Last week I led off by talking about getting help with my anxiety and have had a lot of people reach out to me and thank me for doing it. My hope is if I can help one person get help sooner than I waited, it would be great. Life has been great in the month since with very little anxiety and basically none the last couple of weeks. I had one teacher mention they would like me to talk to the teams and even classes and I wouldn’t have a problem with that. If you want to talk about it, email me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com or call me at 218-280-4021. Life has been so much better since getting some help so don’t delay and talk to your doctor asap.
— — —
My football championship predictions were on the money except for two. My picks from last week are below –
Section 6 9-man – Fertile-Beltrami vs Norman County East/UH
Section 8 9-man – Badger-Greenbush-Middle River vs Kittson County Central
Section 8A – Polk County West (Mahnomen-Waubun) vs Ada-Borup-West
Section 8AA – Barnesville vs Pelican Rapids
Section 8AAA – DGF vs Perham (Fergus Falls)
My predictions on the winners of the games are below –
Section 6 9-man – Fertile-Beltrami had a hard-fought win in the semi-finals over Clearbrook-Gonvick and that was probably a good thing for a team that hadn’t had a close game all season long. Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal had an exciting win over Nevis in the semi-finals.
The two teams met during the regular season and Fertile-Beltrami beat NCE/UH 34-12 on October 8 and I am thinking it will be the same result with Fertile-Beltrami winning the Section 6-9 man championship, but it will be a much closer game!
Section 8 9-man – BGMR used a hail mary in the final seconds of the game to beat Goodridge-Grygla and they are hoping to use that magic to win their first section 8 9-man championship (I am not 100 percent sure, but I believe it would be). The Gators lost their first two games (to Nevis and Goodridge-Grgyla) and since then they have won eight games in a row including a 26-24 victory over Kittson County Central on October 14. KCC is loaded with solid athletes and this will be a great matchup. You can expect another great game with this one too close to call, but I would go with KCC to win by less than six points.
Section 8A – Surprise, surprise….Mahnomen-Waubun is back in the championship game. They man-handled Polk County West on the offensive and defensive line and it was a sight to see. Having Will Starkey back in the lineup is also a game-changer for the Thunderbirds. Mahnomen-Waubun is big, strong, athletic, hit hard, and defensively they are outstanding. The only thing that might be a little suspect is their offense, especially the passing game. Ada-Borup-West is 8-1 on the year with their only loss to Pine River-Backus on October 8. One of those eight wins was a 33-12 over Mahnomen-Waubun on September 24. I am guessing this will be a much better game and going with Mahnomen-Waubun to win the game, even though Ada-Borup-West might have the advantage on the turf.
Section 8AA – Surprise, surprise…..The Barnesville Trojans are back in the championship game. This time they will take on the Pelican Rapids Vikings. Barnesville was the favorite from the start of the season, but the one thing that impresses me the most is the fact that Pelican Rapids is in the football championship game while also making it to the 8A boys soccer championship game. The only other school in Section 8AA football that has boys soccer is Crookston, so what Pelican Rapids has accomplished is pretty impressive!!
Barnesville and Pelican Rapids met during the regular season and Barnesville won 28-14 back on September 17 in Barnesville. I didn’t get a chance to see Pelican Rapids play this year because Crookston didn’t play them, but I am guessing the turf won’t be an advantage for either team with the athletes both teams have.
I am going to pick an upset here, partially because it would be fun to see somebody else win for a change, but Pelican Rapids is my pick to win the championship.
Section 8AAA – Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton will take on Fergus Falls in the championship game. DGF was 8-1 on the year with a first-round bye and Fergus Falls was 8-2. DGF has the fourth-best QRF in the state in Class AAA so they have had a decent schedule with their only loss to Detroit Lakes in the final game of the regular season. DGF beat Fergus Falls 13-7 on October 15 and you can expect another close game. Fergus Falls has been a tough team to figure out so I am going to go with DGF to win the game in another close one.
In Volleyball my predictions were –
8A – Ada-Borup-West and BGMR so I was off one – with Kittson County Central taking on BGMR. This one is too close to call, but I hope whoever loses the section football championship game in 8 9-man wins the volleyball match so both schools can have a state trip!
8AA – Barnesville vs TRF (The semi-finals are tonight, but I am still sticking to my guns) TRF will beat Menagha 3-1 and Barnesville will win 3-1 and in the championship on Saturday? I am going Barnesville 3-1.
— — —
The Minnesota High School Tennis Coaches Association has announced the State All-Academic team awards and the Section 8A champion Crookston Pirates received the Class A Gold award for having a team CPA over 3.75! The list of all the schools in Class A and AA are below.
| Class A Gold Team Award: GPA 3.75 – 4+ | ||
| School | Section | Class |
| Lourdes High School | 1 | A |
| Blue Earth Area | 2 | A |
| Fairmont High School | 2 | A |
| Maple River | 2 | A |
| St. James High School | 2 | A |
| Lac qui Parle/Dawson-Boyd | 3 | A |
| Morris Area Chokio Alberta WCA | 3 | A |
| Breck School | 4 | A |
| Minnehaha Academy | 4 | A |
| St. Paul Academy | 4 | A |
| Belle Plaine Senior High | 5 | A |
| Holy Family Catholic High School | 5 | A |
| LeSueur Henderson | 5 | A |
| Melrose Area High School | 5 | A |
| Sibley East | 5 | A |
| Southwest Christian | 5 | A |
| Litchfield | 6 | A |
| Minnewaska | 6 | A |
| New London-Spicer | 6 | A |
| Osakis | 6 | A |
| Aitkin | 7 | A |
| Mora High School | 7 | A |
| Pine City High School | 7 | A |
| Virginia High School | 7 | A |
| Crookston High School | 8 | A |
| Park Rapids Area High School | 8 | A |
| Roseau High School | 8 | A |
| Wadena – Deer Creek | 8 | A |
| Class A Silver Team Award: GPA 3.5 – 3.74 | ||
| School | Section | Class |
| Cannon Falls High School | 1 | A |
| Lincoln Sr High | 1 | A |
| Providence Academy | 5 | A |
| BBE | 6 | A |
| Sauk Centre | 6 | A |
| Eveleth Gilbert High School | 7 | A |
| Long Prairie- Grey Eagle/USA | 8 | A |
| Class AA Gold Team Award: GPA 3.75 – 4+ | ||
| School | Section | Class |
| Albert Lea High School | 1 | AA |
| Austin High School | 1 | AA |
| Lakeville North | 1 | AA |
| Lakeville South High School | 1 | AA |
| Northfield High School | 1 | AA |
| Rochester Century | 1 | AA |
| Rochester John Marshall | 1 | AA |
| Tri–City United | 1 | AA |
| Waseca HS | 1 | AA |
| Chanhassen High School | 2 | AA |
| Chaska High School | 2 | AA |
| Eden Prairie High School | 2 | AA |
| Hutchinson High School | 2 | AA |
| Jordan High School | 2 | AA |
| Mankato East High School | 2 | AA |
| Marshall High School | 2 | AA |
| Mound Westonka High School | 2 | AA |
| Shakopee High School | 2 | AA |
| St. Peter HS | 2 | AA |
| Waconia High School | 2 | AA |
| Cretin-Derham Hall | 3 | AA |
| East Ridge High School | 3 | AA |
| Hastings High School | 3 | AA |
| Park HS | 3 | AA |
| South St Paul High School | 3 | AA |
| Tartan High | 3 | AA |
| Two Rivers High School | 3 | AA |
| Hill Murray School | 4 | AA |
| Irondale | 4 | AA |
| Mounds View | 4 | AA |
| Saint Anthony Village | 4 | AA |
| Anoka Senior High School | 5 | AA |
| Champlin Park High School | 5 | AA |
| Coon Rapids High School | 5 | AA |
| Delano High School | 5 | AA |
| Maple Grove | 5 | AA |
| Robbinsdale Armstrong | 5 | AA |
| Rogers High School | 5 | AA |
| St. Michael Albertville | 5 | AA |
| Wayzata High School | 5 | AA |
| Academy of Holy Angels | 6 | AA |
| Blake | 6 | AA |
| Bloomington Jefferson | 6 | AA |
| Eastview | 6 | AA |
| Edina | 6 | AA |
| Roosevelt High School | 6 | AA |
| Blaine High School | 7 | AA |
| Brainerd High School | 7 | AA |
| Cambridge-Isanti | 7 | AA |
| Chisago Lakes | 7 | AA |
| Cloquet-Esko-Carlton | 7 | AA |
| Duluth East High School | 7 | AA |
| Pequot Lakes | 7 | AA |
| Princeton | 7 | AA |
| Annandale | 8 | AA |
| Bemidji High School | 8 | AA |
| Big Lake | 8 | AA |
| Detroit Lakes High School | 8 | AA |
| East Grand Forks Senior High | 8 | AA |
| Foley Public School | 8 | AA |
| Lincoln High School | 8 | AA |
| Little Falls Community High School | 8 | AA |
| Monticello High School | 8 | AA |
| ROCORI High School | 8 | AA |
| Sartell High School | 8 | AA |
| St. Cloud Tech/Crush | 8 | AA |
| Class AA Silver Team Award: GPA 3.5 – 3.74 | ||
| School | Section | Class |
| Faribault High School | 1 | AA |
| New Ulm | 2 | AA |
| Eagan High School | 3 | AA |
| Spring Lake Park High School | 4 | AA |
| Osseo Senior High | 5 | AA |
| North Branch Area High School | 7 | AA |
| St. Francis High School | 7 | AA |
| Becker High School | 8 | AA |
| Fergus Falls Senior High School | 8 | AA |
| Willmar Senior High School | 8 | AA |
— — —
The Section 8A Cross County meet was held and once again the Perham Yellowjackets dominated.
GIRLS – The Perham Yellowjackets won the 2021 Section 8A Cross Country meet at Bagley. The Hawley Nuggets were Runners-up. Jade Rypkema of Nevis was the Girl’s Individual champion.
BOYS – The Perham Yellowjackets also won the 2021 Section 8A Boys Cross Country meet at Bagley. Park Rapids was the Runners-up. Jakob McCleary was the Boy’s Individual champion.
— — —
The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Men’s Basketball team was tabbed to finish 16th out of 16 teams in the annual NSIC Preseason Men’s Basketball Poll. The Golden Eagles finished with 22 points in the poll, which is voted on by coaches from around the conference. NSIC coaches rank each team from 1 to 15 with a first-place vote receiving 15 points, second place 14, third place 13, etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players in the preseason poll.
Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) was picked to win the conference, finishing with 222 points, while Wayne State College was picked second and Minnesota State was chosen to finish third in the overall standings. MSUM was tabbed as the unanimous favorite in the North half, garnering all seven first-place votes, while the Huskies of St. Cloud State were picked second.
Larenzo McGhee of MSUM was picked as the NSIC North Preseason Player of the Year, while Jordan Janssen of Wayne State College was voted the Preseason Player of the Year in the South.
Minnesota Crookston will look to rebound after a two-win season a year ago. Brian Sitzmann (G, Savage) and redshirt juniors Leonard Dixon (F, Demascus, Ore.) and Ethan Channel (G, Beaverton, Ore.) are key returners. Uzo Dibiamaka (So., G, Adelaide, South Australia) and Dylan Hushaw (So., G, Las Vegas, Nev.) are newcomers who are expected to make an impact in the backcourt. Zen Goodridge (Jr., F/C, Orlando, Fla.), Nathaniel Powell (So., C, Nottingham, England) and Marcus Thompson (Jr., F, Brooklyn, N.Y.) are also newcomers that add size and strength for the Golden Eagles.
UMC will host Mayville State Thursday at 6 P.M., in exhibition play, and open up the regular season on November 12 at the American Family Insurance Classic against East Central University (Okla.) in Duluth.
POLL RESULTS
1. MSU-Moorhead (13) 222
2. Wayne State (2) 195
3. MSU-Mankato (1) 192
4. Augustana 175
5. Upper Iowa 164
6. Minnesota Duluth 142
7. St. Cloud State 132
8. Sioux Falls 131
9. Northern State 119
10. Minot State 109
11. Winona State 98
12. Bemidji State 84
13. Southwest Minnesota State 62
14. Concordia-St. Paul 39
15. Mary 34
16. UMC 22
— — —
The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s basketball team was picked to finish tied for 15th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Thursday, October 28 by the conference office. The Golden Eagles were also slotted in a tie for seventh in the NSIC North.
Minnesota Crookston has an experienced team back for the 2021-22 season. The Golden Eagles are looking to build on a 3-13 (3-11 NSIC) mark during a shortened 2020-21 season. UMC returns six players who played more than 15.0 minutes a game last season. Leading the way are seniors Kylie Post and Mary Burke, along with redshirt junior Bren Fox, freshman Jes Mertens, junior Emma Carpenter, and sophomore Haylee Wheeler. The Golden Eagles also return Eden Golliher, Mattea Vetsch, Kylea Praska, and Veronica Schwartz from last season’s team. The Golden Eagles will also look to the help from newcomers Abigail Leach, Abi Fraaza, Alex Page, and Lily Orazem. The Golden Eagles open up the regular-season November 12 against the University of Nebraska Kearney in Maryville, Mo.
“We have a lot of returners that have improved their skill set,” said Head Coach Mike Roysland. “Along with that we have four new players added to our roster that we are excited about. We have added a lot of length to our roster. This year’s team will have more depth and I feel we have improved in a lot of areas. I’m looking forward to seeing what this team can accomplish.”
Brooke Olson of the University of Minnesota Duluth was selected as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year. The Bulldogs were picked as the preseason favorite to win the conference and the preseason favorite in the NSIC North. Augustana University was selected to win the NSIC South.
The Golden Eagles will travel to the University of North Dakota to play their final exhibition game of the preseason.
TEAM – POINTS
1. Minnesota Duluth (12) 222
2. St. Cloud State (1) 203
3. Augustana (2) 187
4. MSU-Mankato 168
5. Sioux Falls (1) 159
6. Bemidji State 157
7. Southwest Minnesota State 141
8. MSU-Moorhead 121
9. Concordia-St. Paul 117
10. Winona State 116
T11. Mary and Northern State 91
13. Wayne State 51
14. Upper Iowa 36
15. UMC and Minot State 30
— — —
The NCAA Football Super Region Four Rankings have been released and the NSIC has four in the top 10, including my alma mater, the Mighty Bemidji State Beavers!!
| RK | School (Conf) | In-Reg | DII Rec | LW |
| 1 | Colorado School of Mines (RMAC) | 8-1 | 8-1 | 2 |
| 2 | Augustana (NSIC) | 8-1 | 8-1 | 1 |
| 3 | Central Washington (GNAC) | 5-1 | 5-1 | 3 |
| 4 | Midwestern State (LSC) | 5-1 | 6-1 | 4 |
| 5 | Angelo State (LSC) | 6-2 | 7-2 | 5 |
| 6 | Western Colorado (RMAC) | 8-1 | 8-1 | 9 |
| 7 | Bemidji State (NSIC) | 7-2 | 7-2 | 6 |
| 8 | Minnesota Duluth (NSIC) | 7-2 | 7-2 | 10 |
| 9 | Colorado Mesa (RMAC) | 5-2 | 6-2 | 8 |
| 10 | Northern State (NSIC) | 7-2 | 7-2 | NR |
— — —
The first NCAA Volleyball Regional Rankings have been released and the NSIC has five of the top ten teams in the central region. Winona State is second followed by Concordia-St. Paul in fifth and St. Cloud State in sixth. Wayne State is eighth while Southwest Minnesota State is tenth in the first of three rankings.
The NSIC, the Mid-America Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Great American Conference (GAC) make up the 39-team NCAA Central Region. The top eight teams in the region will advance to the NCAA region tournament on December 2-4 or 3-5. Automatic bids are granted to the winners of the MIAA, GAC and NSIC postseason tournaments, with the remaining five spots awarded on an at-large basis.
The NCAA Volleyball selection show will be streamed online on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 6:30 p.m. (CT) on NCAA.com.
The championship quarterfinals, semifinals and final match will take place Thursday-Saturday, December 9-11, at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center in Tampa, Florida.
Central Region Through games on OCT. 31, 2021
| RK | School (Conf) | In-Reg | DII Rec |
| 1 | Central Missouri (MIAA) | 18-1 | 22-2 |
| 2 | Winona State (NSIC) | 18-3 | 21-3 |
| 3 | Northwest Missouri State (MIAA) | 18-4 | 19-4 |
| 4 | Washburn (MIAA) | 20-3 | 22-3 |
| 5 | Concordia-St. Paul (NSIC) | 18-3 | 19-5 |
| 6 | St. Cloud State (NSIC) | 18-1 | 19-4 |
| 7 | Nebraska-Kearney (MIAA) | 14-5 | 18-5 |
| 8 | Wayne State (NSIC) | 16-5 | 17-5 |
| 9 | Oklahoma Baptist (GAC) | 12-3 | 17-3 |
| 10 | Southwest Minnesota State (SMSU) | 14-5 | 18-5 |
— — —
JOKES
Manure… An interesting fact.
Manure : In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything for export had to be transported by ship. It was also before the invention of commercial fertilizers, so large shipments of manure were quite common.
It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, not only did it become heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by-product is methane gas. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!
Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening.
After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the instruction ‘ Stow high in transit ‘ on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this “volatile” cargo and start the production of methane.
Thus evolved the term ‘ S.H.I.T ‘ , (Stow High In Transit) ,…………. “So it’s really not a swear word” which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
You probably did not know the true history of this word.
Neither did I
I had always thought it was a golfing term
— —
The first apple..
A woman ran a red traffic light and crashed into a man’s car. Both of their cars are demolished, but amazingly neither of them was hurt.
After they crawled out of their cars, the woman said; “Wow, just look at our cars! There’s nothing left, but fortunately we are unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should meet and be friends and live together in peace for the rest of our days.”
The man replied, “I agree with you completely. This must be a sign from God!
The woman continued, “And look at this, here’s another miracle. My car is completely demolished, but my bottle of 75-year-old scotch didn’t break. Surely God meant for us to drink this vintage delicacy and celebrate our good fortune.” Then she handed the bottle to the man.
The man nods his head in agreement, opened it, drank half the bottle and then handed it back to the woman. The woman took the bottle, immediately put the cap back on, and handed it back to the man.
The man asks, “Aren’t you having any?”
She replies, “Nah. I think I’ll just wait for the police.”
Many years ago, Adam ate the apple.
Men will never learn!
— — —
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
Ben Trostad is a senior playing Men’s Golf at UMC.
Kaleb Thingelstad is a freshman playing golf at Kansas Wesleyan University. KWU is done for the fall season.
Joslynn Leach is a freshman playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brady Butt is a sophomore playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Rachel Hefta, is a junior playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Ty Hamre is playing football at Bemidji State University.
Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Sweden. He is the only American playing for Mora IK of the Allsvenskan league. (Scoring and stats are difficult to find)
Gretchen Theis is a sophomore at NDSU on the Equestrian team.
Kate MacGregor is a 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.
Crookston School District Coaches –
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 –
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
Kaylee Desrosier is a softball coach for Fargo Davies Middle School.
Josh Edlund is an assistant football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach in Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is 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 Head Girls 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 Thief River Falls High School
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football and volleyball and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for the Bison media relations
Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College
Chris Myrold is a Tennis Pro on Nevis Island in the West Indies
Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Ben Andringa is serving our country with the Army in New York.
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 also a grad of West Point and is currently is 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.
