Welcome to another stellar and memorable Sports Feever column. This week was a big week at KROX as we were named one of five finalists for the prestigious Marconi Award for Best Small Market Radio Station by the National Association of Broadcasters. This is the second time in four years we have been a finalist and we will find out on Wednesday, October 19 in New York City at the Javits Center. It is the first time the award ceremony will be held in New York City.
Another cool thing is three of the five finalists are from Minnesota with KCLD FM in St. Cloud, and a station in Alexandria too. So, there is a pretty good chance that Minnesota is bringing home the award.
Some other finalists are below –
The syndicated host of the year – Dan Patrick, D.L. Hughley, Dave Ramsey, and George Noory.
KDWB’s (Minneapolis) Dave Ryan is up for large market personality are some of them.
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I am sad but happy for former University of Minnesota Crookston Men’s Basketball coach Dan Weisse as he has been named the head coach of his alma-mater Oshkosh West High School Boys Basketball team.
I talked to Dan via text Wednesday to congratulate him and he said it is bittersweet but he is excited. He also mentioned there was only two high school jobs he would have taken. Oshkosh West and Crookston. The press release from Oshkosh West is below.
Dan Weisse, a former University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee basketball star and the school’s first recruit under former coach Bo Ryan, has been selected to serve as the next Oshkosh West High School boys varsity basketball coach. Weisse’s appointment will be included as an agenda item on the November 9 Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education Meeting. Pending Board approval, this appointment will begin on November 10, 2022.
A 1999 Oshkosh West graduate and Oshkosh West High School Hall of Fame inductee, Weisse has coached at the college and high school levels, most recently as the head coach at the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) where he recorded the most wins in the school’s Division II era. Weisse also served as an assistant coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead, director of basketball operations at North Dakota State University, a graduate assistant at Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and assistant basketball coach at Milwaukee Rufus King High School. As a college athlete, Weisse was the first recruit at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under Bo Ryan, who retired as the head coach of the University of Wisconsin. While at Milwaukee, Weisse also played for Greg Gard, the current University of Wisconsin head coach, and current Auburn University head coach, Bruce Pearl.
Weisse was recommended by an interview committee, and as part of the selection process participated in a meet and greet with current Oshkosh West and Oshkosh West Basketball Club players and families.
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The saga of the cluster that is the Northwest American Legion sub-state (formerly known as District 9 Division II) continues.
I received word early on Wednesday afternoon that Stephen-Argyle was going to have to forfeit their first round of the Northwest Substate tournament on Thursday and were eliminated. The reason why Stephen-Argyle is forfeiting is the coach for Stephen-Argyle got kicked out of the game in the third-place game on Sunday against Warroad and he is not allowed to coach the next game, which is Thursday. Stephen-Argyle didn’t have another coach on the roster so they can’t play without a coach. What the coach did in a meaningless game (both teams advanced no matter what) was wrong. BUT, why is the American Legion head brass punishing the kids for an adult’s mistake? The kids are great kids, play hard, work hard, and play the game the right way. So they are being punished for not doing ANYTHING wrong. Just another example of the American Legion Baseball head brass having no idea what the heck they are doing and need to hire people that do.
Not only are they punishing innocent kids, but they are also rewarding one team as Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton gets a bye and doesn’t have to use a pitcher in the first round of a tournament that goes by pitch count. So now six teams start the tournament at a disadvantage and if I was a coach of the other seven teams, I would play the tournament under protest until DGF loses to Roseau in the second round!
Anyway, here is the updated schedule –
Thursday, July 21 –
Game 1 – DGF beats Stephen-Argyle
Game 2 – 1:30 PM – Ada vs Roseau
Game 3 – 4:00 PM – Fosston vs New York Mills
Game 4 – 6:30 PM – Warroad vs Twin Valley
Friday, July 22 –
Game 5 – 11:00 AM – DGF vs Game 2 winner
Game 6 – 1:30 PM – Game 3 winner vs Game 4 winner
Game 7 – 4:00 PM – Loser Game 5 vs Loser Game 6 (loser out)
Game 8 – 6:30 PM – Winner Game 5 vs Winner Game 6
Saturday, July 23 –
Game 9 – Noon – Winner Game 7 vs Loser Game 8 (loser 3rd place)
Game 10 – 2:30 PM – Winner Game 9 vs Winner Game 8
Sunday, July 24 –
Noon – if needed – True Championship game
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The Crookston Junior Legion team beat Ottertail Central and Roseau to finish third in the West sub-district tournament and will advance to the Northwest Substate tournament next week.
Fosston, DGF, and Crookston finished in the top three and will advance. From the east sub-district, Browerville, Aitkin, and Upsala/Swanville all advance. The Northwest Sub-state tournament will be held in Dilworth July 25-28.
July 25 –
Games will be played at 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM.
July 26 –
Games will be played at 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM.
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The Grand Forks Knightriders Girls Hockey team is hosting a 10 team Girls Hockey Summer Tournament at the ICON Sports Center in Grand Forks this weekend and the Crookston Pirate Girls Hockey team will be competing.
Teams competing are – Crookston, Thief River Falls, East Grand Forks, Bemidji, Grand Forks, Fargo Davies, Mandan, Bismarck, Dickinson, and Minot.
Friday – July 22 –
Crookston will play TRF at 2:00 PM
Saturday, July 23 –
Crookston will play Fargo Davies at 9:00 AM
Crookston will play Dicksonson at 3:15 PM
Sunday, July 24 –
Crookston will play Mandan at 8:00 Am
Crookston WILL play in the championship at 1:00 PM (okay, okay, okay. That is just my prediction for the championship.)
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Isaac Thomforde, a Crookston High School junior this fall, won the Chisago Lakes Tennis tournament earlier this week. He went 4-0 on the day to win the championship.
First round – Isaac beat Luke Parr of St. Paul 8-2.
Second round – Isaac beat Rhivers Sauter of Chisago Lakes 8-1
Third round – Isaac beat Ethan Moeller of St. Paul 8-5
Fourth round – Isaac beat Soren Williams of Forest Lake 8-6.
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2001 Crookston High School graduate Carl Hunt, who is also a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, recently had a trip of a lifetime and the way it was funded caught some attention by national media, including Golf.com.
Carl and six of his friends from Concordia are big golf nuts and they decided they wanted to take a trip to the 150th (British) Open Championship at the Old Course. The trip was going to be a spendy trip so one of Carl’s friends, Andrew Beliveau, a die hard Golden State Warriors fan said lets bet a bunch of money on Golden State to win the NBA championship to pay for the trip.
They found odds of 10-1 and put money down and halfway through the season they felt even better about Golden State and put more money down on 6-1 odds. They put anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000 on the line and won about $30,000!!!!!!
They stayed across the street from the 18th green in an Airbnb for $18,000. Needless to say, it was a trip they will remember forever!
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Speaking of Concordia College (in Moorhead). Athletic Director Rachel Bergeson announced that the Bucky Burgau Field will receive an $850,000 upgrade to the baseball complex.
The project includes a brand new grandstand with individual seats, new and larger dugouts and new fencing and backstop between the dugouts. A new “inning-by-inning” electronic scoreboard is also a part of the upgrade.
The area of the grandstand behind home plate will be covered and feature individual seats. There will also be a new net backstop which will increase sight lines for all the fans. The project will begin in August and finish before the start of the 2023 season for the Cobbers.
The project is being funded through the generosity of private donations and is the first of two phases. A second phase is expected to include artificial turf for the outfield along with new bullpens and batting cage. The second phase of the current update does not have a set timeline.
Alumni, fans and friends will also have the ability to donate $1,000 to have a seat named in the grandstand. Anyone interested in donating to have a seat named should contact the Concordia Advancement Office or the Cobber Athletic Department for further details.
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The Crookston Blue Line Club Golf Scramble fundraiser will be held on Friday, August 19th at Minakwa Golf Course. The scramble will have five-person teams with a cost of $375 for a team or $75 for individuals. Registration will start at 8:00 a.m. with a 9:00 a.m. shotgun start. For more information and to register contact Kristy Swanson at 218-289-0576 or email Crookstonhockey@gmail.com.
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The University of Minnesota Crookston softball program is hosting a pair of camps this summer. The Golden Eagles will hold a youth camp for grades 2-7 August 13 and a prospect camp August 14 for grades 8-12. The cost of the camp is $50 per player.
The youth camp will commence with grades 2-4 participating from 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. August 13 on the Minnesota Crookston softball field. Players are asked to bring a glove, cleats, helmet, and bat. The camp will commence for grades 5-7 at 1 p.m. and be completed at 3:30 p.m.
The prospect camp will cost $85 per player and will run from 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. August 14, and then pick back up from 1-3 p.m. Participants are asked to bring a glove, cleats, helmet, bat, and softball pants. The camp will take place at the Minnesota Crookston softball field.
To register for the camp visit University of Minnesota Crookston Softball Camps (umcsportscamps.com). If you have any questions you can contact Head Coach Nick Weinmeister at 970-203-5960 or Assistant Coach Ashton Sangster at 479-353-6094.
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The Crookston Pirate Football program and Coach Nate Lubarski will be hosting a Pirate Pride Youth Football Camp August 2-4 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. for 3rd-6th graders at the Crookston High School Football fields.
Cost is $50. Payment is due on the first day of camp (Cash or Check only). Make checks to Crookston Pirate Football.
The registration form is below, or you can register online at https://forms.gle/tmgmzwgKJ4dGNrsc9
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KROX is proud to be the sponsor of the Crookston Blue Line Club 10,000 Puck Challenge this year. One thing to remember is this….how often do you take a shot standing still??? Remember that when shooting. Shooting with rollerblades on, and moving around while you shoot will help you 100 times more than standing still and shooting.
The Crookston Blue Line Club is pleased to present the 10,000 Puck Challenge. The program was created as a development opportunity for hockey players to develop their skills at home.
There is evidence to show that daily micro-practices are effective and often superior to longer practice sessions once or twice a week. When you practice a little each day, skills do not erode. In fact, they consolidate. It is like a bank account earning compound interest: a virtuous spiral where skill accrues quickly.
So, how well do you think your shot would improve if you were to take 10,000 shots over a 20-week period? Or goalies how many extra saves or assists can you make?
Think it can not be done? Think again! We have created a plan for players & goalies of all ages and abilities to follow over 20 weeks to accomplish this goal.
GOAL: Increase shot speed, quickness and accuracy in 20 weeks
Player Plan: Shoot 10,000 pucks
(weekly goal: 500 shots per week; daily goal: 100 shots per day – 5 days/week)
Goalie Plan: Complete 2,500 catches, 2,500 blocks, 2,500 forehand and 2,500 backhand shots (weekly goal: 500 reps per week; daily goal: 100 reps per day – 5 days/week)
Dates: May 8th – September 25th, 2022
Ages: 2021-22 players – Mite3, 8U, Squirt, 10U, Peewee, 12U, Bantam
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JOKES
A cowboy rode into town and stopped at a saloon for a drink. Unfortunately, the locals always had a habit of picking on strangers, which he was. When he finished his drink, he found his horse had been stolen.
He goes back into the bar, handily flips his gun into the air, catches it above his head without even looking and fires a shot into the ceiling.
“WHICH ONE OF YOU SIDEWINDERS STOLE MY HORSE?” he yelled with surprising forcefulness. No one answered.
“ALL RIGHT, I’M GONNA HAVE ANOTHER BEER, AND IF MY HOSS AIN’T BACK OUTSIDE BY THE TIME I FINNISH, I’M GONNA DO WHAT I DUN IN TEXAS! AND I DON’T LIKE TO HAVE TO DO WHAT I DUN IN TEXAS!”
Some of the locals shifted restlessly. He had another beer, walked outside, and his horse is back! He saddles-up and starts to ride out of town. The bartender wanders out of the bar and asks, “Say partner, before you go…what happened in Texas?”
The cowboy turned back and said, “I had to walk home.”
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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
Elise Tangquist, is the Assistant Girls Volleyball and Assistant Girls Golf Coach this year at Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove.
Katherine Geist, a sophomore, is running track for Carleton College.
Emma Boll, a freshman, is playing softball at Northwestern University in St. Paul.
Emma Borowicz is a freshman running track at Minnesota State Mankato.
Ben Trostad is a senior playing Men’s Golf at UMC.
Kaleb Thingelstad is a freshman playing golf at Kansas Wesleyan University. KWU is done for the fall season.
Joslynn Leach is a freshman playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brady Butt is a sophomore playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Rachel Hefta, is a junior playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Ty Hamre is playing football at Bemidji State University.
Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Germany, for Düsseldorf EG.
Gretchen Theis is a sophomore at NDSU on the Equestrian team.
Kate MacGregor is a 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 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.
Katy Westrom, is Head Girls 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 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 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 been 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 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.
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.