SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
The first day of practice for Minnesota High School fall sports will be Monday, August 17!!!!!!
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The Los Angeles Lakers just sold for 12 billion dollars!!!!!!!! Below is a breakdown of the Lakers sales price since they started in Minnesota.
Lakers Sales Prices:
1947: Started in Minneapolis for a $15,000 fee.
1957: Sold to Bob Short for $150,000.
1960: Moved to LA
1967: Sold to Jack Kent Cooke for $5M in CASH.
1979: Sold to Jerry Buss (with Kings & 13,000 acre estate) for $67.5M
2025: Sold to Mark Walter for $10 Billion.
2026: Sold to Josh Kushner & Bob Iger for $12 Billion.
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I am currently working on Section 6 9-Payer, Section 8 9-Player, Section 8A, Section 8AA, and Section 8AAA football preseason polls and previews! I sent out emails to all the coaches on Sunday and have heard back from about half of them.
It has been a good response so far, and I am hoping to wrap them up by the end of next week. So if you are a coach in those sections and haven’t seen an email from me, check your junk/spam folder or let me know and I will send it again! I have put about 10 hours into it so far, so it is a timely process, but I can’t do it without the coaches graciously helping out, so it is greatly appreciated.
The reason I decided to do it again this year is that I like to give the kids some publicity, but also to get people excited about the upcoming season.
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The Crookston High School Hall of Fame committee recently announced the class of 2026 inductees. New members are Chris Fee, Greg Garmen, Travis Ross, Marlee Wheelhouse Westrum, and Erika Wheelhouse.
The induction ceremony will be held Saturday, August 15 in the Crookston High School Commons. The event will begin with a social time at noon, appetizers at 12:30 p.m. and the induction ceremony at 1 p.m. Tickets to the event will be sold at the door beginning at noon Saturday, August 15.
CHRIS FEE is a 1995 graduate of Crookston High School where he competed in football, basketball, track and field, and was a member of the Leo Club. He attended the University of Minnesota Crookston and played basketball there before transferring to Bemidji State University to study Mass Communications/Broadcasting. Chris is currently the owner and operator of KROX Radio in Crookston. Throughout his broadcasting career, he has covered thousands of meetings, school board sessions, elections, and community events. He has done play-by-play for over 3000 sporting events and covered thousands of events for the website.
GREG GARMEN has had a long, fulfilling career in the field of education and coaching. After graduating from Elk River High School where he played basketball and tennis, he attended Mankato State University and graduated with a degree in physical science and secondary education. He taught at Waubun and Fergus Falls before accepting employment as a chemistry and ninth grade science teacher in the Crookston School District. He served as head boys’ basketball coach for 28 years as well as serving as head girls’ golf coach, eighth grade football coach, JV girls’tennis coach, and junior boys’ tennis coach. He received a Master of Arts degree from the University of St. Thomas and a specialist degree with a major in educational leadership from UND. Greg has also worked as activities director and assistant principal at Crookston High.
TRAVIS ROSS was a stand-out athlete at Crookston High School. He was also an Aca demic All-American and a member of the National Honor Society. He placed fifth in the 2004 state golf tournament, sixth in 2005, and fifth in 2006 while earning Co-MVP honors during his senior season. Travis lettered in golf for two seasons at St. Cloud State University before transferring to the University of New Mexico. He earned three additional varsity letters at New Mexico and was named to the 2009 All-Mountain West Conference Boys’ Golf Team in 2010-2011. Since leaving his professional golf career in 2014, he has worked on his fifth generation farm near Fisher.
MARLEE WHEELHOUSE WESTRUM graduated from Crookston High School in 2008 where she participated in soccer, hockey, and softball as well as Leo Club, Pirate Sisters, hockey coaching 101, youth T-ball, and softball coaching. After graduating from high school, she attended Bemidji State University where she played Division 1 hockey for all four years, earning multiple defensive player of the year awards . She was named captain her senior year. She graduated from Bemidji State in 2012 with a bachelors degree in exercise science and a minor in coaching and psychology. She earned her masters degree in occupational therapy from UND. Marlee currently
works as an occupational therapist in Bemidji where she and her husband and three children enjoy
participating in many outdoor activities.
ERIKA WHEELHOUSE graduated from Crookston High School in 2009. She participated in multiple sports, school orchestra, the Leo Club, the true player volunteer program, and coaching 101. She was also a mentor in the Pirate Sister program. She received a full ride scholarship to play Division 1 hockey at Bemidji State where she earned multiple individual awards and she was named team captain during her senior season in 2013. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in chemical dependency with an emphasis on writing. After serving in the United States Peace Corps Philippines program from 2013-2015, she moved to Colorado where
she currently resides.
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Click here for the Crookston Pirate varsity Fall sports schedules
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The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team was picked to finish 15th of 16 teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Monday by the conference office. The Golden Eagles received 35 points, ahead of Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Minnesota State University was selected to win the conference with 223 points and 13 first-place votes. Concordia University-St. Paul was picked to finish second with 204 points and three first-place votes.
Minnesota Crookston enters their second season under Head Coach Danny Burstein in 2026.. They posted a 2-13-2 (1-12-2 NSIC) record last season. They scored three more goals last season, and were in seven one-goal games in 2025. Minnesota Crookston returns an experienced roster with nine starters returning from 2025, and 19 players back from last season’s roster. Kedin Geremiah (Sr., MF/F, Winnipeg, Manitoba) is the team’s Offensive Player to Watch. She played in 12 games a season ago, and had five shots for the squad, with two on goal.
The Golden Eagles also bring back Elise Lefers (Jr., MF/F, Brookings, S.D.) the team’s leading goal scorer from a season prior, with two goals. Riley Edemann (So., D, Santa Clarita, Calif.) started all 18 games in the back line and had two assists. Marsia Green (Sr., MF/F, Waconia, Minn.) and Autumn Rabe (R-Jr., MF, Kewaskum, Wis.) also scored goals last season. In goal, Payton King (So., GK, Fairfield, Calif.) started nine games and posted a 1.41 goals against average, while Phoenix DeBrusk (So., GK, Thunder Bay, Ontario) appeared in one game as a freshman.
“We have a lot of returners this year that understand what we are working on as a team,” Burstein remarked. “We have also added some players that we believe fit our needs and will help us elevate the level of play. It is exciting to see how we build on the previous season going into year two of a new staff and a new way of playing.”
Sophia Haase of Concordia-St. Paul was named the NSIC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Mila Rustin of Minnesota State was selected as the NSIC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Golden Eagles open the regular season August 27 at Montana State University Billings.
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Red Lake County Baseball’s Cain Cardinal has signed to play baseball at Northland Community and Technical College
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Former Gopher Baseball’s Brett Bateman (Mounds View High School), son of former Augsburg baseball coach and current Concordia-Moorhead Associate AD, Keith Bateman, was called up by the Toronto Blue Jays and played last week against the Phillies.
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North Dakota State University track & field standout Zach McGlynn was named the 2025-26 Daktronics Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year across all Summit League sports, the league announced Thursday.
McGlynn is recognized for his outstanding academic achievements, athletic achievements, attitude, and leadership throughout the 2025-26 academic year.
McGlynn’s honor marks the sixth time North Dakota State earned the men’s award, which is the most by any current or former member in League history. The other former Bison to win the award were Sam Roller (2024-25; Track & Field), Elliott Stone (2018-19; Track & Field), Tim Colwell (2013-14; baseball), and Brett Winkelman (2007-08, 2008-09; men’s basketball).
The Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award is the most prestigious accolade The Summit League bestows each year and is determined by a vote of the league’s faculty athletic representatives.
Zach McGlynn | North Dakota State
McGlynn capped his collegiate career with his best season in the decathlon and heptathlon, earning second-team All-America honors at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships after placing 14th in the decathlon with a score of 7,430. He also broke The Summit League Championship meet record in the event with a score of 7,922.
The Bison senior earned first-team All-America honors in the heptathlon at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships after placing seventh with a personal-best score of 5,995.
The Stephen, Minn., native was also named the recipient of the NCAA Elite-Scholar Athlete Award, formerly known as the NCAA Elite 90 Award. The honor is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA at each of the NCAA’s 92 national championships. McGlynn earned a perfect 4.0 undergraduate GPA while completing his degree in agricultural economics and followed it with a 4.0 graduate GPA while earning his Master of Business Administration degree and a graduate certificate in leadership and managerial skills.
McGlynn also earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-America first-team honors and CSC Academic All-District recognition. A five-time Summit League Academic All-League selection, he was also named the 2026 Summit League Outdoor Track & Field Scholar of the Championship.
On the track and in the field, McGlynn captured his first career Summit League decathlon title at the 2026 Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was named the championship’s Most Outstanding Performer. He finished the 2026 season ranked ninth nationally in the decathlon.
During the indoor season, McGlynn was named the 2026 Summit League Indoor Field Athlete of the Year and the Summit League Indoor Championship Field MVP after placing second in the pole vault, third in the long jump and fourth in the high jump. He also set North Dakota State school records in both the heptathlon and decathlon in 2026 and was named NDSU Athletics Male Athlete of the Year.
Beyond competition, McGlynn has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service. He is actively involved in the NDSU Pathway Venture Club, serves as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle leader and is a member of Ignite Church. Through these organizations, he has consistently invested in the growth and development of his peers while serving as a positive representative of North Dakota State and The Summit League.
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Have you registered for the Ox Cart Days 5K hosted by Biermaier Chiropractic and RiverView Health yet? The event will be held on Saturday, August 15.
Whether you’re a seasoned runner, casual jogger, or just looking for a fun way to be part of the Ox Cart Days festivities, this event is for you! Gather your friends and family and join us for a great morning of fitness, community, and fun.
SCHEDULE –
7:30 AM – Registration
8:30 AM – Lil Tykes and 5K walkers start
9:00 AM – 5K Run
AWARDS –
1st place and 2nd place Male
1st place and 2nd place Female
1st place and 2nd place Stroller
Register today and secure your spot on the starting line by clicking on the link below –
https://www.raceentry.com/crookston-ox-cart-days-5k/race-information
For the race route, click below-
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/2021-ox-cart-days-5k-1e3b21c
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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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An older, white haired man walked into a jewelry store one Friday evening with a beautiful young gal at his side.
He told the jeweler he was looking for a special ring for his girlfriend.
The jeweler looked through his stock and brought out a $5,000 ring and showed it to him.
The old man said, “I don’t think you understand, I want something very special.”
At that Statement, the jeweler went to his special stock and brought another ring over.
“Here’s a stunning ring at only $40,000,” the jeweler said. The young lady’s eyes sparkled and her whole body trembled with excitement.
The old man seeing this said, “We’ll take it.”
The jeweler asked how payment would be made and the old man stated, by check. “I know you need to make sure my check is good, so I’ll write it now and you can call the bank Monday to verify the funds and I’ll pick the ring up Monday afternoon,” he said.
Monday morning, a very teed-off jeweler phoned the old man. “There’s no money in that account.”
“I know,” said the old man, “but can you imagine the weekend I had?”
Don’t mess with Old People.
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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..
