SPORTS FEEVER – Written by Chris Fee (chrisjfee@yahoo.com)
We have Gopher Women’s and Men’s Basketball tickets for every home game the rest of the season. If you would like to go to a game we have four tickets and I can transfer them to you. It will be on a first come first serve basis and once we start giving them away I will have a list of what is left below and on future columns.
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Good news for Real Division 1 Football fans as the College Football Playoff officials have been informed that the Rose Bowl has signed an agreement that will allow the College Football Playoff to expand to 12 teams in 2024 and 2025.
Can’t wait for it to be 12 teams. That will be a lot of fun.
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The 2022 Crookston Hockey Alumni games/scrimmages will be held Friday, December 23 at the Crookston Sports Center. Johnny Holmes will be back again at the Eagles and all players in the alumni games get in free.
Alumni from Crookston Central High School, Crookston High School, Cathedral, and the Mount will be back/are invited back to participate in this year’s games. The schedule and info are listed below –
GAME 1 – 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. – 2012 to 2022 alumni……..Odd vs Even
GAME 2 – 4:00 to 5:15 p.m. – 2011 and older alumni………… Odd vs Even
GAME 3 – 5:30-6:45………PIRATE GIRLS vs GIRLS ALUMNI
GAME 4 – 7:00-8:15……….PIRATE BOYS vs PIRATE ALUMNI
Cost – $10.00 (Make checks out to Pirate Hockey)
Social at the Crookston Eagles Club from 9PM to 1AM. Johnny Holmes performing and all alumni game players get in free.
Mail registration forms to
Steve Biermaier
PO Box 496
Crookston, MN 56716
or email steve.biermaierchiro@midconetwork.com
For the registration form click here.
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Speaking of hockey. There will be a big game on Tuesday night when Crookston Girls Hockey travels to Warroad. Crookston will find out if they are in the same class as Warroad this year, or if they are going to fight for second. Warroad has come out and beat the #2 ranked Hermantown/Proctor 3-2 in overtime and beat #4 ranked Orono 3-1. Warroad opened the season with an 8-1 thrashing of #8 ranked Duluth Marshall, and a 9-0 victory over #9 ranked Simley. They have also beaten EGF 18-0, and Bemidji 7-0. Oh, by the way, Warroad is hosting Benilde-St. Margaret’s who is receiving votes in AA on Friday and will host #1 in AA Gentry Academy in a battle of the top two teams in the state on Saturday! To say Warroad will be ready to play Crookston on Tuesday is an understatement.
Crookston doesn’t have the same impressive resume as Warroad, heck I don’t know if anybody else in the state has that kind of first eight games of the year. Crookston has had some nice wins including a 4-1 victory over Fergus Falls who received votes and was two spots behind Crookston. They beat West Fargo United 2-0, and beat Northfield 4-2. Crookston hasn’t played a big-time top-shelf team yet, but that will change on Tuesday when they get to see where they are in terms of the section with the first of two meetings with Warroad in Warroad. Besides that game, Crookston has an outstanding three opponents at the Warroad holiday tourney December 26-28. They play #2 ranked Proctor-Hermantown, unranked Lakeville North, and #1 ranked Warroad. They also have #1 in AA Gentry Academy at home on January 20. The rest of the games….they should do well minus Gentry Academy. I predict a 21-4 record if they keep playing like they have been to start the season. But they will have to stay healthy. But it is all practice until section tournament time.
By the way, we will have the Pirate vs Warroad girls hockey game on Tuesday on KROX Radio.
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We continue with the rosters from the Pirate Winter Sports teams. We have already had Dance and Boys Basketball. Here are the rest –
The Crookston Pirate Wrestling team has 21 kids out 7-12. The participants by grade are below –
SENIORS – (6) Ethan Bowman, Hunter Knutson, Ethan Boll, Hunter Kresl, Layten Fuentes, Jesse Sanchez
JUNIORS (2) – Evin Trudeau, Carter Coauette
SOPHOMORES – (3) Alex Schweded, Riley Helgeson, Masyn Arguelles
FRESHMAN – (5) Jose Arriaga, Casey Weiland, Isaiah Reyes, Lucas Perala, Gavyn Hlucny
8TH GRADE – (1) Jack Nobels
7TH GRADE – (4) Mauricio Arriaga, Jaron Knutson, Gabe Perala, Chris Goodrich
MANAGERS – (3) Carly Brown, Emily Bowman, Carley Knutson
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The Crookston Pirate Hockey team has 33 out this year. The names by grade are below –
SENIORS – (9) Thor Harbott, Alex Longoria (injured), Zach Tahran, Dalton Delude, Nathan Kelly, Jack Doda, Jackson Demarais, Kaleb Armstrong, Jaren Bailey
JUNIORS – (11) Carter Trudeau, Jackson Reese, Ashton Shockman, Dalen Korynta, Lucas Miller, Kadin Edwards, Ty Larson, Jayden Steinbrink, Koda Donarski, Blake Melsa, Jackson Dauksavage
SOPHOMORES – (11) David Larson (Sacred Heart), Ryan Street, Brandon Colburn, Teagen Lubinski, Jack Buhler, Weston Benoit (Fertile-Beltrami), Conner Hanson, Parker Kelly, Aiden Fisketjon (Fertile-Beltrami), Dylan Thode
FRESHMAN – (2) Evan Shockman, Tate Hamre
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The Crookston Pirate Girls Hockey team has 22 out this year. The names by grade are below (MPHN means they are from the Mayville-Portland-Hatton-Northwood coop) –
SENIORS – (3) Jenna Seaver, Grace Fischer, Kailee Magsam
JUNIORS – (5) Brekken Tull, Reese Swanson, Brynley Coleman (MPHN), Morgan Nelson, Cassie Solheim
SOPHOMORES – (8) Kamebelle Feije, Emmi Trostad, Addison Fee, Kaylie Clauson, Madeline Harbott, Joslyn Wallace, Parker Strand (MPHN), Miryah Epema
FRESHMAN – (6) Ashlyn Bailey, Ava Martin, Paetyn Strand (MPHN), Taylor Field (Sacred Heart), Emma LaPlante, Karena Longoria
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The Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball team has 21 girls on the Varsity, J.V., and C squad rosters. (updated 12-1 at 10AM) It is looking like C squad games will be few and far between. As it is better to have a JV and. junior high team than to have a C-squad with the lack of C-squad games across the area. We will see what happens.
Seniors (2) – Abby Borowicz, Libby Salentine
Juniors (5) – Emma Gunderson, Isabelle Smith, Katelyn Christensen, Halle Winjum, Keona Arnold
Sophomore (3) – Danielle Kresl, Joey Nesseth, Naomi Johnson
Freshman (4) – MaKayla Tahran, Chloe Boll, Halle Nicholas, Jasmine Blow
8th grade (6) – Emilee Smith, Teagan Fanfulik, Brooklyn Waldal, Madilyn Bruggeman, Mollie Samuelson, Leah Johanneck
7th Grade (1) – Grace Boll
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Low numbers in all sports across the state aren’t rare, but we found out this week that Benson only has seven girls out for basketball this year and won’t play a conference schedule Two of the girls hadn’t played for a while and they had to make the difficult decision. We are going to hear more about other schools having to either drop the sport, co-op, or who knows It is getting tougher to get kids out.
Are they burned out from playing and traveling since third grade? Do parents not want to haul the kids all over Timbuktu all winter long? Are people specializing? Or are people saying the politics, drama, etc. are taking all the fun out of it?
I am guessing it is a combo. But the parents that think their kids are going D-1 are the biggest killers of fun in youth sports Or as I call it the “oldest kid syndrome.” I don’t see a way youth sports can improve without fewer games, more practice, less travel, and making it FUN. I believe fun has been sucked out of youth athletics by adults. Kids say their parents are crazy and don’t want to do it anymore. Kids are being forced to play outside of the season by their parents and family friends. Kids need to be kids and gyms and arenas should be closed down from April 1 to October 1 outside of camps and skill work. Just my opinion.
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The Minnesota Hockey, Basketball, and Wrestling polls are updated on our website and we will continue to do so throughout the winter season. Below are some highlights.
NOTE – If you aren’t in the top 10 you aren’t ranked in any sport. Sorry. That is the way I see it.
Several area high school teams and athletes have cracked the top 10 rankings in their respective sports. The list is below –
Wrestling ranking highlights–
Class A Team –
United North Central is ranked 7, and Crookston received votes.
Class A Individuals –
120 pounds – Evin Trudeau of Crookston is 8th
126 pounds – Gavyn Hlucny of Crookston is 6th
132 pounds – Aiden Wolfe of Fosston/Bagley is 6th, Ayden Hauck of Barnesville is 8th
138 pounds – Casey Weiland of Crookston is 9th
145 pounds – Zach Thompson of Fosston/Bagley is 8th
160 pounds – Jake Nagel of Frazee is 5th, Carter Coauette is 8th
170 pounds – Hank Tellers of UNC is 5th
220 pounds – Ethan Boll of Crookston is 1st
285 pounds – Marcus Peterson of UNC is 3rd
Class AA teams
Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus is ranked 9th
Thief River Falls just missed the top 10
Class AA Individuals
106 pounds – Robby Sherk of Park Rapids is 3rd, Nolan Fettig of Alexandria is 5th
113 pounds – Parker Zutter of PLPRB is 3rd
120 pounds – Easton Miller of PLPRB is 10th
126 pounds – Taylor Johnson of United Clay Becker is 10th
132 pounds – Chandler Mickelson of Perham is 8th
145 pounds – Tyson Ullyott of Detroit Lakes is 6th
152 pounds – Kale Geiser of Thief River Falls is 9th
160 pounds – Griffin Lundeen of Thief River Falls is 3rd
170 pounds – Cade Jackson of Detroit Lakes is 4th, Jordan Summers of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton is 5th
182 pounds – Damon Ferguson of Thief River Falls is 5th
195 pounds – Corbin Knapp of PLPRB is 5th, Hudson Hackel of Perham is 10th
220 pounds – Bryce Fischer of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton is 7th
285 pounds – Jeffrey Moen of Detroit Lakes is 8th
Class AAA Teams –
Nobody from Section 8 is in the top 10. Willmar, Bemidji, and Brainerd are just outside at 12, 13, and 14, and St. Cloud Tech received some votes too.
Class AAA Individual of note. Former Crookston wrestling, Spencer Ness moved to Bemidji this summer and is the 10th ranked wrestler in AAA at 220 pounds!
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Boys Basketball ranking highlights –
Class A – Cass Lake-Bena is ranked fifth, and Fertile-Beltrami received votes.
Class AA – Perham is ranked fifth
Girls Basketball ranking highlights –
Class A – Fosston received votes
Class AA – Perham received votes (I am guessing we will see Barnesville up there before too long)
Class AAA – Alexandria is third, and Detroit Lakes is sixth
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Girls Hockey rankings
Class A – Warroad is the top team and has beat #2 and 4. Crookston just missed the top 10 last week, but I am guessing they will be in the top 10 when they are released on Thursday.
Boys Hockey rankings –
Class A – Warroad is second, East Grand Forks is 4th. Thief River Falls and Detroit Lakes received votes. Don’t be surprised to see DL in the top 10 at some point this year.
For the full basketball, hockey, and wrestling rankings click below.
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We are sorry to hear that former UMC Football and Baseball Coach didn’t have his contract renewed at Michigan Tech. Some of the press release is below –
Michigan Tech Athletic Director Suzanne Sanregret announced Tuesday (Nov. 29) that Head Football Coach Steve Olson’s contract has not been renewed. Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Dan Mettlach has been named the new Head Coach of the Huskies, effective immediately.
Olson recently completed his sixth season as the leader of the Huskies and held a 23-29 overall record and a 15-23 mark in GLIAC games. The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Olson, the Huskies have been honored 25 times with all-GLIAC first and second team awards, while Hayden Huttula (2021 AFCA First Team), Nate LaJoie (2019 Don Hansen First Team), and Jacob Wenzlick (2018 Don Hansen Third Team) were named All-Americans.
Olson was a Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker’s Coach for the Black and Gold for the previous six seasons before being named the 16th Head Coach in program history on November 15, 2016.
“Steve is a person of great integrity, and he has worked tirelessly to fulfill the mission of our athletic department and university,” said Sanregret. “He stepped in with big shoes to fill after Coach Kearly retired, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Michigan Tech for the opportunity to be a part of this school and program,” Olson said. “During my time at Michigan Tech, we did not win as many games as I would have liked to have won. I am very proud of the accomplishments of the players who started and graduated from Michigan Tech. I wish the team the best of luck as it prepares for next season and beyond.
“Michigan Tech is a special place, with special people, and I value the time that I spent here.”
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The Minnesota State High School League will have its BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING on Thursday, December 1, at 9:30 a.m.
AGENDA
1. Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
2. Approval of Minutes (10/6/22)
3. Individuals or Delegations on Agenda Issues*
4. Board of Directors Members’ Reports and Comments
5. Lobbyist’s Report
6. Legal Counsel’s Report
7. Executive Director’s Report
8. Executive Committee Report
9. Action Items Martens/Smokrovich
A. Adoption of Programs Task Force Recommendations
10. Discussion Items Campbell/Quednow
A. Together We Make a Difference Campbell
B. Wrestling Weight Classes MSHSL Staff
C. Fall Activity Advisory Proposals Martens
D. Representative Assembly
11. Committee Reports
A. Eligibility Committee
B. Audit/Finance Committee
C. Marketing and Communications Committee
D. Education and Leadership Committee
12. Information Items
A. Board Members at State Tournaments
B. Board Workshop: Wednesday, January 11, 2023, 2 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: Thursday, February 2, 2023
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There is going to be one less team in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and the surprising thing is the fact that it isn’t Augustana. Several years ago, Augustana announced they were going Division 1. Guess what, they still haven’t gone because the Summit League was more interested in letting St. Thomas (in the Twin Cities) join than having somebody in Sioux Falls.
With that said, we still have no idea when Augustana is going D1, but we know Upper Iowa University is going to leave the NSIC after this year. They will be joining the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the 2023-24 season. Some of the press release is below-
The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced on Tuesday that Upper Iowa University has been admitted to the Conference for full-time membership, following a vote of approval by the GLVC Council of Presidents on November 28.
Upper Iowa will officially become the 14th GLVC member upon receipt of initiation fees, entitling the institution to voting privileges, and will begin regular season competition and be eligible for GLVC Championships in 2023-24.
Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, nonprofit corporation providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the classroom, online, and via self-paced learning (both web and mail) to an average of about 5,000 students annually. UIU’s residential campus is located in Fayette, Iowa, which includes an undergraduate enrollment of 572, 475 of which are student-athletes.
Upper Iowa has been competing in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) since 2006 and has been a member of NCAA Division II since 2003 when it reclassified from Division III. The Peacocks have captured six NSIC titles in the sports of wrestling (three), women’s golf (two), and women’s tennis (one), as well as one Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) conference championship in men’s soccer and one NSIC tournament championship in softball. Additionally, the wrestling team has earned three NCAA trophies for a third-place finish and a pair of fourth-place results over the last 10-plus years.
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The Crookston Pirate Winter Sports schedule has been updated again. To see the latest schedules, click below.
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JOKES
Old Josh was sat in his garden, sunbathing in the deck chair when he noticed his grand-son kneeling on the lawn with a worm. When he asked his grandson what he was doing, he found that he was trying to push the worm down the hole from which it came.
“If you can get that worm back in that hole I’ll give you ten dollars,” said Josh.
His grandson sat and thought for a moment, then rushed into the house. A few minutes later he returned with his mother’s hair spray. He picked up the worm by one end and, as he let it hang down, he sprayed it all over with the hair spray. The spray set and the worm became stiff and hard. It was now easy to push the worm back in the hole. Josh was amazed. He gave the boy ten dollars, picked up the hair spray and went indoors.
About an hour later Josh came back into the garden and gave his grand-son another ten dollars.
“But grandpa,” said the boy, “you’ve already given me the ten dollars you promised.”
“That’s from your grandma,” said Josh.
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When my three-year-old son opened the birthday gift from his grandmother, he discovered a water gun. He squealed with delight and headed for the nearest sink. I was not so pleased.
I turned to Mom and said, “I’m surprised at you. Don’t you remember how we used to drive you crazy with water guns?”
Mom smiled and then replied…..”I remember.”
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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
Jacey Larson is a freshman playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Olivia Huck is a freshman playing soccer at Minnesota State Moorhead.
Brooks Butt is a freshman playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Aleah Bienek is a freshman playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Elise Tangquist is the Assistant Girl’s Volleyball and Assistant Girl’s Golf Coach this year at Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove.
Emma Borowicz is a sophomore running track at Minnesota State Mankato.
Kaleb Thingelstad is a sophomore playing golf at North Central University in the Twin Cities.
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.
Rachel Hefta is a Senior 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 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 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 is the Head Girl’s 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, 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 with the Army and is 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 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.
