SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
We finally got the website back up and running at full strength and moved to a new server!!!! Now we are in the process of having the website tuned up, and upgraded in some areas while the design will stay mostly the same. We are with a new company now that will keep our site up to date and make improvements as needed every month. Long overdue, but I finally made the switch, and I am excited about it.
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The 13th Annual Pirate/Blue Wave Boys Hockey Alumni Golf Outing is scheduled for June 3, 2023.
On Saturday, June 3, they will be hosting an 18-hole golf scramble starting at 11:00 AM with lunch provided at Minakwa Golf Course. Registration for golf is limited to the first 20 – five-person teams, so please sign up early. The cost for golf is $85/person or $25/person if you graduated from Crookston High School or Sacred Heart High School from 2019-2023, which includes pizza at I.C. Muggs. We are also selling $100 raffle tickets (only 200 tickets available) with an $8,000 winner. If you are interested in the $100 raffle, please contact Sam Melbye (melbs98@hotmail.com) for tickets.
They accept payments for golf through PayPal and Venmo (@CrookstonHockey). Click on the link, and you will be directed to a secure PayPal site to complete the transaction.
Golf Registration $85 payment
https://py.pl/lSKoFkEMzz
High School Grad 2019-2023 Golf Registration $25 payment
https://py.pl/4b9kKfw2rdp
QR Code to customize your payment amount
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University of Minnesota Crookston baseball player Jake Hjelle (Jr., East Grand Forks) was named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Central Region Player of the Year. Hjelle is the second player in program history to earn Central Region Player of the Year honors. His brother Reed Hjelle was named ABCA/Rawlings Central Region Player of the Year in 2018.
Hjelle hit .401 on the year while playing in 57 games with 56 runs scored, 16 doubles, four triples, 24 home runs, and 79 RBI. The NSIC Player of the Year added 14 stolen bases at an 82.4% success rate. Hjelle had 23 multi-hit games and enjoyed seven multi-homer contests throughout the season.
Missouri Southern State’s Cole Woods was selected NCBWA Central Region Pitcher of the Year, while University of Central Missouri boss Kyle Crookes was named NCBWA Central Region Coach of the Year.
Hjelle was named NCBWA All-Central Region First Team. He was joined on the first team by Mike Hallquist (Jr., Fargo, N.D.). Hallquist hit a team-high .406, with 73 runs scored, 20 doubles, four triples, 22 home runs, and 65 RBI.
Josh Dykhoff (Fr., Wadena), Alex Koep (Sr., Parkers Prairie), and Jake Dykhoff (Sr., Wadena) were all selected NCBWA All-Central Region Second Team.
Josh Dykhoff hit .335, with 57 runs scored, 15 doubles, 15 home runs, and 53 RBI. On the mound, Josh was 3-2 with a 6.50 ERA in 36 innings pitched. He struck out 27 and walked nine.
Jake Dykhoff went 8-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 80.1 innings pitched. He struck out a team-high 107 with 18 walks.
Koep, the NSIC Pitcher of the Year, went 7-1 with a 2.43 ERA in 63 innings. Opponents hit just .167 against Koep. He struck out 77 and walked 31.
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The Section 8A Boys Tennis tournament will run Monday, May 22, 23, and 24 in Crookston.
TEAMS
Thief River Falls (Heavy favorite to win)
Crookston
East Grand Forks
Fergus Falls
New London-Spicer
Minnewaska/BBE
Osakis
Perham
Official Ball: Wilson (US Open Extra Duty)
Seeding:Seeded by coaches at a meeting using records and other info Seeding date:May 19, 2023
True-Second: True-second format (must be completed by LPD)
Latest Play Date: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 Advance to State: Section Champion Team
1 & 2 Singles & Doubles
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The Colorado Buffalo Club Baseball team, coached by Crookston High School alum Colin Reynolds, won their regional tournament and will advance to the National Club Baseball Division 1 tournament.
It is the first time Colorado has won the region, and it is the second year Reynolds has been head coach.
The seeds for the tournament are below –
1.Utah State
2. Penn State
3. Cal Poly
4. Colorado
5. Florida State
6. LSU
7. Virginia Tech
8. UW Whitewater
Colorado will play Florida State on May 27 at 10:30 a.m. in the first game of the double-header tournament.
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The NFHS (rule-making body of high school sports across the country) has issued a rule change that would follow college women’s basketball with a new free throw and bonus situation rule.
The Minnesota State High School League WON’T follow the new rule because Minnesota uses halves and not quarters. So Minnesota won’t see a change.
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The Section 8A and 8AA Softball tournament will start on Tuesday, May 23.
We don’t know much on the seeding because Minnesota-Scores.net is still updating a ton of scores. So it is impossible to tell where teams will end up.
But, we pretty much know who the top seeds will be in each class.
SECTION 8A-
The top team will be BGMR
Second seed will be Red Lake Falls
After that, it is still wide open
SECTION 8AA-
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton will be the top seed in the north
Park Rapids and Thief River Falls are fighting for the second seed. TRF has a better section record. We will see what happens with the QRF and tie-breakers.
Breckenridge, Wadena-Deer Creek, and Barnesville are fighting for the top seed and it will likely come down to tie-breakers.
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The Region 6A Committee, the same one that charges us $500 per playoff game to video stream, released their financial info at their last meeting. Region 6A would be Section 8AA Football, 8AA Volleyball, Section 8AA Basketball, Section 6A Hockey, 5A Basketball, 6A Basketball, 6A Wrestling, and 8AA Wrestling, to name a few.
They announced they had the following –
Region 6A Checking Account
2022-$379,984.00
2023-$431,976.00
2023 Money Market-$14,770
So they charge us streamers $500 because “it takes people away from going to the game.” My response, and pardon my French….but B.S. That is obviously NOT the case!!!!!
It’s for the kids, the MSHSL says. The problem with the MSHSL and the Region committees is that they are run by educators. Nothing against educators, but they are fleecing their own small-town businesses by charging us $500 for a crappy first-round basketball playoff game between a #1 seed and a #16 seed. If we charged $1 per viewer, we still wouldn’t make enough money to cover the bill. So we sell advertising to the businesses that get hit up over and over and over by every school entity, us in radio, newspapers, after-prom parties, and all the other school fundraising and booster clubs. This is where educators and the MSHSL don’t get how things work in small towns. Half the time, the educators/coaches are sending the students to ask for money at the businesses. They think money grows on trees in small towns. I hate to break it to them. It doesn’t.
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Speaking of raking in big money, the Region 8A committee’s February meeting revealed the big-time money they raked in from tournaments in the fall. The region committee is making a helluva lot more money the us radio stations and streamers are making on the playoffs. That is for sure. The numbers are listed below-
2022-23 Region 8A Activities Financial Summary
Activity———-Revenues—–Expenses——-Income
6 9-Man FB **–$11,620.45—$6,096.63—-$5,523.82
8 9-man FB—–$16,119.21—-$7,805.38—-$8,313.83
8A FB————$13,267.12—-$6,386.24—-$6,880.88
8AAA FB **——$13,909.42—-$8,087.29—-$5,822.13
Fargodome FB—$36,653.70—-$17,111.83—$19,541.87
8A VB **———$45,914.14—-$15,641.22—$30,272.92
Girls Swimming **-$2,904.77—$3,268.25—- -$363.48
Cross Country **—$3,842.80—$2,540.66—–$1,302.14
Team Up————$4,395.00—-$10,000.20— -$5,605.20
** Region Shares TBD
TOTAL Revenue-$148,626.61-total expenses-$76,937.70-total income $71,688.91
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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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JOKES
Why can’t Satan’s cheerleading squad win any competitions?
Because they have literally no chants in Hell.
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Deep within a forest a little turtle began to climb a tree. After hours of effort he reached the top, jumped into the air waving his front legs and crashed to the ground. After recovering, he slowly climbed the tree again, jumped, and fell to the ground.
The turtle tried again and again while a couple of birds sitting on a branch watched his sad efforts. Finally, the female bird turned to her mate.
“Dear,” she chirped, “I think it’s time to tell him he’s adopted.”
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Larry calls into work and says, “Hey, boss, I won’t make it to work today. I’m really sick. I got a headache, stomachache, and my legs hurt. I can’t make it to work.”
The boss says, “You know Larry, I really need you today.
When I feel like this, I go to my wife and tell her to give me sex. That makes everything better, and I go work. You try that.”
Two hours later, Larry calls again. “Boss, I did what you said, and I feel great. I will be at work soon. By the way, you have a really nice house.”
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A woman was at her hairdresser’s getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded:
“Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It’s crowded and dirty. You’re crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?”
“We’re taking Continental,” was the reply. “We got a great rate!”
“Continental?” exclaimed the hairdresser. “That’s a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they’re always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?”
“We’ll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome’s Tiber River called Teste.”
“Don’t go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks it’s gonna be something special and exclusive, but it’s really a dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly, and they’re overpriced. So, whatcha’ doing when you get there?”
“We’re going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope.”
“That’s rich,” laughed the hairdresser. “You and a million other people are trying to see him. He’ll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You’re going to need it.”
A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome. “It was wonderful,” explained the woman, “not only were we on time in one of Continental’s brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They’d just finished a $5 million remodeling job and now it’s a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner’s suite at no extra charge!”
“Well,” muttered the hairdresser, “that’s all well and good, but I know you didn’t get to see the Pope.”
“Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I’d be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand, I knelt down, and he spoke a few words to me.”
“Oh, really! What did he say?”
“He said: ‘Where did you get the shitty hairdo?'”
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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.
