We wrap up the spring sports season on Friday with the Minnesota State High School Boys and Girls State Track meet. KROX, of course, will be there and will report on all the area individuals and try to get as many pictures of those competing. Check out our website Friday and Friday evening.
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I was talking with a nice lady (a mother of a player that was playing with Crookston’s Joslynn Leach at State golf on Wednesday) as we were walking along with the girls in their final round at state. She asked if I could take some pictures of her daughter since she doesn’t have any good pictures of her golfing. I told her that it would be no problem and I would take some and send them via email. I sent her eight pictures and got this response.
Chris!!!!!
These are awesome. I (and my daughter Caylin) are so grateful. Thank you so very much. Appreciated your time today. What a gift you are to those girls and families in Crookston! Hope to see you next year!
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It was a great day on Wednesday as I followed Joslynn Leach, Crookston Pirate Girls Golfer, at her second state golf tournament. I walked over five miles and got in over 12,000 steps on a beautiful day in Jordan. It never gets old following Crookston and area schools at state competition. It is a lot of fun to see kids competing on the big stage of their respective sports.
Congratulations to the Perham Yellowjacket Girls Golfer, and Minnesota Class AA Girls Golf Champion Mallory Belka on earning state medalist honors with an impressive two-day total of 148!!
SECTION 8AA GOLFERS –
Perham’s Mallory Belka won the Class AA Girls Championship with an outstanding 148 (four-over parr) in the two days. She won the individual title by nine strokes.
Anna Eckmann, of Park Rapids, finished fifth place with a 162.
Annika Jyrkas, of Fergus Falls, finished 12th with a 170.
Ellia Soydara, of Fergus Falls, finished 19th with a 174.
Josslyn Leach, of Crookston, finished 31st with a 180.
Madysen Maninga, of Park Rapids, finished 31st with a 180.
Ivy Tickel, of Hawley, finished 54th with a 192.
Lexi Metcalf, of Fergus Falls, finished 55th with a 194.
Thea Eklund, of Fergus Falls, finished 61st with a 197.
Ella Mayer, of Fergus Falls, finished 74th with a 206.
The Fergus Falls team finished third place. Lake City won the meet with a 673.
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The Fertile-Beltrami Falcons Boys Golf team won the Minnesota State High School Class A State Championship on Wednesday after shooting a two day total of 629, which was 13 strokes better than Legacy Christian Academy.
Fertile-Beltrami was led by Rylin Petry (Junior) with a 146, Ethan Finseth (Sophomore) shot a 155, Mason Nowacki (Freshman) shot a 157. Derek Sorenson (Freshman) shot a 173, Caiden Swenby (Freshman) shot a 174, and Daniel Ivanov (Freshman) shot a 192.
Petry was also the individual state champion with a two-round total of 146, one stroke better than the runner-up from Community Christian.
Ada-Borup’s Ryan Engel (Sophomore) was third individually with a 149.
Kittson County Central’s Tyler Hennen tied for fourth place with a 150.
Ethan Finseth (Fertile-Beltrami) finished 13th place with a 155.
Kittson County Central’s Hayden Hennen finished 14th with a 156.
Masen Nowacki (Fertile-Beltrami) finished 15th with a 157.
Derek Sorenson (Fertile-Beltrami) finished 46th with a 173.
Caiden Swenby (Fertile-Beltrami) finished 48th with a 174.
Ada-Borup’s Aiden Marcussen finished 51st with a 175.
Fosston’s Tony Carlin finished 56th with a 177.
Daniel Ivanov (Fertile-Beltrami) finished 74th with a 192.
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KROX has gone through the Minnesota State High School League Class A State Track meet program and has compiled where all the Section 8A Girls individuals and relay teams are ranked going into the meet on Friday at St. Michael-Albertville High School. All the rankings, the full program, and more is below –
The top nine individuals and relay teams place at state and there will be no finals at this year’s state track meet.
| Boys event | Participant | Result | Seed |
| 4×800 Relay | East Grand Forks | 9:48.92 | 3rd |
| 4×800 Relay | Thief River Falls | 9:52.93 | 6th |
| 110 hurdles | Breanna Kressin (Crox) | 15.98 | 6th |
| 110 hurdles | Emily Pederson (WM) | 16.74 | 13th |
| 100 meters | Ava Phrakonkham (B/F) | 12.75 | 5th |
| 100 meters | Sophie Helgeson (Ros) | 12.96 | 11th |
| 4×200 relay | Thief River Falls | 1:47.08 | 3rd |
| 4×200 relay | Fertile-Beltrami | 1:47.53 | 5th |
| 1600 meters | Jade Rypkema (Nevis) | 5:08.53 | 5th |
| 1600 meters | Lindsey Rotz (Barnesv) | 5:15.72 | 7th |
| 4×100 relay | Bagley/Fosston | 51.71 | 8th |
| 4×100 relay | Barnesville | 51.86 | 11th |
| 400 meters | Tatianna Wiley (Pel-Rap) | 59.59 | 9th |
| 400 meters | Marin Roragen (Fer-Bel) | 1:00.37 | 11th |
| 300 hurdles | Brooklyn Brouse (TRF) | 45.38 | 2nd |
| 300 hurdles | Emma Borowicz (Crox) | 46.12 | 4th |
| 800 meters | Lindsey Rotz (Barnesv) | 2:24.23 | 9th |
| 800 meters | Faith Rustad (UCB) | 2:26.76 | 13th |
| 200 meters | Brooklyn Brouse (TRF) | 25.82 | 5th |
| 200 meters | Ava Phrakonkham (B/F) | 26.32 | 10th |
| 4×400 relay | Fertile-Beltrami | 4:04.79 | 2nd |
| 4×400 relay | Pelican Rapids | 4:07.53 | 6th |
| High Jump | Brooklyn Brouse (TRF) | 5-02 | Tie 4th |
| High Jump | Jordan Tschumperlin-Bar | 5-02 | Tie 4th |
| Pole Vault | Kjersten Nelson (DGF) | 9-08 | Tie 4th |
| Pole Vault | Emma Borowicz (Crox) | 9-02 | Tie 10th |
| Long Jump | Tatianna Wiley (Pel Rap) | 17-03 | Tie 8th |
| Long Jump | Hannah Morgan (Par Ra) | 17-02 | 10th |
| Triple Jump | Samantha Passa (Barns) | 34-04 | 12th |
| Triple Jump | Rylee Moore (Frazee) | 33-10 | 14th |
| Discus | Alexis Riniker (DGF) | 110-03 | 13th |
| Discus | Alyssa Oswald (DGF) | 99-03 | 15th |
| Shot Put | Monica Johnson (No-Kel) | 41-2.25 | 2nd |
| Shot Put | Eden Tofibam (Par-Chris) | 35-1.50 | 13th |
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KROX has gone through the Minnesota State High School League Class A State Track meet program and has compiled where all the Section 8A Boys individuals and relay teams are ranked going into the meet on Friday at St. Michael-Albertville High School. All the rankings, the full program, and more is below –
The top nine individuals and relay teams place at state and there will be no finals at this year’s state track meet.
| Boys event | Participant | Result | Seed |
| 4×800 Relay | Park Rapids | 8:15.67 | 1st |
| 4×800 Relay | Thief River Falls | 8:22.97 | 6th |
| 110 hurdles | Peter Vandewege (Ros) | 16.09 | 10th |
| 110 hurdles | Zach McGlynn (WM) | 16.58 | 14th |
| 100 meters | Noah Kiel (Crookston) | 11.47 | 10th |
| 100 meters | Ayo Ogundeji (Nevis) | 11.51 | 11th |
| 4×200 relay | East Grand Forks | 1:33.30 | 8th |
| 4×200 relay | Pelican Rapids | 1:34.18 | 10th |
| 1600 meters | Tyson Mahar (EGF) | 4:29.88 | 5th |
| 1600 meters | Evan Pohl (Nevis) | 4:31.36 | 7th |
| 4×100 relay | Crookston | 45.27 | 11th |
| 4×100 relay | Park Christian | 45.33 | 12th |
| 400 meters | Joshua Finseth (DGF) | 49.84 | 1st |
| 400 meters | Jory Vasek (Fisher) | 49.95 | 3rd |
| 400 meters | Justin Wang (DGF) | 50.41 | 5th |
| 300 hurdles | Blake Biermaier (TRF) | 41.67 | 7th |
| 300 hurdles | Christian Miller (Ada-B) | 43.15 | 16th |
| 800 meters | Jack McNamee (Nevis) | 1:59.98 | 10th |
| 800 meters | Jack McQuown (Clearb) | 2:02.25 | 16th |
| 200 meters | Noah Kiel (Crookston) | 22.50 | 3rd |
| 200 meters | Ayo Ogundeji (Nevis) | 22.79 | 6th |
| 4×400 relay | Thief River Falls | 3:36.31 | 13th |
| 4×400 relay | Park Rapids | 3:36.79 | 16th |
| High Jump | Zach McGlynn (West-M) | 6-01 | tie 4th |
| High Jump | Gerald Melin (RLC) | 5-11 | tie 13th |
| Pole Vault | Gavin Gullickson (WM) | 13-01 | tie 6th |
| Pole Vault | Zach McGlynn (West-M) | 12-01 | 13th |
| Long Jump | Joshua Finseth (DGF) | 21-09 | 3rd |
| Long Jump | Colby Larson (Rothsay) | 21-8.25 | 4th |
| Triple Jump | Joshua Finseth (DGF) | 45-03 | 1st |
| Triple Jump | Kai Ashmoore (WHA) | 41-1.75 | 13th |
| Discus | Tristan Hill (Park Rap) | 155-02 | 5th |
| Discus | Brady Skeim (BGMR) | 132-08 | 16th |
| Shot Put | Tristan Hill (Park Rap) | 47-1.50 | 15th |
| Shot Put | Brady Skeim (BGMR) | 43-3.25 | 16th |
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Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota has announced they are looking at going Division 1 in hockey. While those of us that follow the Northern Sun Conference know they also said four or five years ago they were going Division 1 in all their sports and they haven’t been able to find a conference with St. Thomas moving up and who knows why. So a team that has been telling recruits four four or five years they are going D-1 is still in Division II because…….the Northern Sun Conference is spineless to kick them out.
Now they are saying they are going D-1 in hockey. So maybe 10 years from now they might have a D-1 hockey program. We will see, but I am not holding my breath, especially after how slow the rest of their sports have been to switch to D-1, if they ever do!
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The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The Golden Eagles signed Logan Spencer (RHP, 6-0 160, East Grand Forks/East Grand Forks H.S.), Tucker Holm (RHP/OF, 5-11 170, Hill City/Hill City H.S.), Derek Lindow (LHP, 6-1 175, Nevis/Nevis H.S.), and Jakob Wiirre (RHP, 6-1 185, Mims, Florida/Vermillion Community College). “We feel very fortunate to be able to sign these recruits,” said Head Coach Steve Gust. “They are pieces to the puzzle that we need to be successful both on and off the field. They are talented and passionate about the game and this university. And they can all pitch. We want the depth of our pitching staff to be a strength and not a weakness for next season. These guys give us that and more.” The Golden Eagles are coming off their best season in program history. UMC finished with a 26-12 (18-10 NSIC) mark.
Logan Spencer (RHP, 6-0 160, East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks H.S.)Spencer has competed in baseball, hockey, and football for East Grand Forks H.S. He tossed an eight-inning shutout for his Senior Babe Ruth team blanking the Grand Forks Blue Devils in July of 2020. Spencer pitched for East Grand Forks H.S. in 2019 and 2021. “Logan was targeted as a top recruit a few years ago,” Gust stated. “He flat out is able to pitch. He can command at least two pitches, has a high pitching IQ, and is repeatable with his mechanics. He is just an outstanding athlete and a great student. His commitment to the weight room and our throwing program could help him develop into one of our best in the years to come.”
Tucker Holm (RHP/OF, 5-11 170, Hill City, Minn./Hill City H.S.) Holm was an All-Northern Lakes Conference selection as a sophomore for baseball. He was an All-Northern Lakes Conference Honorable Mention pick in baseball as a freshman. Holm was named All-District for football as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He was a Minnesota Football Honors Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention selection as a senior.
Holm was born October 1, 2002. He plans to major in sports and recreation management. Holm is the son of Chuck and Laurie Holm. His mom played softball at Itasca Community College and his dad has been active on a town ball team for the past 20-plus years. He was a school Valedictorian and an Academic Medal winner. “We are looking for all-around good athletes and Tucker fits the bill,” Gust said. “He can play a position for us but he is very intriguing on the mound. With proper development and maturation, Tucker could be an outstanding player for us in the near future.”
Derek Lindow (LHP, 6-1 175, Nevis, Minn./Nevis H.S.)
Lindow has earned two letters in baseball and is currently competing in 2021 for Nevis H.S. He also played football and basketball for Nevis H.S. As a sophomore, he hit .356 with 26 runs scored, 11 RBIs, and four doubles. On the mound, he went 4-3 with a 1.41 ERA in eight starts. He struck out 66 and walked just 19.
Lindow was born July 25, 2003. He plans to major in accounting at UMC. Lindow is the son of Brent Lindow and Karrin Lindow. “I’ve watched Derek pitch and play ball since he was just a little kid and have been impressed with his development and maturity,” Gust stated. “He has always been athletic but he’s starting to understand what it really takes to be successful. He provides us instant depth as a left-handed pitcher. It will be very interesting to see Derek’s growth and development. He could be a good one for us.”
Jakob Wiirre (RHP, 6-1 185, Mims, Fla./Vermillion C.C.)
Wiire was a Perfect Game All-American. He started his career at Division I Florida A&M University in 2019. As a freshman, he played in 15 games with two starts. He scored one run and had one RBI. In 2021, he competed for Vermillion Community College in Ely. Wiirre hit .402 in 31 games with 23 runs scored, nine doubles, one triple, seven home runs, and 39 RBIs. He also made his debut as a pitcher. Wiirre is 2-2 in 44 innings pitched. He has a 5.32 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 39 walks. Wiirre has tossed one complete game. He earned the high school coaches award and helped Florida A&M to a MEAC Championship in 2019.
He was born Feb. 2, 2001. Wiirre plans to major in healthcare management at UMC. He is the son of Ann and Kris Wiirre. His uncle Tyler Kondos ran track at Bemidji State. He earned the Phi Theta Kappa Scholar Award. “Jakob is another intriguing prospect for us,” Gust said. “He just started pitching this past year and put together a pretty good season for an improved program at Vermillion. He has played at a high level and knows what it takes to be successful. He is committed to doing whatever it takes to help our program. We believe he will continue to develop as a pitcher and might be a two-way player for us.”
The Golden Eagles have signed 16 student-athletes for the 2021 season. The four signees join previous signees: Connor Bushbaum (OF, 5-11 170, Saginaw/South Ridge H.S.), Cameron DeMaria (1B/RHP, 6-7 250, Fresno, Calif./Caruthers H.S.), Nolan Dodds (OF/RHP, 5-11 155, West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne H.S.), Justin Dykhoff (RHP/IF, 6-3 220, Wadena/Minnesota State Community and Technical College), Dalton Garbers (IF/OF, 6-3 225, Sioux Falls, S.D./Sioux Falls Lincoln H.S.), Camdin Miller (IF, 6-2 205, Williston, N.D./Williston State College), Angelo Pacyga (OF, 6-1 185, Sunfish Lake/Saint Thomas Academy), Cam Quinlan (IF, 5-11 155, Cottage Grove/Hill-Murray H.S.), Isaac Roers (RHP, 6-1 170, Stacy/Forest Lake H.S.), Sawyer Satrom (RHP/3B, Portland, N.D./May-Port C.G. H.S.), Americo Sculati (OF, 6-2 190, Golden Valley/Hopkins H.S.), and Max Weber (IF/RHP, St. Paul/Cretin-Derham Hall H.S.).
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The 18th Annual Crookston High School Pirate Pride Golf Scramble will be held Friday, July 9 at Minakwa Golf Course in Crookston.
Registration will start at 9:00 a.m. with a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will be served starting at 11:00.
The cost is $60 per person and includes 18 holes of golf, a t-shirt, sandwich, salad, and chips.
There will be four member teams. Call the clubhouse to reserve a cart (not included). Golfers must be 18 years old or older or graduated from high school to play.
All the proceeds help support Crookston High School Pirate athletics. They will have a raffle again this year so contact a Pirate coach or staff at Minakwa to purchase a raffle ticket.
Pre-registration is encouraged. Contact Steve Kofoed at 320-290-9904 or email stevenkofoed@isd593.org. Leaving a message with your team members is fine.
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The UMC Teambacker Golf Classic Presented by Altru will be held at Minakwa Golf Course in Crookston on Friday, July 16. The 31st annual golf scramble is a five-person team athletic scholarship fundraiser.
If you are interested in competing for the Cup visit z.umn.edu/teambackergc or in becoming a UMC Teambacker contact Derek Martin 218-281-8346 or derekm@umn.edu.
“The Golf Classic Presented by Altru is one of UMC Teambackers most successful fundraising events each year”, said Associate Development Director, Derek Martin. “Each year the winning team is awarded the Altru Cup.” UMC Teambackers is the fundraising arm and directly supports Golden Eagle Athletics at the University of Minnesota Crookston. The goal of Teambackers is to help build an athletic program that will provide a sense of pride, tradition, and legacy in our community, region, and state. Consider becoming a member or purchasing a raffle ticket. They will hold the drawing for the 2021 Teambacker raffle for $5,000 in cash prizes.
As in year’s past, the Golf Classic will once again have the hole-in-one contest on hole four with a $25,000 grand prize. The hole-in-one contest is sponsored by Brost Chevrolet, Noah Insurance, and McKinnon Company. Aaron Horak Farmers Insurance will be the food sponsor and will have a great presence at the event. Thrivent Financial representatives Aaron Meyer and Garret Kollin will be game sponsors this year. Contact Derek Martin to discuss other sponsorship opportunities for this great event.
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JOKES
Two hunters went moose hunting every winter without success. Finally, they came up with a foolproof plan. They got a very authentic female moose costume and learned the mating call of a female moose. The plan was to hide in the costume, lure the bull, then come out of the costume and shoot the bull. They set themselves up on the edge of a clearing, donned their costume and began to give the moose love call. Before long, their call was answered as a bull came crashing out of the forest and into the clearing. When the bull was close enough, the guy in front said, “Okay, let’s get out and get him.” After a moment that seemed like an eternity, the guy in the back shouted, “The zipper is stuck! What are we going to do?” The guy in the front says, “Well, I’m going to start nibbling grass, but you’d better brace yourself.”
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Two little kids are in a hospital, lying on stretchers next to each other, outside the operating room. The first kid leans over and asks, “What are you in here for?”
The second kid says, “I’m in here to get my tonsils out and I’m a little nervous.”
The first kid says, “You’ve got nothing to worry about. I had that done when I was four. They put you to sleep, and when you wake up they give you lots of Jell-O and ice cream. It’s a breeze!”
The second kid then asks, “What are you here for?”
The first kid says, “A circumcision.”
And the second kid says, “Whoa! I had that done when I was born. I couldn’t walk for a year!”
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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 playing professional hockey in Sweden for Vasby IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan league. He will be returning to Sweden in the fall.
Aleece Durbin, is a Junior on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team.
Ben Trostad is playing Club Hockey at UMC.
Ty Hamre is playing Club Hockey at UMC.
Brandon Boetcher is playing Club Hockey at UMC.
Brady Butt is a freshman playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Rachel Hefta, a Sophomore, is playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Nick Garmen is a sophomore playing tennis at the University of Minnesota Morris.
Thea Oman, a sophomore, is swimming at St. Ben’s.
Crookston School District Coaches –
Emily Meyer is a girls hockey and softball assistant coach.
Lacia Hanson is the Junior High softball coach.
Carrie Clauson is a Junior High girls tennis coach.
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 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 –
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown
Kaylee Desrosier is a softball coach for Fargo Davies Middle School.
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 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 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
