SPORTS FEEVER – August 18, 2022 – Written by Chris Fee (chrisjfee@yahoo.com)
Fall sports practice is underway and we have had pretty good weather so far! As usual, yours truly can’t enjoy the start as I hoped to. Towards the end of our family vacation, July 29 to be exact, I noticed some brown and black spots and some blurry vision. It didn’t get worse and the fogginess went away over a span of a week. A week later, I started to get a bigger black dot in the lower right-hand side of my right eyeball. It stayed the same and I went to the eye doctor and they found a bruise on my eye and everything looked okay. A week later the dot started to turn into a blob and took about a third of my eyesight in the right eye. I went to the eye doctor again and the bruise was gone, but there was some concern with my family history and my bad eyes (near-sided) of a retinal detachment. So an appointment was made to visit a retina specialist in Fargo. On Monday, the black blob on my eye went from covering a third to about 40 percent of my eyesight. On Tuesday, the black blob went up to 60 percent and I called the eye doctor again and she made an emergency appointment to the retina specialists in Fargo on Wednesday (a week earlier than scheduled).
I found out I have a detached retina and will need surgery on Monday to repair my right eye. I will have a band put on my eye to hold it in place and an air bubble to help the retina heal. While I have the air bubble, I have to lay down or sit looking down for at least two weeks. I can only sit up to eat, stand to go to the bathroom, and shower. So I won’t be able to work from the office or do play-by-play for two weeks. Worst-case scenario, I would have to do this for up to two months!!!! Let’s hope to God it is two weeks!!
So I get some crappy genes passed down, unlike LeBron James who agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension with the L.A. Lakers.
The good news. Before this surgery news came up, I asked Wyatt if he would be interested in taking over the play-by-play duties for Pirate Football and he said yes. I think it is time for a good young announcer to take over and I plan to be back on the sidelines with color commentary, taking pics, etc. Between my eyes not being able to see numbers like I used to, I think it is time to hand the torch over. Plus with this latest eye issue, it was meant to be.
Our youngest daughter, Macy Fee, will be competing in the Miss Crookston pageant on Friday evening at the Crookston High School auditorium. She is going out of her comfort zone with this adventure, but she has loved the experience and I am a proud dad no matter what happens on Friday night. Make sure you cheer on all five girls as they compete for the title of Miss Crookston, but most importantly some scholarship money too!
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As usual, we will be streaming all the Crookston Pirate home football, volleyball, basketball, hockey, and wrestling events, and the playoffs. Thanks to our sponsors for stepping up to the plate and we have added several new sponsors this year so we are excited about that! We have also added some new sponsors to our radio coverage and sports package so that is exciting. It is a great value, with a lot of listeners and viewers.
We will be carrying a bunch of area school games with a nice mix of Red Lake Falls/Red Lake County, Sacred Heart, Stephen-Argyle, Climax-Fisher, Fertile-Beltrami, Warren-Alvarado-Oslo, and many more. So stay tuned.
We will be doing our solid online reporting of all Pirate sports and area games that we carry right here on KROXAM.com.
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Some good news –
The Crookston School Board held a meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss the next steps after the $3,195,000 referendum for a multi-use outdoor activities facility (football, soccer, track, etc.) failed by nine votes.
The good news, the school board led by the chair, Frank Fee, has voted to put up another multi-use facility referendum in February of 2023.
We will have more news on this as it gets closer.
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Some more good news –
Dick Vitale is celebrating BABY!!!! Read his social media post from Wednesday –
Dr Rick Brown just notified me with my results of my major Pet Scan & told me news I wish EVERY cancer patient can hear . He said “Dick u have gone from being in remission to being CANCER FREE” ! Thank u to ALL of YOU that have sent me
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The public is invited to the 2022 Crookston High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony held on Saturday, August 20, 2022, in the Crookston High School Commons. There will be a social hour at 1:00 p.m. with a light meal and a ceremony at 2:00 p.m.
Cost for those enjoying the meal is $12 for adults, $6 for students grades 1-12. For those who don’t want to eat, the cost is $5. Tickets will be available at the door.
This year’s inductees are Dave Davidson, Philip McKenzie, 1988 CHS Boys Basketball Team, and the Legends inductee is Bill Hulst. Please RSVP to robinreitmeier@isd593.org or 281-5313 ext 2104 if you plan to eat.
Dave Davidson was an English Communications and Speech teacher for Crookston Central High School for 37 years. He has coached track, Junior High football, Speech, Debate Team and advised Student Council, the school newspaper, FCA, and more. During his teaching career, he was active in Education Minnesota and was a three-term local president. Mr. Davidson has been subbing in the district the last ten years and is currently serving his third term on the school board.
Philip McKenzie is a 1975 graduate of Central High School, where he was active in band, choir, orchestra, and speech. Mr. McKenzie was recently awarded the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Arts Advocate of the Year. He is a professional oboe player and former president of the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra. After a career in business, Mr. McKenzie returned to the area in 2004 and currently resides in Thief River Falls.
The 1988 Boys Basketball Team finished the season with a 22-6 record and third place in the state tournament. Team members include Marc Sorensen, Ladd Knotek, Bob Holder, Steele Senske, Chuck Picard, Todd Miner, Jon Huseby, Luis Sagaon, Clarence Aschenbrenner, Ryan Schultz, Joe Montague, Dan Ellingson, Cory Sondrol, Manager Ross Larson, and Statistician Mary Decker. The team was coached by Herb Hasz and Todd Selk.
Legends
Bill Hulst was a 1954 graduate of Central High School. During high school, he was a varsity letter winner in football, basketball, and baseball. After his discharge from the Navy in 1956, Bill attended Mayville State Teachers College and played baseball. Bill was active in bowling, fast pitch softball, and tennis while raising his family in Crookston.
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The official list of the Crookston Pirate Fall sports coaches –
FOOTBALL –
Head – Nate Lubarski
Asst – Daren Zimmerman
Asst – Brett Brenden
Vol – Bryan Boll
JV – Dan Rooney
JV – Devin Barton
8th – Tim Moe
8th – Larry Davis
7th – Jeremy Lubinski
7th – Alex Dillabough
VOLLEYBALL –
Head – Katie Engelstad
Asst – Brandi Nesseth
9th – Molly Cordes
8th – Shelly Pahlen
7th – nobody yet
GIRLS TENNIS –
Head – Cody Brekken is back after serving our country in the ND National Guard.
Asst – Pat Joanorschke
Jr. High – Robert Janorschke
GIRLS SWIMMING –
Head – Marley Melbye
GIRLS SOCCER – (The most veteran group!!_
Head – Sarah Reese
Asst – Shelly Erdmann
Asst – Anna Brekken
BOYS SOCCER –
Head – Lon Boike
Asst – Jason Tangquist
TRAINER – Luke Biermaier
Weight Room – Dan Rooney
Auditorium Manager – Steve Krueger
Student Council – Linda Morgan
Jr. High Student Council – Sutton Junkermeier
Vocal Director – Gabby Foede
Band Director – Caitlin Becks
Orchestra Director – Haley Ellis
FFA Advisor – Carolyn Pavlish
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Now on to some good news/bad news.
The bad news is – Longtime official, Region 8A Executive Secretary, Minnesota State High School League Hall of Famer, and all-around great guy, Jim Weinzierl, and his lovely wife Candy have retired from their Region 8A duties. One thing that I always thought was neat was that Jim and Candy were always at tournaments together. They truly were a team!
The good news is Jim and Candy get to enjoy retirement and a little free time after years and years of making sure high school activities and tournaments were going to be played and well organized!
I asked Jim some questions so you would be aware of everything he has done over the years.
Chris – How long did you officiate?
Jim – I have officiated High School and College games for 41 years.
Chris – How long did you run Region 8A?
Jim – Candy and I have run Region 8A for 13 years.
Chris – Do you have any memorable events, or are there to much to list?
Jim – With all of the Sports and Fine Arts activities that are part of Region 8A, there are MANY memorable events!
Chris – Why retire now?
Jim – Both Candy and I have reached the age that it’s time to REALLY retire and be able to do some traveling without worrying about the responsibilities back home.
Chris – What are you going to miss the most?
Jim – I will miss the contact and communication with all of the great people in our Region 8A schools.
Chris – What aren’t you going to miss?
Jim – The Region Secretary’s position is a 24/7/365 kind of job. I am not going to miss posting scores etc. at 11:00 p.m. on just about any day of the week or answering email and texts on any day of the week including Sundays. One time, I even answered questions on Christmas morning!
Chris – Are you planning on doing anything with the extra time you will have?
Jim – Candy and i will be able to travel a little more freely. As most people know, I enjoy the outdoors, so the critters and fish are being put on notice…:)
Chris – Will you be doing anything with Region 8A still?
Jim – In Region 8A, there are 62 Coordinators and Site Managers to run our events. In addition to being the guy overseeing all of those events, I coordinated 5 activities. I will continue coordinating 8A Football, 8AAA Football, the Section Football Championship day at the Fargodome, the Leadership Seminar that we have approximately 300 of our Sophomore students attend and the 8A Boys & Girls Basketball tournament.
Chris – Is there anything else you would like to say?
Jim – Candy and I are really going to miss working for Region 8A. We would like to thank all of the great Region Committee members, AD’s, Administrators, Fine Arts Directors and Coaches in the 44 Region 8A schools for their cooperation, communication and friendship over the past 13 years that made this employment enjoyable. We would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Thanks for everything you two did. I will never forget the phone call from Jim when he told me the Section 8A Boys Championship game was canceled at the beginning of the COVID pandemic.
The new Region 8A Executive Secretary will be another long-time/current official and East Grand Forks Public Schools Superintendent, Mike Kolness.
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Frank the Tank Fee has compiled all the Pirate Fall sports schedules and they are below –
FOR ALL THE PIRATE FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES – CLICK HERE
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Crookston Park and Rec fall and winter activity registration are now open. To see what the city has to offer, click here.
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The Crookston Pirate Soccer program will hold the Pride of Pirate Soccer Camp/League for Girls and Boys in Kindergarten through 6th grade.
Camps will focus on both skills and game play.
Dates: September: 12,14,19,21,28,29, October 3,5 (From 6:00 – 7:00 pm)
Location: Crookston HS Soccer Fields
What to Bring: Athletes should bring water, soccer or athletic shoes and clothing
Please plan on arriving about 10 minutes before your game time.
Cost $25.00 pr/person
For more information, email Lon Boike, Head Boys Soccer Coach at: lonboike@isd593.org
The registration form is below –
[embeddoc url=”https://kroxam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Pride-of-the-Pirates-Youth-Soccer-Camp-2022-5.docx” viewer=”microsoft”]
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Sign up now for the Ox Cart Days 5K, and Little tykes run/walk that will be held on Saturday, August 20.
You can register by clicking here.
Registration on August 20 will be at 7:45 a.m. The Little Tykes run will start at 8:30 a.m., and the 5K will take place at 9:00 a.m. Altru Clinic and Biermaier Chiropractic Clinic sponsor the event.
The 5K route will start on 2nd Street by the Grand Theatre. The race route is below –
1. West 2nd Street to Central Park Loop and back up the hill.
2. Central Park hill to North Ash Street by old Cathedral and Care and Share (Elm St) to Riverside.
3. Riverside to Summit Avenue (Past Villa)
4. Summit Avenue to Ray Ecklund Complex past splash park and on the sidewalk through softball fields to Central Avenue (by Highland School).
5. Central Ave sidewalk to North Broadway (by Gov Center)
6. North Broadway sidewalk (S on Hwy 2) to East Robert Street (towards Hwy 2 Bridge)
7. East Robert Street to North Ash Street
8. North Ash Street to West 2nd Street (Finish)
For a map of the route, click here.
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JOKES
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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
Elise Tangquist, is the Assistant Girls Volleyball and Assistant Girls Golf Coach this year at Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove.
Emma Borowicz is a freshman running track at Minnesota State Mankato.
Kaleb Thingelstad is a freshman playing golf at Kansas Wesleyan University. KWU is done for the fall season.
Joslynn Leach is a freshman playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brady Butt is a sophomore playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Rachel Hefta, is a junior playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Ty Hamre is playing football at Bemidji State University.
Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Norway.
Kate MacGregor is a senior swimming at Minnesota State Moorhead.
Aleece Durbin, is a Junior on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team.
Nick Garmen is a junior playing tennis at the University of Minnesota Morris.
Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.
Crookston School District Coaches –
Emily Meyer is the Pirate head girls hockey coach and softball assistant coach.
Lacia Hanson is the Junior High softball 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
Cody Brekken is the Crookston Community Pool Supervisor
Marley Melbye is the Head Girls Swimming 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 –
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 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.
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 Grand Forks Schools.
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 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 with the Army and is been deployed to Iraq for nine months.
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.
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.
