I made it!! I had to make a last-second change with UMC Women’s Basketball beating St. Cloud State and playing at Minnesota State Mankato instead. So I flew out of Minneapolis instead of Sioux Falls, which worked better. I canceled the Sioux Falls to Minneapolis portion and saved some money because of it so it was a win-win!
While in Washington D.C. the National Association of Broadcasters and all us radio and television executives received some great news from Minnesota Representative Tom Emmer told us he was starting a Broadcasters Caucus, where they will invite other politicians to learn about the broadcasting industry and our needs. They will also inform them of things that would hurt the broadcasters and our much-needed service to our local communities. It was great news and while we were there, we asked all our representatives to join the caucus. It was a great trip with great people and most importantly, it was a very productive trip for radio and television.
We are in the heart of the Section tourney’s and I have some updates, predictions and a lot more in the column. It was a quickly compiled column so understand if there are more mistakes than normal.
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I will take my best shot at predicting the Section 8AA Girls Basketball tournament games – It could be one of the more exciting quarter-finals, semi-finals and championship games we have had in several years.
FIRST ROUND –
Crookston over EGF in a good game
Roseau over TRF by a good margin
Hawley will beat Warroad by a good margin
The DGF vs Park Rapids (5 vs 4) will be a great game, but I am thinking the Panthers will win and advance
Pelican Rapids over Barnesville and this could be a decent game
Fergus Falls over Wadena-Deer Creek by a good margin
Perham and Breckenridge is another close game – If either team is shooting well they have the advantage – but Breckenridge has a better post presence so I am going Breckenridge in a close one
Menahga will edge Frazee in a close one
I am expecting to see the following four teams in the final four – Fergus Falls, Roseau, Hawley in Crookston. We will see????
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In the Section 8A Girls Basketball tournament, I am not even going to attempt to give any predictions because I am 100 percent certain their could be a couple of upsets. But here are eight teams I can see in the final four –
Fosston and Cass Lake-Bena in the east.
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo, Sacred Heart, Red Lake County Central, BGMR, Red Lake Falls, and Stephen-Argyle.
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The Section 8AA Boys Basketball tournament seeds come out on Saturday and there are a lot of big games on Thursday and Friday that will shift teams around in the QRF standings. Here is how it might go as of Wednesday night.
North –
1. East Grand Forks
2. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton
3. Warroad
4. Hawley
5. Thief River Falls
6. Bagley
7. Crookston
8. Roseau
9. Park Rapids
SOUTH
1. Fergus Falls
2. Perham
3. Pelican Rapids
4. Barnesville
5. Breckenridge
6. Wadena-Deer Creek
7. Frazee
8. Menahga
9. Staples-Motley
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The Section 8A Boys Basketball tournament seeds have been announced and Ada-Borup and Cass Lake-Bena are the top seeds. The seeds are below –
WEST –
1. Ada-Borup (23-1)
2. Fertile-Beltrami (23-4)
3. Badger-Greenbush-Middle River 20-6
4. Red Lake County (20-6)
5. Kittson County Central (17-8)
6. Sacred Heart (14-12)
7. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo (9-16)
8. Stephen-Argyle (8-18)
9. Northern Freeze (9-17)
10. Climax-Fisher (2-22)
EAST –
1. Cass Lake-Bena (19-7)
2. Red Lake (14-10)
3. Blackduck (17-8)
4. Clearbrook-Gonvick (14-12)
5. Win-E-Mac (10-16)
6. Fosston (5-17)
7. Northome/Kelliher (7-19)
8. Goodridge/Grylga (6-20)
9. Lake of the Woods (3-21)
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The Minnesota State High School Leauge Individual State Wrestling Tournament will be held this Friday and Saturday at the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul. Hall of Famer, Rod Olson will be doing play-by-play of the Crookston matches and will have updates from the state tournament on KROX Radio.
We have the Crookston and Section 8A wrestlers and their first-round opponents listed below –
106 pounds – Carter Coauette (8th grader – 28-10) vs Brayan Anaya (Soph. 22-2 – Adrian)
113 pounds – Ethan Bowman (Freshman – 35-9) vs Derek Steele (Jr. 44-2 – SIEA)
120 pounds – Zach Brown (Jr. – 32-9) vs James Jacobsen (Freshman – 22-19 – GMLO)
145 pounds – Hunter Knutson (Freshman – 22-20) vs Trey Fairbanks (Sr. 34-0 – Deer River)
182 pounds – Ethan Boll (Freshman – 36-5) vs Carter Holtz (Soph. 35-1 – KIAR)
Other Section 8A wrestlers –
106 pounds – Daunte Yost (Jr. Fertile-Beltrami – 26-8) vs David Revering – 37-7 – BHVP)
113 pounds – Ethan Hendrickson (Soph. United North Central) vs Jayce Ross (DERI – 23-10)
120 pounds – Christian Carlson (Jr. Frazee – 30-18) vs Ayden Horner (Soph. 43-2 – TMBW)
126 pounds – Lukas Volstad (Sr. Frazee – 28-13) vs Luke Krier (Sr. Zumbrota-Mezepa – 27-10)
Garrett Eiynck (Jr. Mahnomen-Waubun – 34-8) vs Trevor Pearson (Sr. – 40-7 – MARI)
132 pounds – Garrett Undeberg (Jr. 28-18 – BGMR) vs Charley Elwood (Freshman – 19-1 – Medford)
Seth Isola (Sr. 19-13 – Frazee) vs Kade Lozinski (Soph. 29-10 – MI)
138 pounds – Hunter Hitchen (Sr. 35-9 – Fertile-Beltrami) vs Jack Grell (Fresh. 20-17 – Aitkin)
Kaden Hiemenz (Jr. 29-18 – Frazee) vs Anthony Sykora (Fresh. 33-12 – West Central Area)
145 pounds – Hank Tellers (Fresh. 15-18 – United North Central) vs Gabe Geiser (Sr. 27-4 – New York Mills)
152 pounds – Andy Dostal (Sr. 43-5 – BGMR) vs Adam Zosel (Jr. 33-3 – BENS)
Carter Sorenson (Jr. 46-1 – Fosston-Bagley) vs Ted Stacey (Sr. 38-11 – LBW)
160 pounds – Ethan Waage (Soph. 32-16 – BGMR) vs Anthony Maher (Sr. 24-2 – BOLD)
Damon Ferguson (Fresh. 31-7 – Red Lake County Central) vs Austin Donnay (Jr. 29-14 – KIAR)
170 pounds – Tristyn Ferguson (Jr. 17-12 – Red Lake County Central) vs Tyson Meyer (Jr. 46-1 – MIAR)
Dane Schoenborn (Jr. 37-13 – Fosston-Bagley) vs Ashton Hanan (Soph. 36-5 – KIAR)
182 pounds – Brett Graham (Sr. 39-5 – Frazee) vs Austin Mundt (Soph. 21-17 – Deer River)
195 pounds – Luke Tweeton (Sr. 43-2 – Frazee) vs Elliot Mann (Sr. 24-12)
Jacob Bergsnev (Sr. 25-18 – BGMR) vs Zane Swanson (Sr. 29-7 – OCB)
220 pounds – Dominik Vacura (Jr. 45-1 – BGMR) vs Brennon Hoffman (Jr. 18-12 – Medford)
Zachary Howard (Jr. 21-11 – Red Lake County Central) vs AJ Karver (Jr. 26-9 – Chatfield)
Heavyweight – Jude Olson (Soph. 19-17 – Fertile-Beltrami) vs Dylan Nirk (Sr. 31-15 – WERA)
George Duden (Jr. 18-7 – Red Lake County Central) vs Tanner Berghuis (Sr. 38-2 – ACGC)
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The Red Lake County Mustang Girls Basketball team won the 2019-2020 Northern Galaxy Conference.
The team standings are below –
Red Lake County Central 7-1 (11 points)
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo 9-2 (9 points)
Red Lake Falls 7-4 (8 points)
Sacred Heart 6-4 (7 points)
Stephen-Argyle 5-5 (5 points)
Northern Freeze 2-9 (2 points)
Grygla-Goodridge 0-11 (0 points)
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University of Minnesota Crookston softball player Cassie Querry (Jr., C/3B, Cassville, Pa.) was named NSIC Softball Player of the Week as announced by the conference office on Tues., March 25. Querry, a newcomer to the Golden Eagle softball program, is a first-time honoree for the weekly award.
Querry continued a strong start to her time in the Maroon and Gold by going 8-of-13 for a .615 batting average as the Golden Eagles continued one of the program’s best-ever starts by going 2-2 in Minot, N.D. Querry scored four runs on the week, and added three doubles and 10 RBIs in four games. She hit home runs for Minnesota Crookston against University of Mary and Montana State University Billings. Querry went 4-of-4 in a win over UMary on Saturday. She is hitting .436 as a junior with 11 runs scored, three doubles, one triple, a team-high four home runs and 17 RBIs. Querry currently has an astonishing .817 slugging percentage with a 1.372 OPS on the season.
Querry was joined on the weekly honor roll by NSIC Pitcher of the Week Meghan Anderson of Northern State University.
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The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s soccer program announced the signings of Elizabeth Hurley (5-4, D, Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville H.S.), Hannah Hust (D/F, 5-11, Kuna, Idaho/Kuna H.S.), and Abby Olsen (GK, 5-6, Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park H.S.) for the 2020 signing class. Hurley, Hust, and Olsen are the first signees for Head Coach Kyle Halfpop, who is entering his second season leading the Golden Eagles in 2020.
Elizabeth Hurley (D, 5-4, Fillmore, Minn./Stewartville H.S.)
Hurley was an All-Hiawatha Valley League pick at Stewartville H.S. She helped Stewartville H.S. to a 19-7-6 mark as a senior. Hurley made the A-honor roll while in high school. She also served as the 4-H Club President. She has been showing animals with 4-H for 10 years. Hurley grew up on a farm.
She is the daughter of Jim and Theresa Hurley. Her family is from the unincorporated community of Fillmore in Fillmore County, Minnesota.
Hannah Hust (D/F, 5-11, Kuna, Idaho/Kuna H.S.)
Hust is an Elite Clubs National League Member. She graduated high school a year early. She played soccer and basketball at Kuna H.S. Hust is the first member from her extended family to attend a university. She is the daughter of Erica and John Hust.
Abby Olsen (GK, 5-6, Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park H.S.)
Olsen was named the Defensive MVP for Spring Lake Park H.S., as a sophomore and senior. She was named All-Northwest Suburban Conference as a senior. Olsen competed on the club circuit for Minneapolis United. She was a member of National Honor Society as a junior and senior.
Olsen is the daughter of Catherine and Jason Olsen.
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The Minnesota State High School League Individual competition of the Wrestling State Tournament is scheduled for February 28-29 at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Here is a look at the tournament:
The schedule:
Friday, February 28, Session 3
9 a.m. – All first rounds
Friday, February 28, Session 4
4 p.m. – All championship quarterfinals and wrestlebacks
Saturday, February 29, Session 5
9 a.m. – All consolation quarterfinals; all championship semifinals; and all consolation semifinals
Saturday, February 29, Session 6
4 p.m. – All individual third- and fifth-place matches; all individual championships; awards will follow
Tickets: $16 adults, $10 students per single session. $30 adults, $18 students per daily pass. $90 adults, $54 students per season book (includes the team tournament).
Ticket Box Offices open: 8 a.m. each day.
Individual Preview
Forty-two individual champions, 14 in each of the three enrollment classes, will be crowned during the two-day tournament. There are 18 returning champions this year: six in Class A, seven in Class AA, and five in Class AAA. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City and GMLOS lead Class A with 11 and eight individual qualifiers, respectively. In Class AA, Simley qualified 11 individuals and Dassel-Cokato/Litchfield, Fairmont/Martin County West, and Foley qualified nine apiece. Stillwater Area leads the Class AAA field with 13 individual qualifiers. Shakopee, Wayzata, and St. Michael-Albertville qualified 10 individuals each.
Did you know? Entering the 2020 state tournament, Anoka has the most state entrants dating to 1938 with 344. Simley is second with 329 and Apple Valley third with 327. Apple Valley, however, has crowned the most individual champions with 96. Anoka is next with 53 and Simley has 51.
106 pounds
Class A — Walker Bents (42-4) of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, who placed third at this weight last year, is the only returning medal-winner.
Class AA — There are no returning medalists in this weight class.
Class AAA —Lakeville North’s Jore Volk (41-1) is the only returning medal-winner. He was runner-up in 2019.
113 pounds
Class A — Five 2019 medalists return: Sibley East’s Derek Steele (44-2), runner-up; Coy Gunderson (46-4) of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, fourth at 106; Chatfield’s Cael Bartel (34-3), fifth in this weight class; Cole Holien (33-6) of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, fifth at 106; and Ethan Hendrickson (25-2) of United North Central, sixth at 106.
Class AA — Waseca’s Mason Gehloff (36-1), who was the champion at 106 in 2019, moves up one weight class. He is joined by three additional medalists who placed at 106 in 2019: Marshall’s Dylan Louwagie (34-5), runner-up; Big Lake’s Christian Noble (36-0), third; and Ty Bisek (43-4) of New London-Spicer, sixth.
Class AAA — There are no returning medal-winners in this class.
120 pounds
Class A — Sibley East’s Drayden Morton (23-3)t, who won at 106 pounds last year, is the highest returning competitor. He is joined by two other 2019 medalists: Ayden Horner (43-2) of Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove, third at 113; and Crookston’s Zach Brown (32-9), fourth at 113.
Class AA — Totino-Grace’s Joey Thompson (43-1), won the title at 113 in 2019. Other medalists are Byron’s Maxwell Petersen (35-2), runner-up at 113; and Lake City’s Jonathan Harvey (20-4), fourth at 106.
Class AAA — Shakopee’s Paxton Creese (42-1) moves up one weight class after winning at 113 in 2019. Three other medalists return: Ryan Henningson (43-2) of Winona/Cotter, runner-up at 113; Stillwater Area’s Matt Houge (43-2), fifth at 106; and Andover’s John Babineau (35-5), sixth at 113.
126 pounds
Class A — Three medal-winners return in this class: Trevor Janssen (34-0) of Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena, runner-up at 120; Dane Niemi (34-2) of New York Mills, fifth at 120; and Brady Holien (33-7) of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, sixth at 113.
Class AA — Simley’s Chase DeBlaere (41-2) won the crown at 120 in 2019. Other returning medal-winners are Jaxson Rohman (45-0) of Fairmont/Martin County West, runner-up at 120; Princeton’s Landen Parent (40-1), third at 120; Ross Herber (27-5) of Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson, fourth at 120 in Class A; Austin Gabbert (33-1) of Watertown-Mayer/Mayer Lutheran, fifth at 113; and St. Paul Johnson’s Yim-Leej Yang (39-6), sixth at 113.
Class AAA — Shakopee’s Pierson Manville (48-3) was the champion at 106 in 2019 and Forest Lake’s Derrick Cardinal (43-0) won at 120. Northfield’s Chase Murphy (41-4) was fourth at 106 in 2019; Wayzata’s Kyler Wong was fifth at 113 and Anoka’s Brendan Howes was sixth at 106.
132 pounds
Class A — Medford’s Charley Elwood (19-1), a champion at 113 in 2019, is the highest returning medalist in this weight class. Blaine Fischer (37-10) of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, was third in 2019 at 120 pounds; and Landon Gode (44-3) of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville, was fourth at 126.
Class AA — Mankato West’s Charlie Pickell (39-2) was the runner-up at this weight last season. Byron’s Michael Petersen (12-1) was the runner-up at 126; Logan Vaughan (28-7) of Kasson-Mantorville, was fourth at 113; Princeton’s Kyle Boeke (40-2) was fourth at 126; and Becker’s Jake Nelson (24-3), was fifth at 126.
Class AAA — Stillwater Area’s Reid Ballantyne (28-2) was the champion at 126 in 2019. Shakopee’s Ben Lunn (41-1) was runner-up at 120; Buffalo’s Ryan Scherber (27-4) was runner-up at 126; and Rochester Mayo’s Marshall Peters was fourth at 126.
138 pounds
Class A — Brett Willaby (39-5) of Windom/Mountain Lake, was champion last season at 126. Mason Gode (47-1) of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville, was the runner-up at 132; and Dover-Eyota’s Taylor DeFrang (25-2) was fourth at 132 pounds.
Class AA — Simley’s Cael Berg (41-4) was runner-up at this weight last season, and Hibbing’s David Platt (40-6) was sixth.
Class AAA — Northfield’s Drew Woodley (48-1) leads a crowded group of returning medalists. He was runner-up in this weight class in 2019. Stillwater Area’s Kieler Carlson (24-3) was third at 132; New Prague’s Nick Novak (44-5) was fourth at 120; St. Michael-Albertville’s Cole Becker (40-7) was fourth at 132; Wayzata’s Cael Swensen (48-1), fifth at 120; and Pedro Velazquez (42-4) of Chaska/Chanhassen, fifth at 132.
145 pounds
Class A — Canon Swanson (48-0) of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa was runner-up at 126 pounds last season. Jackson County Central’s Payton Handevidt (44-4) was sixth at 120; and Deer River’s Trey Fairbanks (34-0), sixth at 138.
Class AA — Ryan Sokol (42-2) of Simley, who won at 132 pounds last year, returns in search of more gold. He will be joined by two additional medalists: Carson Tschudi (29-5) of Delano, fifth at 132 pounds; and Trevon Johnson (30-4) of Dawson-Boyd/Lac qui Parle/Montevideo, fifth at 138 pounds.
Class AAA — Three medal-winners return from 2019: Luke Peterson (37-2) of Farmington, fourth in this weight class; Trey Kruse (44-1) of Stillwater Area, fourth at 138 pounds; and Bryce Dagel (32-6) of Eden Prairie, sixth at 126 pounds.
152 pounds
Class A — Medford’s Willie VonRuden (19-1) was the runner-up at 145 pounds in 2019. Kimball Area’s Zack Holtz (32-0) was fourth in this weight class; Carter Sorenson (46-1) of Fosston/Bagley, sixth at 13; and Goodhue’s Baxter O’Reilly (29-3), was sixth at 145.
Class AA — Payton Anderson (38-1) of Fairmont/Martin County West is the only returning medal-winner. He finished fourth at 145 pounds in 2019.
Class AAA — Lakeville South’s Willie Bastyr (34-5) returns to defend his title. Stillwater Area’s Hunter Lyden (42-1) was third at 138 in 2019; Owatonna’s Landen Johnson (42-1), was sixth at 138; and Eagan’s Ty Gage (26-13) was sixth at 145.
160 pounds
Class A — Owen Bjerga (41-1) of Staples-Motley was runner-up at this weight in 2019.
Class AA — Simley’s Nolan Wanzek (39-7) was the runner-up at 170 in 2019. Scott West’s Jace Demmers (37-2) was third in this weight class last season; Mahtomedi’s Bryce FitzPatrick (39-1) was fourth at 138; Miles Fitzgerald (38-3) of Fairmont/Martin County West, was fourth at 152 and Foley’s Connor Thorsten (45-4) was sixth at 152.
Class AAA — St. Michael-Albertville’s Carl Leuer (41-5) was third at 170 in 2019; Apple Valley’s Dylan Anderson (36-5) was fifth at 152; and Forest Lake’s Tyler Raway (38-6) was sixth in this weight class.
170 pounds
Class A — Tyson Meyer (46-1) of Minnewaska Area is the defending champion. Maple River’s Wyatt Simon (24-3) is the only other returning medalist. He was fifth at 160 in 2019.
Class AA — Kasson-Mantorville’s Bennett Berge (39-1) was the champion at 160 in 2019. Simley’s Gavin Nelson (38-5) was third at 152, and Hunt was third at this weight class.
Class AAA — Gabe Nagel (38-0) of Little Falls was the champion at 160 in 2019. Shakopee’s Connor Raines (21-3) was fifth at 160.
182 pounds
Class A — Trevor Elsfeld (44-0) of Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove was the runner-up in this weight class in 2019. Frazee’s Brett Graham (39-5) was fourth at 170 pounds; and Mason Smid (29-1) of Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena, was fifth in this weight class.
Class AA — Kasson-Matorville’s Patrick Kennedy (32-0) is attempting to win his fourth individual championship. He is the defending champion. Simley’s Quayin Short (41-3) was fourth in 2019.
Class AAA — St. Michael-Albertville’s Wyatt Lidberg (42-5) of St. Michael-Albertville is the only returning medal-winner, He finished third at 160 pounds last year.
195 pounds
Class A — Minnewaska Area’s Tyler VanLuik (46-0) was runner-up in this weight class in 2019; Frazee’s Luke Tweeton (43-2) was runner-up at 220; Colton Krell (29-3) of Westfield, was third at 170; and Derek Werner (33-4) of Wabasso/Red Rock Central, was fourth in this weight class.
Class AA — Perham’s Dawson Kellogg (28-3) was fourth at 220 in 2019. Fridley’s Josh Franklin (32-2) was fifth at this weight.
Class AAA — Shakopee’s Joey Johnson (47-3) was fourth at this weight last year. Stillwater Area’s Josh Piechowski (15-0) was fifth at 182; Wayzata’s Macaron Kukowski (29-3) was sixth at this weight; and Willmar’s Kaden Streed (28-8) was sixth at 182.
220 pounds
Class A — Dominik Vacura (45-1) of Badger/Greenbush-Middle River returns to defend his crown at this weight. Minnewaska Area’s Dylan Jergenson (41-4) was fourth at this weight; and Breckenridge’s Daniel Erlandson (35-4) was sixth at 195.
Class AA —Orono’s Danny Striggow (13-0) is the returning champion. Delano’s Edward Hajas (38-3) was third at this weight; Simley’s Bennett Tabor (43-0) was fourth at 195; and Becker’s Brayden Weber (34-3) was sixth at this weight.
Class AAA — Shakopee’s Tommy Johnson (36-4) was sixth at this weight in 2019.
Heavyweight
Class A — Craig Orlando (43-0) of Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie is the returning champion. Adrian Area’s Scot Edwards (31-3) was runner-up at this weight in 2019; Ottertail Central’s Cian Buehler was fourth and Tanner Berghuis (38-2) of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City was fifth.
Class AA — Logan Wingert (38-2) of Plainview-Elgin-Millville was the runner-up at this weight; Dustin Portales (13-2) of Fergus Falls, was fourth; and Redwood Valley’s Kaleb Haase (37-0) was fifth at 220.
Class AAA — There are no returning medal-winners in this weight class.
2019 State Tournament Recap
Class A: Jeron Mattson, a senior from Kenyon-Wanamingo, won his third championship after defeating junior Trevor Janssen of Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena at 120 pounds.
Class AA: Senior Daniel Kerkvliet of Simley (Heavyweight) was the only wrestler to win a coveted fourth title at the 2019 tournament. Junior Patrick Kennedy of Kasson-Mantorville (182 pounds) earned his third championship.
Class AAA: Sophomore Reid Ballantyne of Stillwater Area was the final competitor to go home with a third goal medal. He defeated sophomore Ryan Scherber of Buffalo at 126 pounds.
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The Minnesota State High School League Wrestling State Tournament is being held this week at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Here is a look at the tournament:
The schedule:
Thursday, February 27, Session 1
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – All quarterfinals, consolation semifinals, and championship semifinals
Friday, February 28, Session 4
5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – All consolation finals, third-place, and championship matches. Awards will follow the matches.
Tickets: $16 adults, $10 students per single session. $30 adults, $18 students per daily pass. $90 adults, $54 students per season book (includes the individual tournament).
Ticket Box Offices open: 8 a.m. each day.
THE QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS
Class A
Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie (19-4) vs. No. 2 Seed Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (30-1), 9 a.m. –Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie returns for its second consecutive and overall appearance. The Raiders placed sixth in 2019. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City is looking to improve on last year’s fourth-place showing. The Falcons are making their third consecutive appearance and 13th overall. They won one previous championship in 2007.
Royalton/Upsala (14-12) vs. No. 3 Seed Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove (29-8), 9 a.m. – Royalton/Upsala is making its second appearance, but first since 2009. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove is making its third consecutive and overall appearance. The Panthers placed third last year.
Badger/Greenbush-Middle River (18-10) vs. No. 1 Seed Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville (31-3), 9 a.m. – Badger/Greenbush-Middle River is making its second consecutive appearance and seventh overall. The Gators bowed out in the consolation semifinals in 2019. The defending champions from LPGE/Browerville return in search of more gold. This is the third consecutive and overall appearance for the Wolves,
No. 5 Seed GMLOS (23-2) vs. No. 4 Seed Blue Earth Area (22-5), 9 a.m. – GMLOS, which is a co-op between Grand Meadow, LeRoy-Ostrander, and Southland, is making its first appearance. The Buccaneers of Blue Earth Area return for their sixth appearance. They won back-to-back titles in 2001and 2002.
Class AA
Orono (9-12) vs. No. 2 Seed Fairmont/Martin County West (18-2), 11 a.m. – The Orono Spartans are making their debut appearance. The Red Bulls of Fairmont/Martin County West are making their second consecutive and overall appearance. They placed second in 2019.
Hutchinson/Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart (19-3) vs. No. 3 Seed Foley (39-1), 11 a.m. – The Hutchinson/Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Tigers are making their first tournament appearance. Foley, which lost in the consolation semifinals last year, returns for its 13th consecutive appearance. The Falcons are making their 27th appearance overall and won previous championships in 1989, 1993, and 1994.
South St. Paul (21-4) vs. No. 1 Seed Simley, Inver Grove Heights (19-0), 11 a.m. – The Packers of South St. Paul return after a one-year absence to make their second appearance overall. The defending champions from Simley are looking for their 13th title. In addition to last year, they also won in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015. The Spartans are making their 25th appearance overall.
No. 5 Seed Detroit Lakes (23-6) vs. No. 4 Seed Dassel-Cokato/Litchfield (18-2), 11 a.m. – Detroit Lakes is making its third appearance, but first since 2005. Dassel-Cokato/Litchfield is making its first appearance.
Class AAA
Bemidji (27-6) vs. No. 2 Seed St. Michael-Albertville (28-6), 9 a.m. – These teams met in the third-place match last year with St. Michael-Albertville winning 38-24. Bemidji is making its second consecutive and eighth overall appearance. The Knights of St. Michael-Albertville are making their 21st consecutive appearance and 30th overall. If they win, it would be their ninth championship; they won previously in 1996, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013, and 2018.
Waconia (13-7) vs. No. 3 Seed Stillwater Area (22-2), 9 a.m. – The Waconia Wildcats return for their second consecutive and overall appearance. They placed fourth in Class AA in 2019. The Ponies of Stillwater Area are making their fourth consecutive appearance and eighth overall. They earned runner-up honors last year.
Hastings (20-13) vs. No. 1 Seed Shakopee (38-0), 9 a.m. – The Hastings Raiders return to tournament action after a one-year absence. This is their 16th appearance overall and they earned one previous title in 1996. The defending champions from Shakopee return in search of their second championship. This is the Sabers’ third consecutive appearance and sixth overall.
No. 5 Seed Forest Lake (24-6) vs. No. 4 Seed Owatonna (21-7), 9 a.m. – The Rangers of Forest Lake return for their second consecutive appearance and fifth overall. They lost in the consolation semifinals in 2019 and won their only championship in 1993. The Owatonna Huskies return after a two-year hiatus. This in their 13th appearance and they’re in the hunt for their third championship. They won previously in 1998 and 2005.
2019 STATE TOURNAMENT RECAP
Class A – Top-seeded Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville won its first title after defeating No. 3-seeded Kenyon-Wanamingo 35-27. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook-Walnut Grove claimed third-place honors after defeating Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 38-26. Goodhue went home with the consolation hardware after posting a 38-23 victory over Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie.
Class A – Simley earned its 12th championship after beating Marshall, which included students from Lakeview and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 60-7. Simley came in as the No. 2 seed and Marshall was the No. 4 seed. Perham settled for third place after beating Waconia 27-24. Mora rebounded to claim consolation honors. The Mustangs defeated Totino-Grace of Fridley 40-30.
Class AAA -Top-seeded Shakopee defeated No. 2-seeded Stillwater Area 35-22 in winning its first title. St. Michael-Albertville secured third-place honors after defeating Bemidji 38-24. Northfield, which included students from Arcadia Charter School, won the consolation title after notching a 40-25 win over East Ridge of Woodbury.
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JOKES
A man walks into the toy store to get a Barbie doll for his daughter. So he asks the assistant, as you would, “How much is Barbie?”
“Well,” she says, “we have Barbie Goes to the Gym for $19.95, Barbie Goes to the Ball for $19.95, Barbie Goes Shopping for $19.95, Barbie Goes to the Beach for $19.95, Barbie Goes Nightclubbing for $19.95, and Divorced Barbie for $265.00.”
“Hey, hang on,” the guy asks, “why is Divorced Barbie $265.00 when all the others are only $19.95?”
“Yeah, well, it’s like this … Divorced Barbie comes with Ken’s house, Ken’s car, Ken’s boat, Ken’s furniture …”
— —
A pastor’s wife was expecting a baby, so he stood before the congregation and asked for a raise.
After much discussion, they passed a rule that whenever the preacher’s family expanded, so would his paycheck.
After 6 children, this started to get expensive and the congregation decided to hold another meeting to discuss the preacher’s expanding salary.
A great deal of yelling and inner bickering ensued, as to how much the clergyman’s additional children were costing the church, and how much more it could potentially cost.
After listening to them for about an hour, the pastor rose from his chair and spoke, ‘Children are a gift from God, and we will take as many gifts as He gives us.
Silence fell on the congregation.
In the back pew, a little old lady struggled to stand, and finally said in her frail voice, ‘Rain is also a gift from God, but when we get too much of it, we wear rubbers.’
The entire congregation said, ‘Amen.’
— — —
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 playing for the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Bluejacket. Paul didn’t score while getting one shot on goal in a 4-2 loss to Grand Rapids on Friday. He didn’t score while getting two shots on goal in a 4-1 loss to Rockford on Saturday. Paul didn’t score while getting one shot on goal in a 3-2 OT loss to Chicago on Sunday. Cleveland will travel to Syracuse on Friday and Rochester on Saturday.
Thea Oman, a freshman, is swimming at St. Ben’s. Thea was on the sixth place 200 Free Relay team with a time of 1:39.84. She finished 18th in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:14.22. She also finished 22nd place in the 100 Freestyle with a time of 55.74 and she finished 23rd in the 50 Freestyle with a time of 25.29 at the MIAC Championships in Minneapolis.
Brady Heppner, is a Senior, playing hockey at St. Johns University in Collegeville. Brady didn’t score while getting one shot on goal in a 4-1 victory over Gustavus on Friday and he had an assist on three shots on goal in a 6-2 victory over Gustavus on Saturday. St. John’s will wrap up the regular season at St. Mary’s on Friday and Saturday.
Nick Garmen, is a freshman playing basketball and tennis at the University of Minnesota Morris. Nick played three minutes in a 85-63 loss to St. Scholastica on Saturday and played three minutes and had a rebound and a steal in a 110-80 victory overMartin Luther on Wednesday. Morris will wrap up the season on Saturday when they travel to North Central.
Aleece Durbin, is a Sophomore on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team. Aleece finished 8th in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.20 at the South Dakota State invite. UND will host the UND Tune-up meet at the High Performance Center on Saturday.
Brita Fagerlund, is a Junior on the University of Jamestown Jimmy Women’s Track team. Brita finished 16th place in the weight throw with a throw of 38-11.5 at the St. John’s/St. Ben’s invite on Saturday. Jamestown will travel to the GPAC Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday in Mitchell, South Dakota.
Ben Trostad is a sophomore member of the University of Minnesota Crookston golf team. UMC will start the spring portion of their schedule at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University invite in Prescott, Arizona March 7-10.
Isaac Westlake, is a Senior on the Winona State Warrior Men’s Golf team. Winona State will start the spring portion of their season at the Minot State Vegas inite March 6-7.
Elise Tangquist, is a Junior golfer for the University of Northwestern in St. Paul.
Mason LaPlante, a freshman, is playing soccer at the University of Jamestown.
Rachel Hefta, a freshman, is playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Cade Salentine is a redshirt Freshman playing football at the University of North Dakota.
Crookston School District Coaches –
Jeremy Lubinski is a Pirate 8th Grade Football coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach and assistant volleyball coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Cody Brekken is the Head Pirate Girls and Boys Tennis coach and Crookston Community Pool Supervisor
Marley Melbye is the Head Girls Swimming coach
Mitch Bakken is the head Pirate Baseball coach.
Brock Hanson is the 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
Blake Fee is an assistant wrestling coach
Colton Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching –
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown
Kaylee Desrosier is a softball coach for Fargo Davies Middle School.
Justin Johnson is an assistant softball coach at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Josh Edlund is an assistant 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.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson, is Head Volleyball coach at Little Falls High School.
Katy Westrom, is Head Girls Tennis Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Monticello High School.
Matt Harris, is a Director of Athletics at the British International School of Houston.
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 Thief River Falls High School
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 a Tennis Pro on Nevis Island in the West Indies
Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
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.
Scott Riopelle is head of Crookston Parks and Recreation
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
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