Comstock
Bemidji – Megan Berg, Samantha Nistler, Taylor Bjerke
Crookston – Ashlyn Bailey, Kaylie Clauson, Addie Fee
Thief River Falls – Kali Knutson
East Grand Forks – Blake Schultz
Bagley – Haidyn Friborg
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Girls 15 District 16 team went 1-2 on the weekend. They beat District 4/9 3-1, lost to District 6 9-0, and lost to District 15 8-1.
Crookston – Brekken Tull, Coral Brekken, Reese Swanson, Morgan Nelson, Miryah Epema
Bemidji – Ellie Solheim, Kristen McClellan, Makenna Dreher, Payton Weidemann
Roseau – Addyson Johnson, Samantha Peterson, Kyle Bjerk
East Grand Forks – Jilian Frost, Maggey Plante
Woodbury – Kiera Hewitt
Rosemount – Calli Holmes
Edina – Mackenzie Abbott
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The Minnesota HP 16’s and 17’s are narrowed down to the final 54 players and they played this weekend. They made three teams of 18 players on each roster.
Area players making the final 54 cut for the Girls 16’s was –
Warroad – Cahlilah Lindquist, Talya Hendrickson, Lila Lanctot, Kate Johnson, Moorhead – Olivia Dronen
Roseau – Jada Pelowski
Area players making the final 54 cut for the Girls 17’s was –
Warroad – Abigail Chamernick, Abbey Reule
Alexandria – Makenna Aure
Roseau – Memphis Mertens
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The Boys 14 HP District 16 team beat District 4 4-1, lost to District 8 5-1, and lost to District 15 7-2. Members of the team are below –
East Grand Forks – Weston Bratrud, Tucker Lovejoy, Braden Overgaard, Cole Schmieddeberg, Jake Chupka, Nolan Meulebroeck
Thief River Falls – Rylan Leake, Jameson Hurst, Bennett Borgen, Jackson Boyer
Crookston – Riley Benson, Connor Maruska, Parker Kelly
Bemidji – Benjamin O’Leary, Briggs Knott, Christian Hill
Warroad – Dominic Anthony, Wyatt Hennum, Broden Hontvet
Roseau – Eli Wensloff
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The Boys HP 15 District 16 team lost to District 10 4-3, beat District 4 7-0, and beat District 15 3-2. Members of the team are below –
East Grand Forks – Cole Bies, Judd Pesch, Nickolas Corbett, Landon Jamieson, Jace Van Eps
Thief River Falls – Jace Erickson, Braydin Lund, Connor Roff, Max Arlt
Warroad – Ryan Lund, Carson Pilgrim, Taven James
Bemidji – Nicholas Johnson, Noah Mannausau, Tate Metcalf
Red Lake Falls – Brock Seeger, Blake Breiland, Gavin Girdler
Bagley – Peyton Sunderland
Roseau – Alex Ballard
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The Perham Activities Department has announced that Aron Velde has been named the new head football coach for the Perham Yellowjackets.
Velde was tabbed to replace Kyle Knutson, who stepped down following the conclusion of the 2020 football season.
Perham Activities Director Erin Anderson said the school is excited for Coach Velde and this opportunity for him. “Our search included a great slate of candidates and a lot of interest which is a testament to our football program and our community,” Anderson said. “I look forward to seeing how Coach Velde will now build on a strong tradition and lead the Yellowjacket Football team into the future.”
Velde brings with himself years of experience as an assistant coach at a variety of successful programs, including Perham. During his three-year stint with the Yellowjackets, he coached the varsity wide receivers and defensive backs, assisted with play calling and helped the program set several single game and season records for receiving. He was on the staff that helped lead the Yellowjackets to the Class AAA semifinals in 2018.
As an assistant coach, Velde worked with Perham, West Fargo and Frazee-Vergas. Those programs posted an 87-27 mark during his tenure, including multiple appearances in the state tournament in North Dakota and Minnesota.
Velde’s coaching career with the Yellowjackets started as a volunteer in 2018.
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Detroit Lakes grad and current Nebraska Cornhusker Women’s Golfer, Kate Smith, WON the Big Ten Championship at TPC River’s Bend this past weekend.
Smith shot a 72, 71 and then a blistering 64 in her final round for a 207 total. Her 207 was tied for the lowest score in the history of the Big Ten championships.
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Crookston High School grad Matt Harris is the Assistant Principal/Activities Director at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
During a fundraiser golf tournament, they announced they unveiled plans for a 90 seat theater-style team room this fall.
This is a HIGH SCHOOL.
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The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball team announced the signing of Uzo Dibiamaka (G, 6-3 185, Adelaide, South Australia/Iowa Central C.C.) and Jerome Mabry (G/F, 6-3 194, Milwaukee, Wis./Northwest College (Wyo.).
Uzo Dibiamaka (G, 6-3 185, Adelaide, South Australia/Iowa Central C.C.
Dibiamaka averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Iowa Central C.C. He shot 42.3% from the field, and 43.5 percent from beyond the arc. Dibiamaka was an 87.1 percent shooter from the charity stripe.
He played his freshman season at Western Texas College and attended high school at Second Baptist H.S. in Houston, Texas. He earned 2018 First Team All-Conference accolades.
His brother Uche Dibiamaka competed for Division I University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He is the son of Henry and Colleen Dibiamaka. He plans to major in business management.
Jerome Mabry (G/F, 6-3 194, Milwaukee, Wis./Northwest College (Wyo.)
Mabry averaged 14 points and 6 rebounds per game during his sophomore season at Northwest College. He shot 64.9 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from behind the arc. He was an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection. Mabry was also on the honor roll.
He had a family member Malcolm Mabry who played basketball at Keiser University. Mabry plans to major in exercise science and wellness.
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JOKES
My wife accused me of being immature. I told her to get out of my fort.
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You don’t need a parachute to go skydiving. You need a parachute to go skydiving twice.
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Women only call me ugly until they find out how much money I make. Then they call me ugly and poor.
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How many Germans does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One. They’re efficient and not very funny.
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My wife told me that I’m not completely useless. I can always serve as a bad example.
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Apparently, someone in London gets stabbed every 52 seconds. Poor bastard.
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Someone stole my Microsoft Office and they’re gonna pay. You have my Word. I really Excel at these jokes.
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Just say NO to drugs! Well, if I’m talking to my drugs…..I probably already said yes.
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How does Moses make his coffee? Hebrews it.
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What would the Jetsons be called if they were black? The Jetsons, you bleeping racist.
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What did the pirate say when he turned 80? Aye Matey.
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What is the difference between a well-dressed man on a bike and a poorly dressed man on a unicycle? Attire.
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How do you find Will Smith in the snow? You look for the fresh prints.
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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
Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Sweden for Vasby IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan league.
Aleece Durbin, is a Junior on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team.
Ben Trostad is playing Club Hockey at UMC.
Ty Hamre is playing Club Hockey at UMC.
Brandon Boetcher is playing Club Hockey at UMC.
Brady Butt is a freshman playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Brita Fagerlund, is a Senior on the University of Jamestown Jimmy Women’s Track team.
Rachel Hefta, a Sophomore, is playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Nick Garmen is a sophomore playing tennis at the University of Minnesota Morris.
Thea Oman, a sophomore, is swimming at St. Ben’s.
Crookston School District Coaches –
Emily Meyer is a girls hockey and softball assistant coach.
Lacia Hanson is the Junior High softball coach.
Carrie Clauson is a Junior High girls tennis coach.
Jeremy Lubinski is a Pirate 8th Grade Football coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach and assistant volleyball coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Cody Brekken is the Head Pirate Girls and Boys Tennis coach and Crookston Community Pool Supervisor
Marley Melbye is the Head Girls Swimming coach
Mitch Bakken is the head Pirate Baseball 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 –
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown
Kaylee Desrosier is a softball coach for Fargo Davies Middle School.
Josh Edlund is an assistant 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.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson, is Head Volleyball coach at Little Falls High School.
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 Thief River Falls High School
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 a Tennis Pro on Nevis Island in the West Indies
Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
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 also a grad of West Point and is currently is 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.
Scott Riopelle is head of Crookston Parks and Recreation
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
