SPORTS FEEVER – February 2, 2023

SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com

Crookston School District residents……Make sure to vote Yes on February 14 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  If you can’t vote on the 14th, stop by the Crookston School District office and request an absentee ballot.  Also, if you have kids at college that still consider Crookston home, have them fill out the absentee ballot if they can’t make it to town on the 14th.  We need to make sure we get this passed to show the kids and community we care, and we want to turn Crookston into a progressive community, a forward-thinking community, and show we have some smart and educated people in town that get it.  Enough of the loser mentality of voting no on things that help kids and the community.

VOTE YES!

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MAILBAG

I received this email from an East Grand Forks parent after last week’s girl’s basketball game. Always nice to hear positive comments.

Just wanted to let you know how much your broadcasts are appreciated. I’m an EGF parent, and last Thursday, with the blustery weather, some parents/grandparents/fans didn’t make the drive. I heard from many how nice it was that the game was streamed and called by you, and what a nice job you did. Crookston is lucky to have you!

I also received an email from the North Dakota Sports Writer of the Year, Tom Miller.

Chris,
I tried to send my original email to idontcarewhatyouthink@biteme.com, but the inbox must be full.
Just wanted to say thanks for the shoutout in Sports Feever.
Sports Feever is required weekly reading in my book. Nobody knows their stuff in the region like you. Thanks for doing it.

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Now it is time for the “world-famous” Chris Fee’s top 3.

SECTION 8AA GIRLS BASKETBALL – 
Perham looks to have a lock on the top seed, but the next 10 to 13 teams are still up in the air as every game the rest of the season is going to be big for seeding purposes.

1. Perham (17-1 on the year and 11-0 in Section play)
2. Thief River Falls (14-4 overall and 7-3 in Section play, including a 10 point win over Pelican Rapids)
3. Crookston (11-6 overall and 8-3 in Section play)

On the outside looking in – Pelican Rapids, Hawley, Barnesville  (the only three that have a .500 or winning section record)

SECTION 8A GIRLS BASKETBALL –
1. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River (14-3 overall 9-1 in the section)
2. Kelliher/Northome (13-2 overall and 8-0 in the section)
3. Fertile-Beltrami (16-3 overall and 14-3 in the section)
Just out of the top 3 – Fosston, Goodridge/Grygla.

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SECTION 8AA BOYS BASKETBALL – 

Not much has changed in this weeks top 3.

1. Perham (15-1 overall and 8-1 in the section, but still the best defensive team with the toughest schedule)
2. Thief River Falls (14-2 overall and 10-0 in the section.  They might be the toughest matchup for Perham)
3. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (14-3 overall and 9-1 in the section)
   Just missing the top 3 – Pelican Rapids, Barnesville

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SECTION 8A BOYS BASKETBALL-

This is by far the toughest top 3 this week.  It is really a top 6 so that is what I am doing – yes I am taking the easy way!
1. Sacred Heart (15-2 overall with a big win at Nevis and they keep getting better each week! They are 14-1 in the section and have won 9 in a row against decent competition.)
2. Cass Lake-Bena (15-1 overall and 5-0 in the section.  They are always a tough team to beat, especially on the big floor)
3. Ada-Borup-West (15-2 overall and 6-1 in the section)
4. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo (15-2 overall and 10-2 in the section)
5. Fosston (13-3 overall and 8-1 in the section. They are still looking for more consistency)
T6. Fertile-Beltrami (13-5 overall and 11-3 in the section) and Northern Freeze (10-6 overall and 8-5 in the section.  The Freeze are going to be a tough team to beat in the playoffs and are capable of a run.)

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SECTION 8A BOYS HOCKEY –
Some things never change in Section 8A hockey – 

1. Warroad (19-0 overall and I am saying the best high school hockey team in the state.  They are 3-0 in section play.
2. East Grand Forks (12-7 overall and 3-0 in section play.  Obviously, they haven’t played Warroad yet because they play on February 6 at EGF and February 7 at Warroad!!!
3. Thief River Falls (9-10-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the section.  They have a tie early in the season with Detroit Lakes)

Just outside the top 3 – Detroit Lakes (14-4-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the section)

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SECTION 8A WRESTLING –
I still think Section 8A wrestling looks like this.
1. Frazee
2. UNC
3. Fosston-Bagley
4. Crookston (lost to FosB by three in the only dual they have)
5. BGMR
6. Barnesville
7. Mahnomen-Waubun
8. Fertile-Beltrami

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Fertile-Beltrami Girls Basketball’s Josie Iverson scored the 1,000th point of her career by making a free throw last week!  Josie and the Falcons are playing some great basketball and seem to keep getting better as the season progresses.  Congratulations to Josie!!

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Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton’s Owen Leach grabbed the 1,000th rebound of his career last week.  He holds the school record for rebounds.   Leach also scored 2,309 career points as of last weekend.  That is also a DGF school record.  Congrats to Owen on his record-breaking career.  Leach has committed to play basketball at the University of Minnesota Duluth next year.

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Fosston High School’s Cullen Norland, a multi-sport athlete has announced he has signed to play baseball at Concordia College in Moorhead next year.

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Minnesota State Mankato Maverick associate head coach Todd Knott was named the recipient American Hockey Coaches Association Terry Flanagan Award as the nation’s top assistant coach the association announced on Wednesday.

Knott, who joined the Minnesota State men’s hockey program an assistant coach in June of 2009, was promoted to associate head coach in the summer of 2018. During his time with Minnesota State, Knott has been a member of coaching staffs that have led the Mavericks to seven NCAA Division I tournament appearances, six Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season championships, three WCHA postseason championships, a CCHA regular season and tournament title and two appearances in the NCAA Frozen Four (2021, 22).

Regarded as one of the top talent evaluators and recruiters in men’s college hockey, a total of 13 former Mavericks have debuted in the National Hockey League during Knott’s time with Minnesota State. And as a member of Mike Hastings‘ coaching staff, Knott has helped lead Minnesota State to the nation’s best record over the course of the last ten seasons with a 292-107-96 win-loss mark.
 
Born and raised in Red Lake Falls, MN, Knott played in the USHL with Lincoln in 1998-99 and was a forward for Bemidji State from 1999-2002, where he tallied 14-9-23 in 72 games for the Beavers. Knott earned a degree in physical education from BSU in 2002.

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The Division II football signing day was Wednesday, and a few area players signed with Bemidji State, Minnesota State Moorhead, and Northern State.  They are listed below –

Bemidji State Football signed the following area players –

Ridge Flatness, 6-0/185, LB, Blackduck (MN)
Flatness helped Blackduck win eight games for the most successful season in over two decades this past year. The team advanced to the section championship game for just the second time since 1998. During his senior season, Flatness tallied 105.5 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He also averaged 14 yards per rush and seven yards per catch on his way to recording 10 total touchdowns.

Ethan Biehn, 5-10/170, WR, Bemidji (MN)
Biehn will stay home to compete for the Beavers after playing his prep career in Bemidji. He earned several accolades throughout his career including two-time All-District, Offensive MVP with 1,137 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns during his senior season. Academic All-State and was a captain. In addition to his football honors, Biehn also collected the Golden Cleat Award in baseball and was a captain for both the baseball and basketball teams. One of his best sports memories came playing under the Friday night lights in the section championship game. Biehn was strong in the classroom being named to the National Honor Society, Academic Pin Achiever and four-year academic letterwinner. His brother, Isaiah, currently competes for the BSU baseball program. His dad, Duane, transferred to BSU to play baseball.

Eli Pfeiffer, 6-1/200, FB/LS, Walker (MN)
Pfeiffer earned a multitude of honors from his senior year including, Minnesota State High School League All-Section Player, Northwest All-District and earned an academic award for holding an over 3.5 GPA.  Pfeiffer opened his prep career strong picking up seven wins and advancing to the second round of the playoffs. Walker won six-straight games at one point that season. Pfeiffer helped Walker close this past season strong with three wins over their final five games.

 

Minnesota State Moorhead has signed the following area players –

Dallen Ernst, DL (Breckenridge, Minn. – Breckenridge High School) 
Tallied 21 tackles, 32 assisted tackles, two forced fumbles and two sacks as a senior…offense rushed for 283 yards per game where he was a member of the offensive line…All-State academic, All-Section, All-District, MVP of the offensive line and team captain as a senior. Son of Julie and Clayton Ernst. Undecided major.

Anthony Sykora, DB (Hoffman, Minn. – West Central-Ashby High School) 
Had senior marks of 175 carries, 1395 yards, 14 touchdowns…Added 655 passing yards and nine touchdowns…Also made 42 catches for 210 Yards and three touchdowns…Was named an all-state performer as a senior…A three-time all-district player as well. Son of Joan and Lee Sykora. Majoring in education.

Derek Tibbetts, LB (Hawley, Minn. – Hawley High School) 
7.3 Yards per carry in 18 varsity games played/started…four rushing TD in a single game…9.5 tackles in single game…46 solo tackles…two-Time all-section player…conference honorable mention twice. Son of Crystal and T.J. Tibbetts. Undecided major 

 

Northern State Football signed the following area players –

Gaabi Boucha – Warroad, Minn. / Warroad HS
Gaabi Boucha is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound linebacker out of Warroad High School. He was a 3-year starter and senior team captain for the Warriors under the direction of head coach Gabe Richerds. As a running back for WHS, Boucha recorded 1,071 rushing yards his senior season. In addition, he was a 2-time all-conference selection. He is the son of Tara Boucha.

Logan Okstad – Grand Forks, N.D. / Red River HS
Logan Okstad is a 5-foot-7, 185-pound running back out of Red River High School. He was a 2-year starter and senior team captain for the Rough Riders under the direction of head coach Vyrn Muir. As a senior, Okstad recorded over 1000 all-purpose yards, 484 yards rushing, 112 yards receiving, and 408 yards on kick returns. He averaged 6.8 yards per rushing with four rushing touchdowns and added two receiving scores. Red River won back-to-back EDC Championships and advanced to the state semifinals in 2022. He is the son of Mindy Johnston and Jason Okstad.

Nolan Pieper – Grand Forks, N.D. / Red River HS
Nolan Pieper is a 6-foot-2, 255-pound offensive lineman out of Red River High School. He was a 3-year starter for the Rough Riders under the direction of head coach Vyrn Muir. Pieper earned EDC All-Conference accolades in the fall of 2022 and was a nominee for the North Dakota Shrine Bowl. Red River went 8-3 on the year and advanced to the state semifinals. He is the son of Mike and Jennifer Pieper.

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We have updated the Boys and Girls Hockey, Boys and Girls Basketball, and Wrestling rankings.  To see them click on the link below –

Minnesota High School Rankings

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The 2023 East Grand Forks Sports Boosters Youth Basketball tournament will be held March 10-12.  The registration link is up and ready.  Go to greenwaveboosters.com and click on the Youth Basketball Tourney tab to get your team registered.

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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

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.

Kaleb Thingelstad is a sophomore playing golf at Dakota Weslyan.

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.

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 –
Ben Parkin is the head Pirate Baseball Coach.
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/Admin/etc –

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.

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.