SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
I apologize for last week’s column not posting. I was in Washington D.C. for meetings and KROX won the National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Radio Award, the highest honor in radio! I was in meetings all day Tuesday, and on Capitol Hill all day Wednesday and flew home Thursday morning. I didn’t realize the column wasn’t posted until Saturday. Here go, back to the regularly scheduled Sports Feever column.
— — —
The Section 8A Girls Basketball champion Sacred Heart Eagles will take on Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. You can hear the game on KROX Radio with the RiverView Health pre-game show at 4:30 p.m.
Sacred Heart received the #6 seed and takes on the #3 seed Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s.
Sacred Heart is 24-6 on the year and Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s is 29-2 on the year. Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s tallest player is 5’10 and happens to be the only senior on the team. Their two losses are to Mayer Lutheran and Lester Prairie. Sacred Heart is playing their best basketball of the season and has wpm eight games in a row.
#8 seed Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (25-4) takes on #1 seed Goodhue (24-5) at 11:00 a.m.
#5 Cromwell-Wright (25-4) takes on #4 West Central Area (24-6) at 1:00 p.m.
#7 MACCRAY (23-5) takes on #2 Mayer Lutheran (26-3) play at 3:00 p.m.
— — —
The Section 8A Boys Basketball Championship game is set as the Red Lake County Rebels take on the Kittson County Central. Both teams are looking to make their first-ever trip to state!
Red Lake County 28-2 on the year and Kittson Country Central is 22-7.
The teams met twice during the regular season, with Red Lake County winning the first meeting 57-53 on January 21, and KCC winning 63-53 on February 23.
It will be a battle of two outstanding defensive teams. KCC’s Ty Vig (the UND Football commit) is a beast and can shoot the three, drive, and dominate in the paint. Red Lake County has Connor Duden and Owen Chervestad leading the way, along with Will Gieseke. The first two games were great battles, and I only expect the third meeting will be a great game. Who is going to win? It is a toss-up and you can listen to the game on KROX Radio or watch it on KROX TV.
— — —
The Section 8AA Boys Basketball Championship game is set with two teams I predicted to make the championship at the start. Barnesville, who should have been the top seed, and Pelican Rapids (the defending Section champs.
Barnesville is 22-6 on the year, and Pelican Rapids is 23-6 on the year.
The teams played twice during the regular season and Barnesville beat Pelican Rapids 47-41 on January 10 and Barnesville won 78-72 on February 21.
The old saying is….it is hard to beat a team three times in a season, but I am going with Barnesville winning this game.
— —-
Crookston High School grad Matt Lessard‘s son Ian finished 4th place at the State Wrestling tournament at 121 pounds in AAA. Looks like he takes after his old man, maybe a little bit better!!!
What a state wrestling tournament weekend for Fosston/Bagley assistant coach, Clay Thompson. Clay had two sons and two nephews competing in the state individual tournament.
— — —
The Minnesota All Sports Alliance today announced Mason Kraft from Moorhead High School is the recipient of the 41st Annual Mr. Hockey Award given to the outstanding senior high school boys’ hockey player in the state of Minnesota. Leo Gabriel from White Bear Lake High School received The Frank Brimsek Award, in recognition of Minnesota’s top senior goaltender.
The 41st annual Mr. Hockey Awards Banquet was held earlier today at the Saint Paul RiverCentre and hosted by Katie Storm. The Mr. Hockey Award is hosted, coordinated, and presented by the Minnesota All Sports Alliance. The Minnesota Wild sponsors the Mr. Hockey Awards Banquet.
The Mr. Hockey Award is selected by a panel of National Hockey League Scouts, Junior Scouts/Coaches and selected media members from around the state. Finalists for this year’s award were: Nolen Geerdes (Rogers), John Hirschfeld (St. Cloud Cathedral), Mason Jenson (Rogers), Henry Lechner (Holy Angels), Jackson Rudh (St. Thomas Academy), Boden Sampair (Hill-Murray), Cooper Simpson (Shakopee), Brent Solomon(Champlin Park) and Josh Toll (Rosemount). Luke Marsalek (Holy Angels) and Charlie Stenehjem (Moorhead) were the finalists for The Frank Brimsek Award.
Aaron Jamnick (Hibbing) and Jon Ammerman (Moorhead) are the recipients of The John Mariucci Award, given to the Class A and Class AA high school coaches of the year. Joe Dziedzic is the recipient of the eighth annual Mr. Hockey Ambassador Award,given to an influential leader dedicated to the growth and development of hockey in Minnesota.
Previous Mr. Hockey Award winners are Hagen Burrows (2024), Jayson Shaugabay(2023), Max Strand (2022), Jack Peart (2021), Blake Biondi (2020), Bryce Brodzinski(2019), Sammy Walker (2018), Casey Mittelstadt (2017), Riley Tufte (2016), Jake Jaremko (2015), Avery Peterson (2014), Grant Besse (2013), Justin Kloos (2012), Kyle Rau (2011), Nick Bjugstad (2010), Nick Leddy (2009), Aaron Ness (2008), Ryan McDonagh (2007), David Fischer (2006), Brian Lee (2005), Tom Gorowsky (2004), Nate Dey (2003), Gino Guyer (2002), Marty Sertich (2001), Paul Martin (2000), Jeff Taffe (1999), John Pohl (1998), Aaron Miskovich (1997), Dave Spehar (1996), Erik Rasmussen (1995), Mike Crowley (1994), Nick Checco (1993), Brian Bonin (1992), Darby Hendrickson (1991), Joe Dziedzic (1990), Trent Klatt (1989), Larry Olimb (1988), Kris Miller (1987), George Pelawa (1986) and Tom Chorske (1985).
Previous Frank Brimsek Award winners are Kam Hendrickson (2024), Hampton Slukynsky (2023), Ben Dardis (2022), Jack Wieneke (2021), Hudson Hodges (2020), Charlie Glockner (2019), Atticus Kelly (2018), Jake Begley (2017), Nick Althaus (2016), Dyllan Lubbesmeyer (2015), Hunter Shepard (2014), David Zevnik (2013), Michael Bitzer (2012), Alex Lyon (2011), Zane Gothberg (2010), Casey O’Connor(2009), Joe Phillippi (2008), Reid Ellingson (2007), Austin Lee (2006), Alec Richards (2005), Matt Lundin (2004), Jon Anderson (2003), Josh Johnson (2002), Eric Aarnio (2001), Jake Brant (2000), Adam Laaksonen (1999), Adam Coole (1998), Kyle Kolquist (1997), Karl Goehring (1996) and Todd Kelzenberg (1995).
— — —
University of Minnesota Director of Athletics Mark Coyle has announced that the University has parted ways with men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson.
Statement from Mark Coyle
“I met with Ben in-person early this morning when the team returned to Minneapolis from the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament and informed him that we were making a change in leadership. I thanked him for his dedication and for guiding the program, one he cares deeply about, for the last four years. Ben is a terrific person, and we wish him well.
“These decisions are difficult and are made after careful consideration and evaluation. The expectation for our program is to compete for championships, and unfortunately, we have not done that in the last four years.
“This is an extremely desirable job in one of the best conferences and cities in the nation, and we fully expect to compete at the highest level on and off the court. We provide a world-class experience for our student-athletes, have one of the best practice facilities in the nation and play games in a historic venue. We offer everything that is needed to be successful, and we will immediately begin a nationwide search for our next men’s basketball coach.”
— — —
JOKES
An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. “Where would you like to sit?” he asked politely. “The front row please.” she answered. “You really don’t want to do that”, the usher said. “The pastor is really boring.” “Do you happen to know who I am?” the woman inquired.”No.” he said. “I’m the pastor’s mother,” she replied indignantly. “Do you know who I am?” he asked. “No.” she said. “Good,” he answered.
— —
n 85-year-old man was requested by his doctor for a sperm count as part of his physical exam. The doctor gave the man a jar and said, “Take this jar home and bring back a semen sample tomorrow.”
The next day the 85-year-old man reappeared at the doctor’s office and gave him the jar, which was as clean and empty as on the previous day. The doctor asked, what happened and the man explained. “Well, doc, it’s like this–first I tried with my right hand, but nothing. Then I tried with my left hand, but still nothing. Then I asked my wife for help. She tried with her right hand, then with her left, still nothing. She tried with her mouth, first with the teeth in, then with her teeth out, still nothing. We even called up Arleen, the lady next door and she tried too, first with both hands, then an armpit, and she even tried squeezin’ it between her knees, but still nothing.”
The doctor was shocked! “You asked your neighbor?” The old man replied, “
Yep, none of us could get the jar open.”
— —
An old man was sitting on a bench in the mall when a young man with spiked hair came over and sat down beside him. The boy’s hair was yellow, green, orange, and purple. He had black makeup around his eyes. The old man just stared at him.
Finally the boy said, “what’s the matter, old man, haven’t you ever done anything wild in your life?”
The old man thought for a while and answered, “well yes actually, I have, I once got drunk and had sex with a parrot. I was just wondering if you were my son.”
— —
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 an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
Reese Swanson is a freshman playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a freshman playing football at Minot State.
Isabelle Smith is a freshman playing Tennis at Concordia College.
Isaac Thomforde is a freshman playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Emilee Tate is a Sophomore playing Softball at Northland Community and Technical College.
Halle Bruggeman is a Sophomore on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Red-shirt Freshman 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 Sophomore playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Junior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Joslynn Leach is a Senior playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brooks Butt is a Junior playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Ty Hamre is redshirt Junior playing football at Bemidji State University.
Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.
Crookston School District Coaches
Blake Bergeron is the head Pirate Wrestling Coach.
Ben Parkin is the head Pirate Baseball Coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head 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
Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling 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
Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
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 a grad of West Point and currently serving in the U.S. Army.
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.
