SPORTS FEEVER is written by Chris Fee (chrisjfee@yahoo.com)
— — —
FACT: every student brings something special, something unique to their team.
The BEST teams honor those differences so that everyone, every individual, can THRIVE. That’s EQUITY. That’s high school sports.
— — —
We are down to the final three Feever columns of the 2022 year. Thank goodness because the columns this year have sucked! Hindsight being 20/20, it was not my best year. Maybe it was the detached retina, maybe it was the cataract surgery, or maybe it was not being able to “vigorously” exercise since August. Who knows why I wasn’t at my best this year. Maybe it was because the coach is trying to screw me over. Nope…I am my coach. Maybe it was because I wasn’t getting pucks deep this year? Maybe it was because I didn’t treat the next column as being a big one. Maybe it was because I didn’t recognize the zone defense mixing into a man-to-man defense because of my eye. Maybe it was because I didn’t realize it was a short time until it was too late because only half the crowd was yelling short time. Maybe it was because my kicks weren’t getting above my shoulders and I was getting docked points. Well, whatever the heck the reason is, it affected me this year. I am hoping for an awesome 2023 and my new year’s resolution is to be better. I am going to make sure I bring the energy every week. All 52 weeks baby!! Let’s do this!
In all seriousness, I am working on the annual A to Z list and looking for some ideas, just in case I missed some people that should be honored in the world-famous Sports Feever A to Z list. Just in case you don’t know what it is, we find names, teams, etc with names that start with the letter A through Z (first or last name), and I put a short blip on why they are on the list. Here is an example from last year.
A – Alex Gullingsrud – Alex is the eight-year-old son of Nicki (Philion) and Mike Gullingsrud. Nicki is the head Red Lake Falls volleyball coach, and Mike is a longtime official for area high school and college athletics. Alex found out this fall that he has Osteosarcoma on a tumor on his pelvic bone. Doctors also found two small nodules on his left lung. Alex had to have one of his legs amputated, and he has made several trips to Rochester at the Mayo Clinic to get treatment. Alex has had chemotherapy and continues to get treatment as he learns to navigate life with one leg. He made it home for Thanksgiving and came home again earlier this month. As a parent, I can’t fathom what the Gullingsrud family has dealt with over the past few months. They are great people and it shows by the overwhelming community and regional support of Alex and his family. If anybody deserved a Merry Christmas, it is Alex. I hope you had a great one and keep on marching down that long road to recovery big guy!
So if you have any ideas or people that should be honored this year in NW Minnesota. Let me know and the reason why and they could appear in this years list!
— — —
We are coming off the first storm that has affected the winter sports season, and since it is early, most teams have had no problems getting makeup dates quickly. Now it looks like Thursday could be another storm system moving through with another busy day of sports scheduled. I am hoping it isn’t this kind of winter, although we can’t complain about the above-average temperatures we have had this fall and early winter!
Stay tuned for weather-related announcements on Thursday.
— — —
An update on Crookston grads playing sports in college this year.
Aleah Bienek is playing hockey for Trine University. She has played in two games and has one goal, three assists, and a plus/minus of +7!
Emma Osborn is playing basketball at Northland Technical and Community College and was named the Minnesota College Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball North Division player of the week. Emma averaged 21.3 points per game, 2.33 steals per game, and shot over 50% from 3-point range last week while setting a Northland single-game record by hitting nine three-pointers against Lake Region State College.
Osborn is fourth in the conference in points per game, averaging 17.7 in 11 games.
Rachel Hefta wrapped up her college career a few weeks ago after competing for the Hastings College volleyball team. Hastings is NAIA and a member of the GPAC conference. The team received an at-large NAIA national volleyball tournament appearance, with 48 total teams invited.
The GPAC had 7 of the 12 teams make the national tournament, with two being automatic qualifiers and five receiving the at-large invitation.
Hastings hosted Texas Wesleyan in the first round of the tournament and won the match 3-2. Hastings and all the other first-round tournament winners (23 others) moved on to the 2022 NAIA Women’s Volleyball Tournament Pool Play in Sioux City, Iowa. There were eight pools of three teams each. Hastings played Concordia Nebraska in the first round of pool play and lost 3-1, and played Park Missouri in the second round and lost 3-1.
Rachel’s college career as a middle blocker is now over, but she saved her best season as a player for last. She played in all 35 matches this year and recorded 116 kills, 110 blocks, and 25 digs this year.
A side note – Three GPAC teams made the final eight, with the University of Jamestown Jimmies winning their first-ever National volleyball title.
— — —
The 10 finalists for the 2022 Mr. Football Award (in alphabetical order) are:
| Name | School | Position | Class |
| Sam Backer | Chatfield | QB/SS | 2A |
| Ryan Bengtson | Becker | QB | 4A |
| Kade Gilbertson | Rosemount | TB/LB | 6A |
| Carson Hansen | Lakeville South | RB/S | 6A |
| Maxwell McEnelly | Waconia | RB/LB | 5A |
| Cade Osterman | Elk River | QB/DB | 5A |
| Tanner Scheevel | Lester Prairie | RB | 1A |
| Max Shikenjanski | Stillwater Area | QB | 6A |
| Jordan Summers | Dilworth-Glyndon-F | RB/LB | 3A |
| Reese Tripp | Kasson-Mantorville | OG/DT | 4A |
Mr. Football Award Criteria:
- Nominee must be a graduating senior.
- Nominee’s Head Coach must be a current member of the MFCA.
- Nominee must not have any MSHSL violations.
Each player must be nominated by their Sub-District/MFCA representative, after being selected by the coaches in each Sub-district.
— — —
The Borowicz sisters from Roseau continue to impress. Earlier this week, Kacie Borowicz scored the 1,000th point of her career at the University of North Dakota. In a game Wednesday afternoon, Katie Borowicz, a freshman at the University of Minnesota, scored 17 points, dished out 7 assists, and added five rebounds in a win over University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. It has been a great year for the sister duo.
Also, the Gopher Women’s basketball team has a chance to be something really special in a couple of years. They have started five freshmen most of the season.
— — —
MILESTONES –
Crookston’s Ethan Boll won the 175th match of his career last week.
Crookston’s Carter Coauette won the 100th match of his career last week.
Crookston’s Gavin Hlucny won the 50th match of his career on Saturday.
— — —
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 9 PM to 1 AM. 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.
— — —
The Crookston Pirate Winter Sports schedule has been updated again. To see the latest schedules, click below.
— — —
JOKES
I would like to share a personal experience with my friends about drinking and driving. This might save you the cost and embarrassment of being arrested for DUI. As you know, people have been known to have unexpected brushes with the authorities from time to time, often on the way home after a “social session” with family or friends.
Well, this year, it happened to me. I was out for the evening to a party and had more than several margaritas coupled with a bottle of rather nice red wine.
It was held at a great Mexican restaurant. Although relaxed, I still had the common sense to know I was slightly over the limit.
That’s when I did something I’ve never done before. I took a taxi home.
On the way home there was a police roadblock, but since it was a taxi they waved it past and I arrived home safely without incident. These roadblocks can be anywhere and I realized how lucky I was to have chosen to take a taxi.
The real surprise to me was I had never driven a taxi before. I don’t know where I got it, and now that it’s in my garage I don’t know what to do with it.
— —
— —
— —
— — —
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
Emma Osborn is a freshman playing basketball at Northland Technical and Community College in Thief River Falls.
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.
Tags:
