SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
We are down to a little over a week left of the 2026 Minnesota High School Sports season with state baseball and golf going on next week. The weather has been great the past two weeks. Hopefully it will continued into next week. Good luck to all teams and individuals still competing.
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We have mixed emotions on the news of Josh Hardy handing in his resignation as the head Crookston Pirate Boys Hockey Coach. I am jealous that he is stepping away from the job to spend more time with his kids. It is the biggest regret I have with my job……I wish I could go back and spend more time with them. You don’t get those years back. I think that is why being a grandparent becomes such a special and important role!!!! We finally realize how fast time goes and you don’t get those years back. On the other side…I am happy for Josh to be able to do that and get to spend time with his family. He has been great to work with and always fun to talk with over the years. Hardy shared his reasons for the resignation and the message is below-
After 13 incredible years with the Pirate Boys Hockey program-the last 10 of which I’ve had the honor of serving as Head Coach—I have decided that it is time to step back and prioritize time with my family.
I am incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished together, both on and off the ice. From section playoff wins to being named section academic champions, this program has truly become the epitome of what high school athletics should be. One of my proudest achievements has been our community’s impact through our Pirate Hockey Fights Cancer games, where we raised over $80,000 for local individuals and organizations.
I want you to know that this decision does not come lightly. Pirate Boys Hockey has been my life for the last decade. Every spare moment has been spent on what we can do as a team, how I can help individual players, and how we can teach lessons to support our players in the future. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to coach the Pirates, but it’s now time for me to devote that energy to my own family as they navigate their athletic journeys.
Eamon (9), Jasper (7), and Emerson (5) are just getting started, but l’ve already felt that I’ve sacrificed too much time with them, and that will only increase as they continue to grow as they get older. Now is the time for me to devote my time and energy to them. So while I’m stepping down as Head Coach at Crookston High School, I’m certainly not stepping away from the rink. I’m looking forward to continuing coaching and supporting them and their peers at the youth level, and helping to develop the next group of Pirates that will put on the Navy and Gold in the next decade.
There are so many thank yous to give, but first and foremost, I want to thank my wife, Cristin, for the unwavering support over the years. She’s my best friend and has sacrificed lots of time and energy to support my dream of coaching high school hockey, and I couldn’t have done it without her.
My assistant coach, Connor Morgan, who has been by my side for the last 10 years and truly been one of my best friends in that time. He has challenged me to not only be a better coach but a better person. I’m so grateful for the time we had together coaching and couldn’t be prouder of the coach you’ve become in that time.
Sam Melbye, Ethan Magsam, Ben Trostad, and Wyatt Ecklund who have all been assistants throughout my time. Their passion and care for the Pirate Hockey program are second to none, and I was blessed to be able to work with them.
Joel Gasper, for taking me on as an assistant back in 2013 without ever meeting me. Hockey is a small world, and I will always remember that phone call from you while driving, and how excited I was to get started. That small act led to where I am today, and I’m forever grateful for that.
Greg Garmen, Nate Lubarski, and Evan Pederson for always supporting the vision we had for Pirate Hockey, and Greg for entrusting me to be the head coach as a young 26-year-old who really wasn’t sure he knew anything about leading a group of young men; he always believed in and supported me.
KROX and Chris Fee, for always supporting Pirate Hockey and giving me a platform to talk about the amazing things our players have done. From the legend Frank Fee to Gabe Bishop, the coverage you have provided has been fantastic, and I always enjoyed spending time with you guys!
The Parents who stepped into roles leading Hot Stove Hockey, our hockey fundraising group. We couldn’t have run our program the way we did without your support. You always did right by the kids, and for that I’m forever grateful.
Our alumni group is the best in the state, organizing our golf tournament every year, which is our number one fundraiser, and I’m so grateful not only for the fundraising but for the opportunity to see former players every year—it’s truly a family reunion, and I love being a part of this family.
To the players who have played for me over the last 13 years, thank you. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for giving me grace as I grew as a coach and a man. I love each and every one, and it was an absolute pleasure and privilege to coach you.
To the other coaches in Section 8, thank you for the friendship and the support over the years. I learned so much from each of you and wish you continued success in the future!
Finally, Mom and Dad, thank you for supporting me just like you did when I was a player and for being a sounding board when I needed one! As we have said for years, we want to leave a legacy, and I’m hopeful that the legacy I left on the Pirate Hockey program was that as a coach, I cared for each and every player regardless of skill and wanted what was best for them. I’m so excited to spend the next decade watching the Pirates compete and working with the future Pirates, like Eamon, Jasper, and Emerson to ensure that we continue this legacy of excellence on and off the ice.
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Two new proposed activities were approved and another was tabled for additional input by the Member Schools when the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors met on Tuesday, June 2 for its final scheduled meeting of the 2025-2026 school year.
After more than a year of information-sharing, analyzing data and engaging discussion, the Board of Directors approved Esports and Girls Dual Wrestling as the League’s two newest activities.
- Esports was approved as a Presenting Partner. The activity is operated through Fenworks, a Grand Forks, N.D.-based technology company that provides after-school curriculum and competitive leagues. The 2026-2027 school year will be a shadow year as League Staff works closely with Fenworks in preparation for the League’s championship presentation in 2027-2028. Under the Presenting Partnership model, the League would be responsible for one championship event, like Robotics and Clay Target. Esports is projected to be a 10-week regular winter season, followed by a regional playoff and then an in-person state championship. More than 100 Member Schools currently report their participation in Esports.
- Girls Dual Wrestling was approved into Emerging Status, the step prior to becoming a fully sanctioned sport. Girls currently participate with boys in League wrestling programs during dual competitions. Some schools have scheduled girls dual wrestling meets, as permitted by League policy which currently allows teams to schedule up to eight girls-only events that do not count toward the team limit of 16. The League also sanctions a postseason girls division in the individual wrestling tournament. When a sport is granted Emerging Status, it is a transition phase of two to five years, during which the League studies program stability, logistics and planning for implementation.
- Girls Flag Football, organized and jointly operated by the Minnesota Vikings and the Girls Football Advisory Committee, was also seeking Emerging Status for the 2026-2027 school year. In review of the proposal, the Board of Directors approved tabling the proposal to provide additional time and input from the Member Schools for the purpose of more clearly defining the playing rules and scheduling of contests when it moves into emerging status. Discussions continue with Vikings representatives to clearly establish the most effective model of the sport should it be approved for Emerging Status. This proposal will be an Action Item at the October Board of Directors meeting onOctober 2026. In the 2025 season, there were 51 teams and 1,786 participants. During the 2026 season, the number of registered teams grew to 104.
“For more than a year, and in some cases longer, the Board of Directors have been greatly engaged and thorough in discussing and analyzing the Emerging Activities and Presenting Partner processes,” said Board of Directors President Brent Schimek, the Activities Director at Deer River. “The board is excited to see Esports added as a Presenting Partnership and Girls Dual Wrestling continue its journey toward full sanctioning, and with Girls Flag Football, we want to make sure the Member Schools have greater clarity on the sport’s model of implementation and ample opportunity to share feedback.”
In other Action Items, the Board of Directors:
- Approved a Winter Activity Advisory Proposal for Girls Hockey Classification that would be an even split of teams in Class A and Class AA beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.
- Approved the final draft in the creation of a Bylaw and Policy Review Committee. The next step is to recruit members to establish the committee.
The Board of Directors also affirmed the Executive Committee’s approvals on the following actions:
- Approval of Application for Membership by Paladin Career and Technical High School, and Career Pathways.. Those applicants will become new Member Schools during the 2026-2027 school year.
- Approval of White Bear Lake Area and Roseville Area high schools to host the Girls and Boys Lacrosse State Tournaments.
“This board has been highly engaged in its service on behalf of the Member Schools,” Schimek said. “I’m really proud of them for the professionalism, servantry and commitment to the League’s core values and strategic directions that they have displayed throughout the year.”
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The Minnesota State High School League State Track meet will be held this weekend at St. Michael-Albertville High School. I have the Section 8A entrants’ ranks coming into the state meet.
100 meter hurdles (18 entries)
18. Kaylee Pieper (LOW) – 16.75
19. Taylor Henry (Northome/Kelliher) 16.31
110 Meter Hurdles (17 entries)
11. Samuel Olson (United Clay-Becker) 15.67
13. Sammy Durand (West Marshall) 15.69
GIrls 100 meters (17 entries)
5. Azariah Ogundeji (Nevis) 12.40
8. Katrina Hitchen (Fertile-Beltrami) 12.46
13. Claire Klinkhammer (Bagley/Fosston) 12.63
Boys 100 meters (27 entries!!!!!!)
1. Leif Shervey (United Clay-Becker) 10.51
15. Brydin Daniel (Bagley/Fosston) 11.12
19. Logan Giese (Park Christian) 11.20
26. Karch Fraizer (Walker-H-A) 11.28
Boys 100 meter Wheelchair (4 entries)
2. Alex Gullingsrud (Red Lake County) 23.24
4. Ethan Avritt (Park Rapids) 2:02.36
Girls 1600 meters (24 entries)
19. Emelia Arntson (Climax-Fisher/Sacred Heart) 5:24.23
21. Annie Peterson (West Marshall0 5:25.28
Boys 1600 meters (18 entries)
16. Asher Bervig (Park Rapids) 4:37.85
17. Gwen Winter (DGF) 4:42.55
Boys 1600 meter Wheelchair (1 entry)
1. Alex Gullingsrud (Red Lake County) 6:04.86
Girls 4×200 Relay (16 entries)
3. West Marshall 1:44.88
14. Nevis 1:48.68
Boys 4×200 Relay (17 entries)
4. United Clay-Becker 1:30.43
14. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 1:31.65
Girls 4×100 Relay (18 entries)
10. West Marshall 50.31
14. Park Christian 50.70
Boys 4×100 Relay (20 entries)
10. Park Christian 43.37
17. Park Rapids 44.36
Girls 400 meters (17 entries)
4. Katrina Hitchen (Fertile-Beltrami) 58.60
5. Annika Aakre (Park Christian) 58.68
Boys 400 meters (21 entries)
11. Evan Schenck (United Clay-Becker) 50.64
19. Park Christian (Park Christian) 52.17
Girls 300 hurdles (16 entries)
8. Grace Officer (Park Rapids) 46.25
16. Annika Adolphson (West Marshall) 47.67
Boys 300 hurdles (19 entries)
14. Samuel Olson (United Clay-Becker) 41.58
17. William Strandberg (Bagley/Fosston) 42.21
Girls 800 meters (17 entries)
15. Allison Lundin (Northome/Kelliher) 2:22.93
16. Hannah Fonder (Bagley/Fosston) 2:24.40
Boys 800 meters (19 entries)
16. Asher Munstenteiger (Roseau) 2:04.30
17. Joseph Jensen (Park Christian) 2:04.56
Girls 200 meters (16 entries)
9. Azariah Ogundeji (Nevis) 25.75
14. Kenley Marquis (West Marshall) 26.00
Boys 800 meters (18 entries)
3. Leif Shervey (United Clay-Becker) 21.66
6. Bryndin Daniel (Bagley/Fosston) 22.30
Boys 800 meters Wheelchair (1 entry)
1. Alex Gullingsrud (Red Lake County) 3:05.26
Girls 3200 meters (19 entries)
18. Emelia Arntson (Climax-Fisher/Sacred Heart) 12:07.55
19. Linnea Harren (Warroad) 12:08.71
Boys 3200 meters (18 entries)
8. Christian Thorson (Park Rapids) 9:58.51
13. Jack Mitteness (Park Rapids) 10:10.96
Girls 4×400 Relay (16 entries)
11. Fertile-Beltrami 4:08.52
16. Park Rapids 4:10.80
Boys 4×400 Relay (20 entries)
14. Park Rapids 3:30.02
15. Bagley/Fosston 3:30.41
Girls 4×800 Relay (18 entries)
11. United Clay-Becker 9:50
18. Roseau 10:03.09
Boys 4×800 Relay (16 entries)
3. Park Rapids 8:15.11
8. United Clay-Becker 8:24.94
Girls Long Jump (20 entries)
15. Annika Aakre (Park Christian) 16-11
18. Azariah Ogundeji (Nevis) 16-01
Bpys Long Jump (26 entries)
10. Caden Pagnac (West Marshall) 21-05
11. Raydon Woinarowicz (West Marshall0 21-04
16. Isaac Jacobson (Park Christian) 21-02.25
Girls Triple Jump (23 entries)
9. Ellie Sosa (DGF) 35-09.50
15. Natalie Aakre (Park Christian) 35-03.75
Boys Triple Jump (18 entries)
3. Gavin McArthur (Mahnomen/Waubun) 44-03.50
13. Ethan Whitaker (Walker-H-A) 42-07
Girls Pole Vault (17 entries)
1. Markelle Pederson (West Marshall) 11-0
6. Chloe Boll (Crookston) 10-02
Boys Pole Vault (27 entries!!!!!)
7. Hayden Rettke (Walker-H-A) 13-04
17. Makoti Weber (Crookston) 12-10
Girls High Jump (21 entries)
2. Annika Aakre (Park Christian) 5-07
21. Kaydence White (Kittson Co. Central) 4-11
Boys High Jump (25 entries)
4. Ethan Buckholtz (Nevis) 6-06
6. John Forrest (LOW) 6-04
10. Isaac Jacobson (Park Christian) 6-04
Girls Shot Put (20 entries)
6. Aria Garrett (DGF) 37-11
7. Emily Marquis (West Marshall) 37-08.50
9. Atarah Tofibam (Park Christian) 37-00.50
Boys Shot Put (20 entries)
19. Jack Rosenau (DGF) 45-04
20. Nolan Dale (DGF) 45-02
Boys Shot Put Wheelchair (2 entries)
Nobody from Section 8A
Girls Discus (22 entries)
1. Emily Marquis (West Marshall) 135-08
6. Aria Garrett (DGF) 127-08
10. Sarah Hartung (Park Rapids) 123-04
Boys Discus (20 entries)
6. Trenton Frazier (Bagley/Fosston) 153-09
20. Logan Giese (Park Christian) 138-00
Boys Discus Wheelchair (2 entries)
2. Alex Gullingsrud (Red Lake County) 41-03
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The state Softball Tournament has the consolation championship and third place games today. The state championship will be held on Friday at the University of Minnesota.
Red Lake Falls is assured themselves of the best finish in school history. This is the sixth trip to state for the Eagles and they are playing BOLD for third place today (Thursday, June 4) at 1:30 PM. KROX will have the game on the radio.
Red Lake Falls had a tough loss in the semi-finals, and now they look to wrap up the outstanding season with a win, third-place medals, and a team trophy.
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It has been a tremendous spring for the Red Lake Falls/Red Lake County spring sports, with the Red Lake County Rebel baseball team taking on the Bagley Flyers in the championship game at 2:00 PM today. The defending section and state champs were the heavy favorite coming into the season, and proved they are the real deal. It is complete yet as they will take on a very good and young Bagley team. Bagley, in the next three years, will have a great chance to go to state and should, but this year isn’t the year as Red Lake County should win, and I am predicting an 8-1 victory to advance back to St. Cloud for the state tournament.
The State Baseball tournament will be held on June 11 and 12 at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud. If you make it to the championship, you would play on June 15 at 10:00 a.m. We will have more on state baseball next week.
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The State Boys Tennis Individual tournament gets underway today in Minneapolis.
Crookston’s doubles team of Reggie Winjum and Grant Funk take on the Breck School’s Enzo Petto and Grey Macmillan at 10:00 a.m. If they win, they will likely take on the top seed from St. Paul Academy. It is a tough draw.
Thief River Falls’ Jett Cornelius takes on Ace Frank of the Breck School. If he wins, he would likely take on the #3 seed in the second round.
In the team tournament, Minnewaska Area lost to #3 seed Rock Ridge 7-0 and lost to Litchfield 4-3 in the consolation semifinals and were eliminated.
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Section 8AA Golf went as expected as the Detroit Lakes Lakers will advance to the state tournament again this year. Crookston’s Garrett Fischer will make his first state tournament appearance. Below is the state tournament schedule –
Boys and Girls Golf State Tournament Schedule
June 9-10, 2026
Class A: Pebble Creek Golf Club – 14000 Clubhouse Lane, Becker, MN 55308
Class AA: Ridges at Sand Creek – 21775 Ridges Drive, Jordan, MN 55352
Class AAA: Bunker Hills – 12800 Bunker Prairie Rd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448
Monday, June 8 – Practice Rounds
Tuesday, June 9 is the first round
Wednesday, June 10 is the second roud
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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
My wife asked why I spoke so softly in the house.
I said I was afraid Mark Zuckerberg was listening!
She laughed.
I laughed.
Alexa laughed. Siri laughed.
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An old man who loves to fish, was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say, “Pick me up.”
He looked around and couldn’t see any one. He thought he was dreaming when he heard the voice say again, “Pick me up.”
He looked in the water and there, floating on the top, was a frog.
The man said, “Are you talking to me?”
The frog said, “Yes, I’m talking to you. Pick me up. Then, kiss me and I’ll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I’ll then give you more sexual pleasure that you ever could have dreamed of.”
The man looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up carefully, and placed it in his front breast pocket.
Then the frog said, “What, are you nuts? Didn’t you hear what I said? I said kiss me and I will give you sexual pleasures like you have never had.”
He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said, “Nah, at my age I’d rather have a talking frog.”
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A priest and a taxi driver both died and went to heaven. St. Peter was at the Pearly gates waiting for them.
‘Come with me’, said St. Peter to the taxi driver.
The taxi driver did as he was told and followed St. Peter to a mansion. It had anything you could imagine from a bowling alley to an olympic size pool.
‘Wow, thank you’, said the taxi driver.
Next, St. Peter led the priest to a rugged old shack with a bunk bed and a little old television set.
‘Wait, I think you are a little mixed up’, said the priest. ‘Shouldn’t I be the one who gets the mansion? After all I was a priest, went to church every day, and preached God’s word.’
‘Yes, that’s true. But during your sermons people slept. When the taxi driver drove, everyone prayed.’
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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..
