SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Welcome to another edition of the Sports Feever Column! Remember if you have any sports information, like milestones, honors, signings, etc email them to me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com.
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Floriday Atlantic Basketball is hosting Wichita State Thursday night and are having a Seinfeld night and it looks fantastic! Kramer will even be there! Check out the details and the fun they are having. This is an outstanding promotion and kudos to whoever came up with it!
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MILESTONES/HONORS – (If you have a milestone, record, or honor, email them to chrisjfee@yahoo.com)
Liam Grover of Warroad is the new all-time Warrior boys basketball leading scorer (1,471 and counting), surpassing Lance Sage, who had 1,444 points back in 1988.
Kaden Pierce of Warren-Alvarado-Oslo broke the boys basketball career scoring record when he surpassed 1,773 career points last Thursday.
Cora Grismer of Perham scored the 1,000th point of her career this week.
Austin McCraven of Ada-Borup-West dished out the 500th assist of his career.
Emma Miller, UMC Women’s Basketball (Jr. Albertville) scored 41 points against Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday. That broke a single-game scoring record for the program and she also set the single-season record for scoring, passing Jessica Forsline.
Jillian Pulkrabek of Sacred Heart has signed to play softball at St. Olaf.
Josh Hallgren of Fertile-Beltrami has signed a letter of intent to play football at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul next year.
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Section 8AA Boys Basketball
The QRF standings as of Wednesday night are below. Compliments of Minnesota-Scores.net.
Section 8AA Standings
The seeds will be released on Sunday and they are decided by the QRF.
This is how I think things will shape up and things will change as the final games are played Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
This is how I see the seeds going –
The top seed is completely wide- open between Pelican Rapids, DGF, and Barnesville. Pelican Rapids and DGF split during the regular season. All three teams are 11-4 in the Heart O Lakes going into the final game of the year.
Pelican Rapids plays Perham and DGF plays Barnesville.
IF DGF beats Perham and Barnesville beats Pelican Rapids, DGF will be the top seed. If Pelican Rapids beats Barnesville and and DGF beats Perham, I think DGF will be the top seed. IF DGF loses to Perham i honestly have no idea who would be the top seed.
It looks like Menahga is going to be the fourth seed. They beat EGF in their only meeting. EGF and Perham play on Thursday and whover wins that game will be the five seed and the loser the sixth seed.
Hawley, TRF, WDC, and Frazee are all within striking distance for the seventh seed. Hawley and TRF didn’t play during the season and TRF has a better overall and section record. So they might have the advantage. WDC didn’t play TRF, they lost to Hawley and play Frazee yet. It is really going to be decided on Sunday.
The 11th seed will be decided on Saturday as Crookston plays Park Rapids. The winner will be the 11th seed. The loser is the 12th seed.
Roseau will be the 13th and Warroad is the 14th seed.
| Team | Section | Overall | QRF Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelican Rapids | 12-3 | 19-5 | 120.8 |
| Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton | 12-2 | 20-5 | 120.2 |
| Barnesville | 11-4 | 17-6 | 118.1 |
| Menahga | 8-1 | 21-4 | 101.9 |
| East Grand Forks | 9-3 | 16-9 | 99.5 |
| Perham | 8-6 | 14-10 | 99.2 |
| Hawley | 6-8 | 11-12 | 89.0 |
| Thief River Falls | 7-5 | 13-9 | 84.1 |
| Wadena-Deer Creek | 3-7 | 16-9 | 80.9 |
| Frazee | 6-9 | 12-12 | 77.9 |
| Park Rapids Area | 0-14 | 6-17 | 57.9 |
| Crookston | 3-11 | 7-18 | 52.1 |
| Roseau | 2-7 | 7-18 | 47.0 |
| Warroad | 0-7 | 2-22 | 33.0 |
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Section 8A Boys Basketball- West
This is how I see things shaking up when the seeds come out on Saturday.
Kittson County Central will be the top seed.
The second seed comes down to a tie-breaker as Sacred Heart and WAO split during the regular season. Right now, it looks like Sacred Heart has a better winning percentage, but it can also go by points and I am not sure which way the Northern Galaxy conference goes. But it looks likely that Sacred Heart will be the second seed, but either way the two teams will be the second and third seeds one way or the other..
The fourth seed looks like it BGMR will be the fourth seed no matter if they beat the Northern Freeze or not on Thursday.
It looks like if Fertile-Beltrami beats Stephen-Argyle on Thursday they will be the sixth seed. If Stephen-Argyle beats Fertile-Beltrami they would be the sixth seed.
Goodridge/Grygla and Climax-Fisher will be the last two seeds.
| Team | Section | Overall | QRF Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kittson County Central | 16-0 | 22-1 | 105.8 |
| Sacred Heart | 12-3 | 19-6 | 94.5 |
| Warren-Alvarado-Oslo | 15-3 | 18-5 | 91.4 |
| Badger/Greenbush-Middle River | 10-7 | 14-10 | 69.5 |
| Northern Freeze | 9-8 | 12-9 | 68.3 |
| Red Lake County Central | 11-13 | 12-13 | 59.4 |
| Fertile-Beltrami | 10-9 | 11-13 | 58.2 |
| Stephen-Argyle | 5-12 | 8-15 | 57.2 |
| Goodridge/Grygla | 5-14 | 8-15 | 47.7 |
| Climax/Fisher | 4-14 | 7-17 | 45.6 |
Section 8A – East Boys Basketball
This is how I see the seeding going when it is released on Saturady.
Kelliher/Northome will be the top seed. They split with Cass Lake-Bena and have a better section and overall record.
Fosston will be the third seed and Mahnomen-Waubun the fourth seed.
Blackduck will be the fifth, Bagley the sixth.
It looks like Clearbrook-Gonvick could be the seventh seed, then it would be Lake of the Woods, Win-E-Mac, then Red Lake.
| Team | Section | Overall | QRF Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelliher/Northome | 12-1 | 21-3 | 92.7 |
| Cass Lake-Bena | 7-1 | 19-7 | 90.0 |
| Fosston | 13-5 | 15-10 | 69.3 |
| Mahnomen/Waubun | 10-3 | 15-11 | 68.4 |
| Blackduck | 7-9 | 14-12 | 55.8 |
| Bagley | 7-9 | 12-14 | 44.6 |
| Clearbrook-Gonvick | 4-13 | 7-17 | 37.5 |
| Lake of the Woods | 3-9 | 5-16 | 34.0 |
| Win-E-Mac | 1-17 | 2-22 | 31.6 |
| Red Lake | 0-11 | 1-18 | 25.6 |
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The Northern Sun Conference is in the final weekend of the regular season and playoff spots are on the line. There are 15 teams in the conference and only the top 12 teams make the basketball playoffs. Here is what we know going into the weekend.
The UMC women have to beat Minnesota Duluth on Friday and they are in no matter what. UMC lost to Duluth 66-64 the first time the two teams met.
UMC’s chances are looking pretty good at getting in even if they lose both games! In order to not make it by losing both games, Winona State would have to win both of their games. If Winona State won one game and UMC lost both, the Golden Eagles would still make it because they have the head-to-head tie-breaker with Winona State.
This is what we know. If UMC Women beat Minnesota-Duluth, they are in the tournament. If they lose, a betting person would say they aren’t likely to beat Concordia-St. Paul who is playing for first place with an 18-2 NSIC record and also playing for regional ranking position with a 24-2 overall record and have won 11 in a row.
| School | Conf | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| Concordia-St. Paul | 18-2 | 24-2 |
| Southwest Minnesota State | 18-2 | 24-2 |
| MSU-Mankato | 17-3 | 21-5 |
| Northern State | 13-7 | 16-10 |
| Sioux Falls | 12-8 | 16-11 |
| UMary | 11-9 | 14-10 |
| St. Cloud State | 10-10 | 13-12 |
| MSU Moorhead | 10-10 | 12-14 |
| Wayne State College | 8-13 | 11-14 |
| Minnesota Crookston | 7-13 | 9-17 |
| Minot State | 7-13 | 8-19 |
| Winona State | 6-14 | 10-16 |
| Minnesota Duluth | 6-14 | 8-17 |
| Bemidji State | 4-16 | 6-18 |
| Augustana | 4-17 | 6-21 |
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Former UMC Baseball player, Jake Dykhoff (Wadena) has resigned with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Dykhoff was an all-star for the RedHawks last year.
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The semifinalists for the coveted Ms. Hockey Award have been announced. The award is presented by Let’s Play Hockey and sponsored by the Minnesota Wild, The Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association (MGCHA) and Tradition Companies.
The semifinalists will be narrowed down to five finalists which will be announced this weekend. The winner will be announced at the Ms. Hockey Banquet on Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Saint Paul Rivercentre along with the Jori Jones Award , given to the state’s top senior goaltender.
The banquet includes a meal and program and also includes celebrating all-state and all-state honorable mention awarded players as well as coaches of the year and the Brano Stankovsky Award.
Past winners of the Ms. Hockey Award include: Ayla Puppe of Northfield (2024), Ella Boerger of Andover (2023), Vivian Jungels of Edina (2022) Peyton Hemp of Andover (2021) Olivia Mobley of Breck (2020), Madeline Wethington of Blake (2019), Taylor Heise of Red Wing (2018), Grace Zumwinkle of Breck (2017), Presley Norby of Minnetonka (2016), Taylor Williamson of Edina (2015), Sydney Baldwin of Minnetonka (2014), Dani Cameranesi of Blake (2013), Hannah Brandt of Hill-Murray (2012), Karley Sylvester of Warroad (2011), Bethany Brausen of Roseville (2010) Becky Kortum of Hopkins (2009), Sarah Erickson of Bemidji (2008), Katharine Chute of Blake (2007), Allie Thunstrom of North St. Paul (2006), Gigi Marvin of Warroad (2005), Erica McKenzie of Hastings (2004), Andrea Nichols of Hibbing/Chisholm (2003), Ashley Albrecht of South St. Paul (2002), Renee Curtin of Roseville (2001), Krissy Wendell of Park Center (2000), Ronda Curtin of Roseville (1999), Laura Slominski of Burnsville (1998), Annamarie Holmes of Apple Valley (1997) and Winny Brodt of Roseville (1996).
| Player | School | Position | G/A/TP | College |
| Mercury Bischoff | Grand Rapids | F | 56-28-84 | MSU-Mankato |
| Mika Cichosz | Albert Lea | F | 39-23-62 | MSU-Mankato |
| Whitney Horton | Edina | F | 15-15-30 | St. Thomas |
| Mackenzie Jones | Andover | D | 9-24-33 | Wisconsin |
| Teagan Kulenkamp | Centennial/SLP | C | 26-38-64 | St. Thomas |
| Zoe Lopez | Orono | F | 31-17-48 | MSU-Mankato |
| Makayla Moran | Apple Valley | F | 38-24-62 | MSU-Mankato |
| Lily Pachl | South St. Paul | D | 19-21-40 | Harvard |
| Macy Rasmussen | Orono | F | 14-18-32 | Ohio State |
| Payton Remick | Roseau | C | 34-32-56 | St. Cloud State |
Honorable mention-
Maya Engler (Andover), Olivia Kortan (Moorhead), Alida Ahern (South St. Paul), Josie Skoogman (Hill-Murray), Katy Comstock (Warroad), Courtney Little (Andover), Hannah Christenson (Andover), Hanna Olson (Andover), Kasey Senden (Hill-Murray), Lily McKenzie (Champlin Park/Coon Rapids), Nora Carstenson (Dodge County), Josie Linn (Holy Family), Sydney Bailey (Rogers), Bella Finnegan (Minnetonka), Nina Thorson (North Shore), Lily Erickson (Roseau), Sophia Hess (River Lakes), Kelsey Olson (Maple Grove), Kendall Hassler (Benilde-St. Margaret’s), Rhiannon Ashworth (Mora/Milaca), Gracyn Knowles (Blaine), Gracyn Schipper (Duluth East).
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JOKES
A friend asked what parenting toddlers is like.
So I hid her keys, headbutted her in the face, and then told her I love her more than the stars.
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A police officer sees a man driving around with a pickup truck full of penguins. He pulls the guy over and says, “You can’t drive around with penguins in this town! Take them to the zoo immediately.”
The guy obliges and drives away.
The next day, the officer sees the same guy driving around with the truck full of penguins again. This time, though, all the penguins are wearing sunglasses.
The police officer pulls the guy over and says, “I thought I told you to take these penguins to the zoo yesterday?”
The guy replies, “I did, and today I’m taking them to the beach.”
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A young boy walks into a barber shop, and the barber leans in and says to his customer, “This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch and see.”
The barber then places a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other, calling the boy over and asking, “Which one do you want, kid?”
The boy takes the quarters and leaves.
“See what I mean?” the barber says. “He never learns!”
Later, as the customer is leaving, he notices the same boy coming out of an ice cream parlor. “Hey, kid! Can I ask you something? Why did you pick the quarters over the dollar bill?”
The boy, enjoying his ice cream, replies, “Because if I took the dollar, the game would be over!”
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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
Paul Bittner is an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
Reese Swanson is a freshman playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a freshman playing football at Minot State.
Isabelle Smith is a freshman playing Tennis at Concordia College.
Isaac Thomforde is a freshman playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Emilee Tate is a Sophomore playing Softball at Northland Community and Technical College.
Halle Bruggeman is a Sophomore on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Red-shirt Freshman 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 Sophomore playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Junior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Joslynn Leach is a Senior playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brooks Butt is a Junior playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Ty Hamre is redshirt Junior playing football at Bemidji State University.
Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.
Crookston School District Coaches
Blake Bergeron is the head Pirate Wrestling Coach.
Ben Parkin is the head Pirate Baseball Coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head 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
Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling 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
Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
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.
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.
