SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Happy Independence Day and Happy 250th birthday America!!!! I hope you enjoy the holiday and stay safe out there!!!
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The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team and head coach Kathleen Rustad announced the 2026 schedule.
Coach Rustad is going into her first season at the helm of the Golden Eagles, after a successful tenure at Hawley High School, where she won back-to-back state championships.
The Golden Eagles will play their traditional eight matches outside of the Northern Sun for non-conference play, although they will play the University of Jamestown and Bemidji State University in two non-conference tournaments.
Highlighted in their non-conference slate are two familiar opponents in South Dakota Mines and Lake Superior State to open the season. They will play four matches in two days to open the season on August 28-29 at the Hardrocker Tournament, hosted by South Dakota Mines in Rapid City, S.D.
Minnesota Crookston will hop on a plane and head to the Golden State for four more non-conference matches. Minnesota Crookston will see three new opponents: UC Merced, Saint Michael’s and Cal State San Marcos. They will then close out their trip to California with a familiar foe in Bemidji State. Minnesota Crookston has never played in the state of California in the Division II era.
Following their excursions to South Dakota and California, Minnesota Crookston will enter NSIC play starting in September. Minnesota Crookston will open up on the road at Northern State and Jamestown.
The new look Golden Eagles will make their home debut on September 18, when they welcome in the University of Mary as part of a three-match homestand that will also welcome in Minot State and MSU Moorhead.
The Golden Eagles will have 10 home matches this season; UMary, Minot State, MSU Moorhead, Bemidji State, Winona State, Concordia-St. Paul, Augustana, Wayne State, Jamestown and Northern State will all make the trek to Crookston in the fall.
The Golden Eagles will play three different opponents twice; UMary, Minot State and Northern State. The Golden Eagles will play Jamestown and Bemidji State three times this season.
SCHEDULE –
August 28 – at Hardrocker Tournament in Rapid City, SD
Noon – at South Dakota Mines
4:00 PM – vs Lake Superior State University
August 29 – at Hardrocker Tournament in Rapid City, SD
9:00 AM – vs University of Jamestown
2:00 PM – vs Chadron State College
September 3 – at Cougar Classic in San Marcos, CA
NOON – vs UC-Merced
September 4 – at Cougar Classic in San Marcos, CA
11:00 AM – vs Saint Michaels College
2:00 PM – at Cal State San Marcos
September 5 – – at Cougar Classic in San Marcos, CA
11:00 AM – vs Bemidji State University
NSIC PLAY BEGINS –
September 11 – at Northern State (6:00 PM)
September 12 – at University of Jamestown (2:00 PM)
September 18 – vs University of Mary (6:00 PM)
September 19 – vs Minot State (2:00 PM)
September 24 – vs Minnesota State Moorhead (6:00 PM)
September 28 – at University of Minnesota Duluth (2:00 PM)
September 29 – vs Bemidji State (6:00 PM)
October 2 – at Minnesota State Mankato (6:00 PM)
October 3 – at St. Cloud State (2:00 PM)
October 9 – vs Winona State (6:00 PM)
October 10 – vs Concordia-St. Paul (3:00 PM)
October 16 – at Southwest Minnesota State (6:00 PM)
October 17 – at University of Sioux Falls (2:00 PM)
October 23 – vs Augustana (6:00 PM)
October 24 – vs Wayne State (2:00 PM)
October 27 – at Bemidji State (6:00 PM)
October 30 – at Minot State (6:00 PM)
October 31 – at University of Mary (2:00 PM)
November 6 – vs University of Jamestown (5:00 PM)
November 7 – vs Northern State (2:00 PM)
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Former University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks and West Virginia Men’s Basketball player Treyson Eaglestaff has been invited to participate in the New York Knicks NBA Summer League. The 6’6 shooting guard made 281 three-pointers in his college career.
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The USA Hockey Boys National 16 Camp has 12 Minnesotans on the All-Star rosters with four of them from northwest Minnesota.
Henry Laurila (Moorhead)
Nikolai Zhukov (Hermantown)
Soren Saumweber (Cretin-Derham Hall)
Will Cullen (Moorhead)
Gavin Godbout (Hill-Murray)
Jake Burmis (Rodgers)
Parker Deraney (Detroit Lakes)
Owen Kraft (Moorhead)
Liam Brooks (Duluth East)
Avery Hanowksi (Rosemount)
Henry Meier (Shattuck-St. Mary’s)
Elias Hopeman (Little Canada)
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Speaking of NSIC Volleyball, there have been several coaching changes in the NSIC Volleyball scene. BSU’s Erika Bute took the job at her alma mater, Augustana. Within a week, Bemidji State University Director of Athletics Britt Lauritsen has announced the appointment of Hahni Johnson as Interim Head Coach of the Beaver Volleyball program.
Johnson arrived at Bemidji State following a successful stint as a graduate assistant coach with the Colorado Mesa University beach volleyball program. While at CMU, she coordinated recruiting efforts, organized team travel logistics, assisted with student-athlete development and helped plan daily practices. In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Johnson has coaching with Ohana Beach Volleyball in Grand Junction, Colo. and Pass to Play AK in Anchorage, AK.
Johnson enjoyed an accomplished playing career at CMU, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in K-12 Physical Education and a master’s degree in Sport Management. A two-time team captain, she received the program’s Leadership Award, earned D2ADA Academic Achievement honors, was a three-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Honor Roll Student Athlete and became a two-time AVCA Beach Volleyball All-American in 2022 and 2024.
In high school, Johnson was also named a two-time Alaska Volleyball Gatorade Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019.
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The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Athletic Hall of Fame has announced the 2026 Class of inductees, which includes Warroad’s Larry Olimb.
The University of Minnesota’s M Club, one of the nation’s largest and oldest varsity letterwinner clubs, will induct 10 new Hall of Fame members on Friday, Oct. 2, in a ceremony at Huntington Bank Stadium. The individuals will be recognized throughout the weekend at various events, including the Oct. 3 Saturday home football game against Michigan.
The 2026 M Club Hall of Fame:
Guillermo Alvarez – Men’s Gymnastics
Luke Appert- Baseball
Daniel Croaston – Men’s Swim & Dive
Lauren Gibbemeyer-Mendes – Volleyball
Jody Horak – Women’s Hockey
Brock Lesnar – Wrestling
Sean Lumpkin- Football
Larry Olimb- Men’s Hockey
Sarah (Wilhite) Parsons – Volleyball
Lezlie Weiss- Softball
Larry Olimb (Men’s Hockey, 1989-92)
Hailing from Warroad, Minn., Larry Olimb played for the Gopher men’s hockey team from 1989-92. Donning the honor of being named team captain his senior year, Olimb saved his best season for last. He scored 80 points (24 goals, 56 assists) in 44 games, which led him to be named a Hobey Baker finalist in 1992, the award given out to the top player in NCAA Division I men’s hockey. He was also named an All-WCHA First Team selection and second team All-American that season. Olimb aided the Gophers to two WCHA titles and a 1989 NCAA runner-up finish. Playing in 182 career games, Olimb still holds the title of all-time assists leader (159) and ranks fifth in all-time scoring (218). After college, Olimb was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars and played professional hockey until 1995.
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To register – click the link – https://forms.gle/M5TbwsJPB7cTJyEy9
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The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer program will host an ID Camp August 16 for students entering grades nine through college seniors. The campers will get a chance to experience life as a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
The campers will be instructed by Minnesota Crookston Soccer Head Coach Danny Burstein and Assistant Coach Breezie Davis. They will get a glimpse of campus. They will be led through drills and observed by the coaches at Minnesota Crookston, and nearby universities. The camp will include technical training, possession drills, small-sided and 11v11 games. The campers and their families will get a tour of campus and have Q&A sessions with current Minnesota Crookston players and staff. Lunch is provided. The camp will be held August 16 at the Minnesota Crookston Soccer Field from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Check-in starts at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $130 with camp being $125 plus $5 in fees. T-shirt and lunch are included.
“I am very excited to have prospective student-athletes on campus for our ID Camp,” said Head Coach Danny Burstein. It will be a great opportunity for interested players to interact with the whole team during our preseason. They will get a real feel for what it would be like to come and play soccer at UMC. This camp can be a real tool for both us and recruits to find future Golden Eagles.”
For more information on the camp and to register visit soccer.umcsportscamps.com or reach out to Head Coach Danny Burstein at burstein@umn.edu or 218-281-8420.
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JOKES
The owner of a drugstore walks in to find a guy leaning heavily against a wall with an odd look on his face.
The owner asks the clerk, “What’s with that guy over there by the wall?”
The clerk says, “Well, he came in here at 7 A.M. to get something for his cough. I couldn’t find the cough syrup, so I gave him an entire bottle of laxatives.”
The owner says, “You idiot! You can’t treat a cough with laxatives!”
The clerk says, “Oh yeah? Look at him-he’s afraid to cough!”
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A kind-hearted fellow was walking through Central Park in New York and was astonished to see an old man, fishing rod in hand, fishing over a beautiful bed of lillies.
“Tch Tch!” said the passerby to himself. “What a sad sight. That poor old man is fishing over a bed of flowers. I’ll see if I can help.”
So the kind fellow walked up to the old man and asked, “What are you doing, my friend?”
“Fishin’, sir.”
“Fishin’, eh. Well how would you like to come have a drink with me?”
The old man stood up, put his rod away and followed the kind stranger to the corner bar. He ordered a large glass of beer and a fine cigar.
His host, the kind fellow, felt good about helping the old man, and he asked, “Tell me, old friend, how many did you catch this morning?”
The old fellow took a long drag on the cigar, blew a careful smoke ring and replied, “You are the sixth today, sir!”
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A couple had been married for 35 years, and the pair was also celebrating their 60th birthdays. During the celebration, a fairy godmother appeared and said that because they had been such a loving couple all those years, she would give them each one wish.Daily Joke Subscription
The wife said she wanted to travel around the world. The fairy godmother waved her magic wand and BOOM! The wife had the tickets in her hand.
Then it was the husband’s turn. He paused for a moment, then said boldly, “Well, I’d like to have a wife 30 years younger than I.” The fairy godmother picked up her wand and BOOM! He was now 90.
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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
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College in Moorhead.
Teagen Lubinski is playing Junior Hockey for the Badlands Sabers in the NA3HL.
Parker Kelly is playing Junior Hockey for the Badlands Sabers in the NA3HL.
Addie Fee is a freshman playing tennis and hockey at Wisconsin-Superior.
Kambelle Freije is a freshman playing hockey at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Riley Helgeson is a freshman playing football at Northern State.
Emily Bowman is a freshman playing Softball at North Dakota State College of Science.
Halle Winjum is a sophomore playing basketball at Minnesota Crookston.
Blake Melsa is a sophomore playing soccer and baseball at Alexandria Tech
Jackson Reese is a sophomore playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College.
Naomi Johnson is a freshman playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Paul Bittner is an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
Reese Swanson is a sophomore playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a sophomore playing football at Minot State.
Isaac Thomforde is a sophomore playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Halle Bruggeman is a Junior on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Sophomore 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 Junior playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Senior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Seth Heppner – Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Golf at Jessup University
Brady Heppner – Head Coach of Women’s Golf at UMC and Assistant Hockey Coach
Crookston School District Coaches
Blake Bergeron is the head Pirate Wrestling Coach.
Colton Weiland is an assistant Pirate Wrestling Coach
Jason Cassavant is a Jr. High Baseball Coach and Head American Legion Baseball 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
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
Jaren Bailey is serving our country and is Lance Corporal in the Marines.
Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
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..
