SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Sorry for the delay in this weeks column. With games on Monday and Wednesday night, I didn’t have enough time to get the column released early Thursday morning. Enjoy this weeks column!
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Spring sports practices starting the next two weeks –
Baseball – March 20 with a conditioning/throwing start date of March 13.
First possible contest date of March 30 with a maximum of 20 games.
Boys and Girls Golf – March 20 first day of practice.
First possible contest of March 30.
Boys Tennis – March 27 is first day of practice.
First contest day is March 30 with a maximum of 16 contests.
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The Section 8AA Boys Basketball championship game will be on Friday. The Thief River Falls Prowlers take on the Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Rebels.
Thief River Falls won the first meeting during the regular season. TRF won on a controversial no-call, and DGF beat Barnesville by a decent margin.
Both teams have had tremendous seasons and this should be a dandy. Don’t be surprised if it comes down to the final shot of the game.
I am predicting DGF to win by five points, even though TRF will have a much larger crowd. The two schools that show up the best when their team is in the semi-finals and finals in Section 8AA basketball are, by far, Crookston and Thief River Falls. I am cheering for TRF and hope they win, as I love to see the teams from the north knock off the Highway 10 non-hockey schools! I always love an underdog story!
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The Section 8A Boys Basketball tournament has the two top seeds playing for the section championship, with the #1 seed from the East Fosston Greyhounds and the #1 seed from the #1 seed from the West Sacred Heart.
This will be an interesting matchup. Sacred Heart has the best point guard in the section with Josiah Sundby. They also have a plethora of height and athleticism. Fosston has been on a red-hot shooting blitz in the playoffs. They have been solid on the defensive end too.
Carson Boushee for Fosston suffered an ankle injury in the semi-final and that could be a big factor on Friday night.
I am picking Sacred Heart to win by 5 in the championship game.
We will have the game on KROX Radio and on the KROX live stream too with the pre-game show at 6:30 PM.
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Crookston Girls Basketball’s Halle Winjum, a junior point guard, has been named to the Minnesota High School Basketball Coaches Class AA All-State Honorable Mention team.
Winjum played in all 28 games this year and averaged a team-high 20.3 points per game while recording 568 points on the season. She also had a team-high 251 rebounds (9.0 per game), 148 assists (5.3 per game), 109 steals (3.9 per game), and tied for a team-high 18 blocks.
Winjum wrapped up her junior season with the following career numbers-
Points – 1,463
Rebounds – 562
Assists – 471
Steals – 395
Other Section 8AA players named to the all-state honorable mention team were Anna Steer of Hawley and Willow Thiel of Perham.
Section 8A players named to the all-state honorable mention team were Gabrielle Fineday of Cass Lake-Bena, Caitlyn Jacobson of Goodridge/Grygla, and Kaitlyn Vesledahl of Fosston.
For the all-state teams in all four classes, click here.
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The Northwest Basketball Conference announced the Boys and Girls All-Conference awards. The award winners are below –
Girls All-Conference
Crookston – Halle Winjum, Abby Borowicz
East Grand Forks – Alison Kovar, Tatem Votava
Roseau – Kayla Bachleitner, Anya Severson
Thief River Falls – Avah Waldal, Kendal Rantanen, Maren Espe
Warroad – Faith Lilly
Girls All-Conference Honorable mention –
Crookston – Libby Salentine, Emma Gunderson
East Grand Forks – Mya Langerud, Kylee Mattison
Roseau – Brooklyn Hulst, Janna Preteau
Thief River Falls – Sophia Kraemer, Breanna Myers
Girls MVP – Halle Winjum (Crookston)
Girls Team champions – Thief River Falls
Boys All-Conference
Crookston – Tanner Giese, Hunter Nicholas
East Grand Forks – Austin Ruslin, Clyde Anderson, Drew Carpenter
Roseau – Gunnar Lund, Jordan Borowicz
Thief River Falls – Jack Manning, Caleb Rosendahl, Jack Rosendahl, Jesse McDougal, Jack Friedrich
Warroad – Kason Piutruszewski
Boys All-Conference Honorable Mention –
Crookston – Ryan Abeld, Isaac Thomforde
East Grand Forks – Caleb Zejdlik
Roseau – Max Wilson
Warroad – Liam Grover
Boys MVP – Jack Manning (Thief River Falls)
Boys Coach of the Year – Jonathan Hams (Thief River Falls)
Boys Team Champions – Thief River Falls
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11 student-athletes from Minnesota State University have been named NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award Winners and Crookston High School graduate Emma Borowicz was one of the Mavericks to receive the prestigious honor!.
The honor, which is named for the late NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand, is bestowed to NSIC student-athletes who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher, are exhausting their eligibility and are on track to graduate. Each student-athlete will be recognized by the NSIC with a certificate of achievement and a wristwatch.
Minnesota State’s 11 recipients represent six different sports and include: Nicole Beckman (Swimming & Diving – Communications Disorders), Eve Berg (Swimming & Diving – Nursing), Emma Borowicz (Track & Field – Exercise Science), Carah Dress (Women’s Basketball – Biology: Biomedical Sciences), Brenna Hesse (Volleyball – Management), Tia Martin (Soccer – Exercise Science; Psychology), Carter Owen (Track & Field/Cross Country – Aviation), Julie Stegmaier (Swimming & Diving, Psychology), Samantha Sunnaborg (Track & Field – Physics); MaKenna Thurston (Track & Field/Cross Country – Psychology; Sport Management) and Jenny Vetter (Soccer – Biology: Biomedical Sciences).
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The 2022-23 North Star Conference awards have been announced. The conference consists of 10 teams: Badger/Greenbush-Middle River, Clearbrook-Gonvick, Goodridge/Grygla, Kittson County Central, Northern Freeze, Red Lake County, Sacred Heart, Stephen-Argyle, Roseau, and Warren-Alvarado-Oslo.
Awards:
Conference Champions: Northern Freeze
Conference Coach of the Year: Sean Spilde-Northern Freeze
Jay Sorenson Award: Will McGlynn-Stephen-Argyle
Conference Most Outstanding Player: Josiah Sundby-Sacred Heart
All-Conference:
BGMR – Zachary Blawat
Clearbrook-Gonvick – Logan Westrum
Goodridge/Grygla – Lewis Jones, Blake Rychlock
Northern Freeze – Ryder Blazejewski
Red Lake County – Gerald Melin, Owen Chervestad
Sacred Heart – Josiah Sundby, Ethan Arnston
Stephen-Argyle – Will McGlynn
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo – Tyson Mortimer, Jackson Woinarowicz
Honorable Mention:
Northern Freeze – Everett Nelson
Sacred Heart – Landen Denney, Parker Erickson
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The Northern Galaxy Girls Basketball Conference has announced the conference awards and all-conference team.Members of the conference are Sacred Heart, Kittson County Central, Goodridge/Grygla, Warren-Alvarado-Oslo, Stephen-Argyle, Red Lake Falls, Northern Freeze, and Red Lake County Central.
2023 team champions – Sacred Heart
Offensive Player of the Year – Caitlyn Jacobson (Goodridge/Grygla)
Co-Defensive Player of the year – Caitlyn Jacobson (GG) and Morgan Turn (KCC)
Coach of the Year – Michael Mathison (Sacred Heart)
All-Conference –
Red Lake Falls – Shandi Nelson, Gabby Casavan
Goodridge/Grygla – Sadie Anderson, Caitlyn Jacobson
Kittson County Central – Ella Olson, Morgan Turn
Sacred Heart – Isabel Vonesh, Lydia Riskey
Warren-A-O – Hannah Pederson
Northern Freeze – Rylie Klopp
Stephen-Argyle – Regan Swanson
Honorable Mention –
Red Lake Falls – Alexis Swendra
Goodridge/Grygla – Kylie Delage
Kittson County Central – Aidra Johnson
Sacred Heart – Leah Sundby, Alexis Lawrence
Warren-A-O – Kylie Nelson, Annika Magnusson
Northern Freeze – Addison Bakke, Kaydence Augustine
Stephen-Argyle – Liv Efta, Tessa Durand
Red Lake County Central – Marissa Thomas
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The Minnesota All Sports Alliance announced Jayson Shaugabay from Warroad High School is the recipient of the 39th Annual Mr. Hockey Award given to the outstanding senior high school boys’ hockey player in the state of Minnesota. Hampton Slukynsky from Warroad High School received The Frank Brimsek Award, in recognition of Minnesota’s top senior goaltender. Matt Cullen is the recipient of the six annual Mr. Hockey Ambassador Award, given to an influential leader dedicated to the growth and development of hockey in Minnesota.
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: Finn Brink (Maple Grove), Chase Cheslock (Rogers), Cooper Conway (Andover), Tommy Cronin (St. Thomas Academy), Jake Fisher (Cretin-Derham Hall), Tyler Hennen (Kittson County Central), Ryan Koering (Eden Prairie), Sam Ranallo (Rogers) and Gavyn Thoreson (Andover). Robbie Clarkowski (Edina) and Will Ingemann (Wayzata) were finalists for The Frank Brimsek Award.
Mike Luckraft (Northfield) and Wes Bolin (Woodbury) were the recipients of The John Mariucci Award, given to the Class A and Class AA high school coaches of the year.
Previous Mr. Hockey Award winners are 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 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).
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“LACE ‘EM UP” BASKETBALL CAMP
Make plans now to attend the 28th annual “Lace ‘em Up” basketball camp to be held in Red Lake Falls high school at the Robert Matzke Gym from June 5-8, 2023.
The camp is open to any boys or girls who are currently in grades K-10. The camp is set up to run from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 for grades 5-10 (grade they were in this past school year) each morning, and from 12:30 until 3:00 p.m. for grades K-4 (grade they were in this past school year). The cost of the camp is $70 with a maximum cost per family of $100. If you register before May 22, you will also receive a camp T-shirt. After May 22, ALL SINGLE REGISTRATION FEES WILL BE $80 AND THE MAXIMUM COST PER FAMILY WILL BE $120, DUE TO CAMP PREPARATION AND AWARD ORDERS.
Cut on the dotted line and return the following to: Steve Philion, 518 Champagne Ave., Red Lake Falls, MN 56750. (cell: 218-686-3608) (home: 218-253-2499). E-mail: sphilion@rlfedu.org
Make checks payable to: Lace ‘em Up Basketball Camp
If anyone needs help with the cost of the camp, let Mr. Philion know as we have people who have offered to cover costs for kids that need financial help.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Name____________________________________
Grade in 2022-2023________________ (GRADE JUST COMPLETED)
T-shirt sizes: Please circle one:
Youth sizes: EXTRA SMALL SMALL MEDIUM LARGE
Adult sizes: SMALL MEDIUM LARGE X-LARGE XX-LARGE
Address:________________________________________________
MALE____________ FEMALE____________
I, the parent of the above student agree to allow my child to participate in the 2023 “Lace ‘em Up” basketball camp in Red Lake Falls. I also understand that the camp director, the City of RLF, and the RLF school district are not responsible for any injuries, accidents, or COVID that my child might incur.
SIGNATURE OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN:______________________________
Emergency cell number of parent or guardian:____________________________
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The Crookston Youth Basketball Association tournament is being held March 24-26, 2023, and teams can register through the Tourney Machine App or by following this link: CYBA Tournament Registration.
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JOKES
We have a lot of Irish-themed jokes in honor of St. Patricks Day!
An Irishman’s first drink with his son: “While reading an article last night about fathers and the sons, memories came flooding back to the time I took me son out for his first pint.
“Off we went to our local pub only two blocks from the cottage.
“I got him a Guinness. He didn’t like it, so I drank it.
“Then I got him a Kilkenny’s, he didn’t like that either, so I drank it. Finally, I thought he might like some Harp Lager?
“He didn’t. I drank it.
“I thought maybe he’d like whisky better than beer so we tried a Jameson’s; nope!
“In desperation, I had him try that rare Redbreast , Ireland ‘s finest whisky.
“He wouldn’t even smell it.
“What could I do but drink it!
“By the time I realized he just didn’t like to drink, I was so shit-faced I could hardly push his stroller back home!”
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Irish Confession:
“I went into the confessional box after many years of being away from the Catholic Church.
“Inside I found a fully equipped bar with Guinness on tap. On one wall, there was a row of decanters with fine Irish whiskey and Waterford crystal glasses.
“On the other wall was a dazzling array of the finest cigars and chocolates.
“When the priest came in, I said to him, ‘Father, forgive me, for it’s been a very long time since I’ve been to confession, but I must first admit that the confessional box is much more inviting than it used to be.”
He replied, “You moron, you’re on my side.”
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Some Light Dublin Traffic Humor
A car full of Irish nuns is sitting at a traffic light in downtown Dublin when a bunch of rowdy drunks pull up alongside of them.
“Hey, show us yer teets, ya bloody penguins” shouts one of the drunks. Quite shocked, Mother Superior turns to Sister Mary Immaculata and says, “I don’t think they know who we are; show them your cross.”
Sister Mary Immaculata rolls down her window and shouts, “Piss off, ya fookin’ little wankers, before I come over there and rip yer balls off.” She then rolls up her window, looks back at Mother Superior quite innocently, and asks, “Did that sound cross enough?”
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AN IRISH BLONDE IN A CASINO:
An attractive blonde from Cork, Ireland arrived at the casino. She seemed a little intoxicated and bet twenty-thousand Euros on a single roll of the dice.
She said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I feel much luckier when I’m completely naked.”
With that, she stripped from the neck down, rolled the dice and with an Irish brogue yelled, “Come on, baby, Mama needs new clothes!”
As the dice came to a stop, she jumped up and down and squealed: “YES! YES! I WON, I WON!”
She hugged each of the dealers and then picked up her winnings (and her clothes) and quickly departed.
The dealers stared at each other dumbfounded. Finally, one of them asked, “What did she roll?”
The other answered, “I don’t know – I thought you were watching the dice.”
MORAL OF THE STORY:
Not all Irish are drunks. Not all blondes are dumb.
But all men….are men.
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Mick says to Paddy: “Close your curtains the next time you’re shagging your wife. The whole street was watching and laughing at you yesterday.”
Paddy says: “Well the joke’s on them stupid bastards, because I wasn’t even home yesterday.”
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Paddy & Mick find three grenades, so they decide to take them to a police station.
Mick: “What if one explodes before we get there?”
Paddy: “We’ll lie and say we only found two.”
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Mick goes to the vet with his goldfish. “I think it’s got epilepsy”, he tells the vet. Vet takes a look and says, “It seems calm enough to me”.
Mick says, “I haven’t taken it out of the bowl yet”.
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Paddy spies a letter lying on his doormat. I t says on the envelope: “DO NOT BEND “.
Paddy spends the next 2 hours trying to figure out how to pick the bloody thing up.
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Paddy was driving home, drunk as a skunk, suddenly he has to swerve to avoid a tree, then another, then another. A cop car pulls him over as he veers about all over the road. Paddy tells the cop about all the trees in the road.
Cop says: “For God’s sake Paddy, that’s your air freshener swinging about!”
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Reilly went to trial for armed robbery. The jury foreman came out and announced, ‘Not guilty.’
‘That’s grand!’ shouted Reilly. ‘Does that mean I can keep the money?’
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An old Irish farmer’s dog goes missing and he’s inconsolable.
His wife says: “Why don’t you put an ad in the paper?”
The farmer does. Two weeks later the dog is still missing.
“What did you put in the paper?” his wife asks.
“Here boy” he replies.
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Paddy’s in jail. The Guard looks in his cell and sees him hanging by his feet.
“What the hell you doing?” he asks.
“Hanging myself,” Paddy replies.
“It should be around your neck,” says the Guard.
“I know,” says Paddy, “but I couldn’t breathe.”
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A tourist asks an Irishman: “Why do Scuba divers always fall backwards off their boats?”
To which the Irishman replies: “If they fell forwards, they’d still be in the bloody boat.”
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Murphy told Quinn that his wife was driving him to drink.
Quinn thinks he’s very lucky because his own wife makes him walk.
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Mrs. Feeney shouted from the kitchen, ‘Is that you I hear spittin’ in the vase on the mantle piece?’
‘No,’ said himself, ‘but I’m gettin’ closer all the time.’
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Finnegan: My wife has a terrible habit of staying up ’til two o’clock in the morning. I can’t break her out of it.
Keenan: What on earth is she doin’ at that time?
Finnegan: Waitin’ for me to come home.
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Slaney phoned the maternity ward at the hospital. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Send an ambulance, my wife is goin’ to have a baby!’
‘Tell me, is this her first baby?’ the intern asked.
‘No, this is her husband, Kevin, speakin.’
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Did you hear about the Irish newlyweds who sat up all night on their honeymoon waiting for their sexual relations to arrive?
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My Mother wanted me to be a priest. Can you imagine giving up your sex life; and then once a week people come in to tell you the details and highlights of theirs?
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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
Breanna Kressin is a Freshman on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Emma Osborn is a freshman playing basketball at Northland Technical and Community College in Thief River Falls.
Jacey Larson is a freshman playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Olivia Huck is a freshman playing soccer at Minnesota State Moorhead.
Aleah Bienek is a freshman playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Elise Tangquist is the Assistant Girl’s Volleyball and Assistant Girl’s Golf Coach this year at Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove.
Kaleb Thingelstad is a sophomore playing golf at Dakota Wesleyan.
Joslynn Leach is a sophomore playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brady Butt is a Junior playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Ty Hamre is playing football at Bemidji State University.
Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Norway.
Kate MacGregor is 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 –
Ben Parkin is the head Pirate Baseball Coach.
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/Admin/etc –
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.
Katy Westrom is the Head Girl’s 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 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.
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.
