SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
— — —
— — —
— — —
The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Men’s Basketball team has signed another outstanding area basketball player with the signing of Bridger Wilcox of Thief River Falls.
Wilcox scored over 1,000 points in his career and was one of the top players in northwest Minnesota. Another great signing by Coach Brian Beamish and his staff.
The incoming recruiting class coming in as of today is below –
Signees
G Reggie Winjum, 6-2 175, Crookston, Minn./Crookston H.S.
G Bridger Wilcox, 6-2 195, Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln H.S.
G Blake Spiczka, 6-0 165, Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes H.S.
F Jake Williams, 6-5 220, Sacramento, Calif./Consumnes River College
G/F Q On’gele, 6-6 215, Portland, Ore./College of the Sequoias
C Ethan Koltz, 6-11 240, Sioux Falls, S.D./Southwest Minnesota State University
— — —
University of North Dakota announced on Monday the UND Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The group will be honored Friday, Oct. 2 at the Alerus Center. One of the inductees is Crookston High School graduate, Jenny (Boll) Christopherson, who played basketball at UND from 1999 to 2003. Others that will be inducted will be –
Brian Strom (Swimming & Diving, 1990-2016), Weston Dressler (Football, 2004-07), Jeff Panzer (Men’s Hockey, 1997-01), Chad Mustard (Men’s Basketball, 1996-00), Michelle Karvinen (Women’s Hockey, 2011-14), Jen (Cilz) Hodny (1999-01, 2003, Soccer), Becky (Moen) Behrens (1999-03, Women’s Basketball) will be inducted as individuals, while the 1957-58 and 2000-01 men’s hockey teams will be inducted into the team category.
The 51st annual Athletics Hall of Fame event will take place with a dinner and induction ceremony on Friday, October 2 at the Alerus Center. The Class of 2026 will also be recognized the next afternoon during UND’s home football contest against Murray State.
This year’s eight inductees bring the total number of individuals in the UND’s Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame to 304, with the team total at 50. Fans can visit the virtual Hall of Fame here or see the all-new, in-person display in the Hawkway, which connects the Hyslop at Memorial Village to the Nodak Insurance Company Sports Performance Center to see all the previous inductees.
UND Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Inductees are listed in alphabetical order
Jenny (Boll) Christofferson, Women’s Basketball
1999-03
Boll provided one of the best 1-2 punches for the Fighting Sioux women’s basketball team at the turn of the century, teaming up with fellow inductee Becky Moen.
Boll scored 1,651 points over her career to rank eighth all-time in program history while her 771 rebounds are just outside the program’s top-10. She earned three straight All-NCC Team selections and was an All-Region selection over her final two seasons while also earning multiple academic conference and national accolades.
She helped the Fighting Sioux capture two NCC titles, three conference tournament crowns and four NCAA Division II National Tournaments, including a run to the Elite Eight as a sophomore.
Jen (Cilz) Hodny, Soccer
1999-01, 2003
Cilz sits as one of the most dynamic scorers in UND soccer history, ranking near the top of practically every offensive category.
In her four seasons with the Sioux, Cilz scored 38 goals and dished out 11 assists for 87 points and ranks second all-time in program history in goals, points, game-winning goals and penalty kicks made. She finished either first or second on the team in both goals and points in each of her four seasons and helped UND reach its first NCAA Tournament in program history as a senior.
The Grand Forks, N.D., native is one of only two players in program history to earn All-America and First Team All-Region honors, joining former inductee and teammate Stephanie Pfeiffer.
Weston Dressler, Football
2004-07
Dressler is still one of the most dynamic players to ever wear the green and white for the football program, earning the title “Mr. Electricity.”
He set 19 school records during his four seasons with the program and is the most nationally decorated player in program history with 14 All-America selections. He was a four-time All-NCC First Team selection and became the first player in NCC history to be named an all-conference player at three-different positions. He is also one of only two players at UND to have multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons and the only player to have multiple 2,000-yard all-purpose seasons.
After his UND days, Dressler enjoyed a stellar professional career in the Canadian Football League, where he is one of only 17 players in league history with over 10,000 career yards. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Roughriders Plaza of Honour (2022) and the CFL Hall of Fame (2004).
Michelle Karvinen, Women’s Hockey
2011-14
Karvinen shined on the ice for UND in her collegiate career, helping the women’s hockey program reach new heights.
She scored 56 goals and notched 75 assists for 131 points to rank top-5 all-time in program history in each of those categories to earn All-WCHA honors in just three years at UND. During her freshman campaign, Karvinen was named WCHA Rookie of the Year and an All-USCHO Rookie Team selection to help the Fighting Sioux reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
One of the most decorated international players of all-time, Karvinen has appeared in five Winter Olympic Games and captured a trio of Olympic bronze medals for her home nation of Finland. She recently tied the all-time record for Olympic women’s hockey games player with 29 in Feb. 2026.
Becky (Moen) Behrens, Women’s Basketball
1999-03
The other half of the 1-2 punch for the UND women’s basketball team during her time, Moen was a dominant scorer and guard for the Fighting Sioux.
Moen currently ranks seventh all-time in program history with 1,762 career points and scored over 600 points in each of her final two seasons. A two-time All-NCC and All-Region selection, Moen exploded for 657 points as a junior to earn NCC Co-MVP honors and a trio of All-America honors. Her 22.7 points per game in 2001-02 still sit as a school record while her total point output in that season is third all-time at UND for a single year.
She is the only player in program history to have multiple 600-point seasons in her career and went a whopping 104-20 during her four seasons with two NCC titles, three conference tournament titles and four NCAA DII National Tournament appearances.
Chad Mustard, Men’s Basketball
1996-00
Mustard was a force in the paint for the men’s basketball program, shining on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
The forward was dominant on both ends, ranking top-10 in program history in both points and rebounds. His 1,568 points currently sit 10th in program history while his 741 rebounds are eighth. Mustard also ranks top-10 in program history in field goal percentage, free throws made and free throw attempts to earn All-NCC honors and an All-America selection as a senior. He is one of only 15 players in program history to be named an All-American.
Following his basketball playing days, Mustard helped the UND football program capture the 2001 NCAA Division II National Championship before enjoying a five-year career in the NFL.
Jeff Panzer, Men’s Hockey
1997-01
Panzer is arguably one of the most dynamic scorers in program history and lit up the scoreboard in his four seasons with the men’s hockey program.
In 164 games, Panzer scored 80 goals and dished out 148 assists for a whopping 228 points over his career to sit third all-time in program history in points and assists. He is one of only five players ever at UND to eclipse 200 career points in the green and white and is the only player in the program’s top-10 scoring list to play this century.
Panzer earned a trio of All-WCHA Team selections and was named WCHA Player of the Year in 2000-01. He also was a two-time All-America First Team selection and is one of only for players in program history to be a multi-time finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He captured three WCHA titles and helped UND win its seventh NCAA National Championship in 1999-00.
Brian Strom, Swimming & Diving
1990-2016
One of the most influential coaches ever at UND, Strom had an illustrious career with the swimming and diving program for nearly 30 years.
Strom earned multiple accolades at the local, conference and national levels, as he was named NCC Diving Coach of the Year 10 times – including a stretch of three straight years from 2003-05. He was also a two-time NCAA Division II Diving Coaching of the Year in 2003 and 2004.
During his tenure, 21 divers earned a total of 69 All-America honors while competing for UND. Strom also coached UND to 44 NCAA Division II top-five finishes and 16-different divers captured NCC Diver of the Year. In 2003, Strom guided Erin Borgschatz to an NCAA DII National Championship before coaching Kasey Moseley to a NCAA DII title the following season.
1957-58 Men’s Hockey Team
The 1957-58 North Dakota men’s hockey team provided many “firsts” for the now-historic program with its 24-7-1 overall record.
Coached by Bob May, the Fighting Sioux were the first team in program history to win 20 games in a single season and captured the first of a now NCAA-record 22 conference titles. The conference crown helped UND advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
In the national tournament, UND defeated Harvard by a 9-1 score before eventually falling to Denver in the program’s first national championship game appearance.
2000-01 Men’s Hockey Team
The 2000-01 UND men’s hockey team was an appropriate bookend to a dominant five-year stretch for the program, a stretch that saw two NCAA National Championships.
Coming off the program’s seventh title, the 2000-01 Sioux were captained by fellow inductee Jeff Panzer and finished 29-8-9 and went 18-4-6 to capture yet another WCHA title before reaching the conference tournament championship game. UND rolled to another NCAA Frozen Four and defeated Michigan State, 2-0, to advance to its second straight national title game.
Head Coach Dean Blais, known for his unique antics, pulled his goaltender with over four minutes remaining and UND struck twice to force overtime before eventually seeing its bid for back-to-back championships come up just short in overtime to Boston College.
— — —
JOKES
Bob was sitting at the table one morning, reading the paper after breakfast. He came across an article about a beautiful actress who was about to marry a football player known for his lack of IQ.
He turned to his wife and said, “I’ll never understand why the biggest jerks get the most attractive wives.”
She replied, “Why, thank you, Dear!”
— —
Two kids are arguing over whose father is the biggest scaredy-cat.
The first kid says, “My dad is so scared that when lightning strikes, he hides underneath the bed.”
The second kid replies,”Yeah? Well, that’s nothing. My dad is so scared that when my mom has to work the nightshift, he sleeps with the lady next door.”
— — —
A guys car broke down. He pulled over to the side of the road.Luckly there was a farm near by.He asked the farmer if he could help. The farmer said “sure just let me get my horse, Bruce. So they hooked the car up. The farmer called out to his horse,giddyup Sonya!
The horse did’nt move. Giddyup Tonya! The horse did’nt move. Giddyup Bruce! The horse moved. So when they got back they fixed the mans car. The man said thank you and then asked the farmer why he called different names.”
Well” the farmer started, “Bruce won’t do anything if he knows he’s the only one doing it.”
— — —
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..
