SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
The Minnesota Twins have won 10 game in a row. If you are wondering what the longest winning streak was, check out the list below-
15 games (1991)
12 games (1980)
11 games (2006, 2003)
10 games (*2024*, 2008, 1985, 1963)
Yes seven of the games are against the White Sox, but they are winning games they should.
Speaking of Minnesota Sports, the Minnesota Timberwolves took care of business and swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Now they take on Denver in the Western Conference semi-finals. It should be a heckuva series and I am predicting a seven game series. Game 1 is on Saturday night and KROX will have the game on the radio.
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We have found out a few changes for Section tournaments this year.
Section 8A baseball sounds like it will be held at Jim Karn Field in Crookston this year. For several years the coaches wanted to move the tournament (every other year) from Thief River Falls to Crookston. Thief River Falls’ field is average at best and there is no permanent seating for the fans. Crookston has a beautiful new grand stand, has plenty of permanent stadium seating. Crookston’s Jim Karn Field has a better scoreboard, but it does have a smaller press box, but if it is nice out, there is room for radio outside the Pressbox too.
Region 6A took over Section 8AA Boys and Girls golf, and it is a surprise to anyone that it has turned into a gong show. Region 6A has to be one of the worst operated in the state. They make decisions without getting input from all the coaches and only make decisions (it seems) on what teams along Highway 10/Heart O’ Lakes want.
With that said, the Section 8AA Boys and Girls Golf has dropped the sub-section golf tournaments this year. The coaches have voted to keep the sub-sections for the past several years. Now that Region 6A has taken over, there was no vote, and it was decided, without coaches or A.D. input, that they would drop the sub-section. I have been told by a handful of coaches that it is because the teams from the south think they are better this year and could have five teams make it to sections, so they didn’t want sub-sections so they would have a chance to have five teams instead of four if there was a sub-section.
This is exactly why the Section 8AA basketball tournament changes every year. I believe they try to make it the best for the teams in the South. The reason why when Roseau Girls were kicking the crap out of all the teams from the south, they wanted North and South Sub-sections. When the South had better teams, they switched it to 1-16 seeding. I believe it has nothing to do with what is right, it is to help the teams from the south.
If I were a superintendent, A.D., or coach in the north for golf or basketball, I would look into a group protest to Region 6A hosting basketball or golf.
If the golf coaches had voted and the coaches had voted to drop sub-sections, I would have no problem with it. When the region is making the choice to make changes without input, that is wrong and a sign of terrible leadership. Or at least tell the coaches why you are doing it and communicate it. When people are confident in their decisions, they have no problem telling people like coaches and media when they make the decision. But when you are making a shady decision, people tend to hide it and not let people know until the last second so nobody can do anything about it.
In all honesty, it really doesn’t matter how many girl’s teams from the south make it sections because they will get whooped by Detroit Lakes, who is back in the section for at least two years. On the boy’s side, which is more wide open, Hawley, Roseau, Detroit Lakes, and Fergus Falls are the favorites going in as of now.
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We are happy to report Paycheck Hockey is alive and well in Minnesota this spring!!!! Where you pay to play instead of paying for practice and skill work. What could be better in developing your young player????? Okay, in all seriousness, here are the area kids that are paying, I mean playing hockey in the HP series.
The CCM HP Girls ’14 District 16 team had many girls from the area on the team (of course, it is the NW Minnesota District).
EGF – Emma Pieper, Sydney McDonald, Bella Schmeideberg, Keeley Dronen, Jolie Aker, Keeley janecke, Peyton Varnson.
TRF – Rowan Kennet, Kaitlyn Jahn, Addison Brateng, Parker Olsonawski
Warroad – Elin Rolli, Karley Brekke, Olivia Anthony, Lindsey Lorenson, Cynthia Rogers
Roseau – Rylee Hagen
There are also several from Bemidji.
District 15 is basically all Moorhead players!!!
The CCM HP Boys 14 District 16 teams was as follows –
Warroad – Ayven Hontvet, Finnley Allen, Gavin Bentow, Charlie Marvin, Easton Lee, Roderick Jackson
EGF – Beau Boushee, Easton Olson, Jakob Roberson, Jaxton Boespflug, Nolan Fos
TRF – Ryker Copp
Bagley/Fosston – Isaac Decoteau, Brookston Hildebrandt
Roseau – Heath Baugher
And some from Bemidji
CCM HP Boys 15 District 16 –
Bagley – Hayden Hanse, James Palmer, Logan Dillich
EGF – Ryan Clausen, Bauer Walter, Hudson Cariveau, Cy Hjelmen
TRF – Masson Collins, Johnathan Rogalla, Spencer Anderson, Hudson Brouse
Warroad – Conner Lund, Parker Moes, Aiden Wegan, Gavin Anderson, Anders Collard
Hallock – Wyatt Samuelson
Roseau – Ethan Neville, Brendan Simmons
One from Bemidji
CCM HP Girls District 16 team – (Not enough girls tried out so they put girls from the cities on the team – that is a ray of hope!!!!!!!!!)
Crookston – Adley Vigness
EGF – Keira Bye,
Roseau – Amelia Kvien, Ella Ketring, Cheyenne Crist
TRF – Lila Dalager, Addison Lindgren, Alexis Sawatzke
Here are teams I can get behind.
The CCM Minnesota Hockey HP Boys’ NIT Minnesota HP Seniors
All players were seniors this season.
Alex Ballard – Roseau
Grady Magner – EGF
The CCM Minnesota Hockey HP Boys’ NIT Minnesota Juniors (Juniors this year)
Taven James – Warroad
CCM HP Boys’ 16 year old team – (Freshmen and Sophomores)
Samuel Hard – Warroad
2024 USA Hockey Boys Select 16 National Development Camp –
Max Bies – EGF
Ted Brill HP Great 8 Juniors on Section 7/8 team –
Cole Bies – EGF
Jace Van Eps – EGF
Gavin Girdler – RLF
Jake Halvorson – Roseau
Taven James – Warroad
Ted Brill HP Great 8 Seniors on Section 7/8 team –
Alex Ballard – Roseau
Jace Erickson – TRF
Cooper Anderson – TRF
Max Arlt – TRF
Grady Magner – EGF
Landon Jamieson – EGF
CCM Minnesota Hockey HP GIrls’ 17 players from NW Minnesota –
Summer Byfuglien – Roseau
Payton Remick – Roseau
Jasmin Hovda – Roseau
Blake Schultz – EGF
Katy Comstock – Warroad
CCM Minnesota Hockey HP Girls’ 16 players from NW Minnesota –
Jaylie French – Warroad
Madalyn Lisell – Roseau
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We have some bad news. University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Softball Coach Nick Weinmeister has resigned. Unfortunately, his mother is having some health issues, so he needs to move back to Iowa to be closer to her. We wish the best of luck to Coach Weinmeister with everything and it was too bad because he was building a solid program that got better each year under his leadership. They are actually competitive now and it is all because of his leadership. We are also praying for his mom too. Just a terrible deal all-around.
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University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Softball player, Whitnee Curry (Jr., MIF/OF, Lincoln, Neb.) was named to the 2024 NSIC All-Conference first team on Tuesday afternoon.
Curry becomes the first Golden Eagle to be named to an All-Conference team since Dana Zarn was named to the All-NSIC second team in 2022. Curry is the second Golden Eagle to be named to the first team and first since McKenzie Smith was named to the first team back in 2002.
Curry played in 50 games this season, starting every game she played in. The Lincoln, Neb., native hit .340 on the season, the second best in a season in her career. Curry tied a career-high with 48 hits on the year and drew 20 walks on the year, while scoring 13 runs.
On the year, Curry had a hit in more than half of the games she played in and had 12 multi-hit games on the year, including a 5-5 game against Sioux Falls, which was a career-high for hits in a game and tied for most hits in a game in program history.
Curry finished her junior season third on the team with 22 RBI on the year and had the second highest OPS, as well. In the field, Curry made just five errors on 204 chances, spending a majority of her time in the field at shortstop.
Minnesota Crookston set the school record for most wins in NSIC play.
2024 ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM:
# Name Pos. Yr. School Hometown
50 Grace Glanzer RHP Sr. Augie Sioux Falls, S.D.
24 Lauren Dixon LHP Sr. UMD Sobieski, Wis.
77 Azalya Lopez P/U So. MSUM Corona, Calif.
28 Reese Holzhueter Utility Jr. SCSU Shakopee, Minn.
7 Courtney Kessler DP Fr. MSU West Branch, Iowa
10 Torri Chute 1B Sr. Augie Woodbury, Minn.
3 Ellie Tallman 2nd Sr. MSU Martelle, Iowa
44 Alexis Monty 3B Fr CSP Stillwater, Minn.
66 Brooklyn Morrison SS Sr. MiSU Abbotsford, B.C.
8 Gracey Brink C Sr. Augie Rapid City, S.D.
6 Desi Cuevas LF Fr. Augie Omaha, Neb.
20 Andrea Cain RF R-So. Augie Sioux Falls, S.D.
18 Kat Burkhardt CF Sr. UMD New Berlin, Wis.
23 Abbie Hlas SS SR WSU Adel, IA
22 Nicole Schmitt 1B Jr. UMD Verona, WI
25 Kennedy Buckman 2B Sr. Augie New Prague, MN
9 McKayla Armbruster RHP GSr MSU Faribault, MN
14 Ashton Dorman 3B So. Augie Sioux Falls, SD
24 Whitnee Curry SS Jr. UMC Lincoln, NE
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The University of Minnesota Crookston tennis team announced the signing of Asli Oktay (Istanbul, Turkey/Laurel Springs School). Oktay is the fourth signee for the Golden Eagles, joining Abril Manas Hernandez (Barcelona, Spain/Institut Baix Montseny), Abby VanPelt (Austin, Minn./Austin H.S.), and Katie VanPelt (Austin, Minn./Austin H.S.).
“We are excited to have Asli join the Golden Eagle tennis family next year,” said Head Coach Josh Lunak. “She will be a very strong player for us next year with an extensive tennis background. She is a great fit for our team-first philosophy. She plans to major in Software Engineering”
Oktay is the daughter of Guven and Aynur Oktay. She plans to major in software engineering at Minnesota Crookston. Oktay has competed on the ITF junior circuit. She is 2-4 in J30 Girls and 0-2 in J100 Girls in 2024.
“LACE ‘EM UP” BASKETBALL CAMP
Make plans now to attend the 29th annual “Lace ’em Up” basketball camp to be held in Red Lake Falls High School at the Robert Matzke Gym from June 3-6, 2024
The camp is open to any boys or girls in grades K-11. The camp is set up to run from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 for grades 5-11 (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 2023-2024________________ (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 2024 “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:________________________________
JOKES
An elderly couple who were childhood sweethearts had married & settled down in their old neighborhood.
To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary they walk down to their old school. There, they hold hands as they find the desk they shared & where he had carved “I love you, Sally”.
On their way back home, a bag of money falls out of an armoured car practically at their feet. She quickly picks it up, & they don’t know what to do with it so they take it home. There, she counts the money, & its fifty-thousand dollars.
The husband says: “We’ve got to give it back”.
She says, “Finders keepers” & puts the money back in the bag & hides it up in their attic.
The next day, two policemen are going from door-to-door in the neighbourhood looking for the money show up at their home.
One knocks on the door & says: “Pardon me, but did either of you find any money that fell out of an armoured car yesterday?”
She says: “No”..
The husband says: “She’s lying. She hid it up in the attic.”
She says: “Don’t believe him, he’s getting senile.”
But the policemen sit the man down & begin to question him.
One says: “Tell us the story from the beginning.”
The old man says: “Well, when Sally & I were walking home from school yesterday …”
At this, the policeman looks at his partner & says: “We’re outta here …”
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An older, white haired man walked into a jewelry store one Fridayevening with a beautiful young gal at his side.
He told the jeweler he was looking for a special ring for hisgirlfriend.
The jeweler looked through his stock and brought out a $5,000 ring andshowed it to him.
The old man said, “I don’t think you understand, I want something veryspecial.”
At that Statement, the jeweler went to his special stock and broughtanother ring over.
“Here’s a stunning ring at only $40,000,” the jeweler said. The younglady’s eyes sparkled and her whole body trembled with excitement.
The old man seeing this said, “We’ll take it.”
The jeweler asked how payment would be made and the old man stated, bycheck. “I know you need to make sure my check is good, so I’ll write itnow and you can call the bank Monday to verify the funds and I’ll pickthe ring up Monday afternoon,” he said.
Monday morning, a very teed-off jeweler phoned the old man. “There’s nomoney in that account.”
“I know,” said the old man, “but can you imagine the weekend I had?”
Don’t mess with Old People.
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A man has six children and is very proud of his achievement. He is so proud of himself, that he starts calling his wife, “Mother of Six” in spite of her objections.
One night, they go to a party. The man decides that it’s time to go home and wants to find out if his wife is ready to leave as well.
He shouts at the top of his voice, “Shall we go home now, ‘Mother of six?'”
His wife, irritated by her husband’s lack of discretion, shouts right back, “Anytime you’re ready, Father of four.”
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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
Emily Tate is a freshman playing Softball at Northland Community and Technical College.
Halle Bruggeman is a freshman on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Tennis team.
Grace Fischer is a freshman on the Concordia College (Moorhead) Women’s Golf team.
Ethan Boll is a Freshman on the University of North Dakota Football team.
Breanna Kressin is a Sophomore on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Emma Osborn is a Sophomore playing basketball at Northland Technical and Community College in Thief River Falls.
Jacey Larson is a Sophomore playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Sophomore playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Elise Tangquist is the Head Girls Golf Coach at Horace High School in Fargo, ND..
Kaleb Thingelstad is a junior playing golf at Kansas 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.
Aleece Durbin is a Junior on the University of North Dakota Womens Track and Field team.
Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.
Crookston School District Coaches
Emilee Tate is the Pirate 7th grade volleyball coach.
Todd Miner is a Pirate Football assistant coach.
Ben Parkin is the head Pirate Baseball 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
Marley Melbye is the Head Girls Swimming coach and assistant girls golf coach
Jeff Perreault is the Pirate Girls Golf head 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
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) Horgen is the 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 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.
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.
