Welcome to another installment of the Sports Feever column. Thursday, October 1 is probably one of the most anticipated days in Minnesota High School sports ever. We will find out about the winter sports season and possible state tournaments and everything else winter sports season. KROX will be updating the happenings from the meeting on our website on the sports page. We will get to it a little later in the column.
Have a great week, stay healthy, and it sure has been fun seeing the kids competing, all with no COVID breakout at the high school level.
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The Minnesota Twins were swept by the Houston Astros in the American League Wildcard round this week. It is another painful reminder for Minnesota Sports fans…..the teams we cheer for can’t win big games.
So there you go. What a depressing list since 1991!!!
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Thursday is a huge day for the Minnesota State High School League, its member schools, student-athletes, activities directors, fans, and anybody else I have missed. The MSHSL will make the winter sports decision on boys and girls hockey, boys and girls basketball, wrestling, dance, skiing, and any other sport in the winter sports season.
Some big questions will be answered –
- How many games will be played?
- When will each season start?
- Are fans going to be allowed?
The MSHSL return to play task force met Wednesday and discussed what they will be proposing. Below are some highlights –
The task force is asking for a longer season (in terms of weeks) but they are proposing around 18 games each in hockey and basketball. It also sounds like they might allow more than two games per week because of rescheduling postponed games.
It sounds like the recommendation to start boys hockey will be on November 23. Girls Hockey will likely start about the same time and possibly later to avoid conflict with volleyball.
Boys Basketball might be able to start practice November 30 with Girls Basketball possibly starting mid-December (after volleyball is done).
We have been told the MSHSL Executive Director Erich Martens told the task force if they don’t have state tournaments they would miss out on an outstanding opportunity.
The meeting agenda is below –
Minnesota State High School League BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Virtual Meeting
October 1, 2020
Beginning at 9 a.m.
AGENDA
Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance
1. Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
2. Approval of Minutes (8/4/2020 and 9/21/2020)
3. Individuals or Delegations on Agenda Issues*
4. Board of Directors Members’ Reports and Comments
5. Lobbyist’s Report
6. Legal Counsel’s Report
7. Executive Director’s Report
8. Executive Committee Report
9. Action Items
A. 2020-2021 MSHSL Strategic Directions
B. Athletic Season Calendar for the 2020-2021 School Year
C. Post-Season Competition
10. Discussion
A. Media Policy Manual – Streaming
B. Speech Rules and Policies
C. Eligibility Bylaws
D. District Football Policy
E. Representative Assembly Process and Dates
11. Committee Reports
A. Eligibility Committee
B. Audit/Finance Committee
C. Marketing and Communications Committee
D. Education and Leadership
12. Information Items
NEXT MEETING: Thursday, December 3, 2020
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It has been a tough month for a lot of people, but those scheduling sporting events have had a tough and busy month!
Not only are the area Activity Directors struggling to get the volleyball and football schedules finalized, but they have an extra wrinkle or two they are dealing with.
1. Lack of area officials
2. Lack of available busses
The two problems have caused some scheduling problems and I can’t imagine what it will look like this winter when boys and girls hockey, boys and girls basketball, and wrestling are going at the same time. What are school districts going to do? They will have to be very creative.
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The Cass Lake-Bena Panther football team has been told they won’t be allowed to start the football season for two weeks because of COVID concerns so that has caused a few teams to adjust their schedules.
The Red Lake County Rebels were one of the teams affected, but they were still able to get a six-game schedule –
Wed, Oct 14 vs. PCW in Plummer 5:00 JV and Varsity at 7:00
Tue, Oct 20 vs. Pine River-Backus in Pine River-Varsity at 6:00
Sat, Oct 24 vs. Lake Park-Audubon in Lake Park-Varsity at 1:00 PM
Fri, Oct 30 vs. M-W in Mahnomen–JV at 4:30 and Varsity at 7:00 PM
Fri, Nov 6 vs. Ada-Borup West in RLF–JV 4:00 and Varsity at 6:00 PM
Wed, Nov 11 vs. Pine River-Backus in Oklee–Varsity at 4:00 PM
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The Crookston Pirate Girls Tennis team received the top seed in the Section 8A Girls Tennis tournament that will start next week.
It looked like Thief River Falls was going to be the top seed as they were undefeated until Crookston beat the Prowlers 4-3 on Tuesday night to earn the top seed with their 9-1 record, and avenging an earlier season loss.
The seeds –
1. Crookston
2. Thief River Falls
3. East Grand Forks
4. Perham
5. Park Rapids
6. Wadena-Deer Creek
7. Roseau
8. Parkers Prairie
Tournament schedule –
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The Region 8AA committee met Wednesday and approved the adjusted section tournament schedule for 2020. The double bye format used last year did not fall within the new requirements with the COVID restrictions required by the MSHSL. There will be a #8 vs #9 play-in game for both North and South. We will use a standard 8 team playoff bracket for separate North and South after the play-in game.
The seeding will be done via coaches vote.
Section 8A Soccer seeding will be done by coaches’ vote within your half (North or South). Each coach will seed all teams 1-8 (not your own team. Coaches can use QRF as a tool to help them seed appropriately. It is the responsibility of each school to keep its web page schedule and results up to date. Coaches may send information to other coaches regarding their season and record. Complete seeding results will be provided to all schools.
Seeding Tie-Breaker (MSHSL Policy)
1-Head to head competition
2-Rankings the tied schools gave each other is dropped
3-Coin flip by Region Secretary
DATES:
Seeding Wednesday, October 7, 2020- North and South separate
Thurs. Oct. 8, 2020- N/S #8 vs #9
Tues, Oct. 13, 2020-N/S Quarterfinals: 1 vs 8/9, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5
Thur. Oct. 15, 2020 – N/S SF – afternoon games if possible
Tues. Oct 20, 2020 – North Finals and South Finals
Thur, Oct 22, 2020, North winner vs. South winner
All games played at high seed except Neutral Site Final at Brainerd. Time TBD
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University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Football received great news on Wednesday when receiver Rashod Bateman’s eligibility was restored by the NCAA and he is now able to compete for the Gophers this season.
Bateman will wear No. 0 this season, becoming the first Gopher ever to do so. He is switching from No. 13 to No. 0 because there is zero-tolerance for racism in Minnesota’s culture and it is a call to action to end racism in our society.
Bateman, who previously announced he was forgoing this season because of personal health concerns related to COVID-19, has played in 26 games for Minnesota and in two years has already established himself as one of the best receivers ever to wear the Maroon and Gold. He has 111 career catches (tied for 12th in school history) for 1,923 yards (tied for eighth in school history) and 17 touchdowns (tied for fifth in school history).
Bateman was named Third-Team All-American last season, All-Big Ten First Team and was the Big Ten Receiver of the Year as a sophomore. The Georgia native, who was also one of 12 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, caught 60 passes for 1,219 yards (second-most in a single season) and 11 touchdowns (tied for second-most in a single season).
As a freshman in 2018, he caught 51 passes for 704 yards and six touchdowns.
He has caught at least one pass in all 26 games (tied for seventh in school history) he has played in and has seven 100-yard receiving games (sixth in school history). He set school sophomore records for receiving yards (1,219) and touchdowns (11) last season and set school freshman records for receptions (51) and receiving yards (704) in 2018.
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JOKES
60 years together
Their three kids, all successful, agreed to a Sunday dinner in their honor.
“Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad,” gushed Son No. 1 ‘Sorry I’m running late. I had an emergency at the hospital with a patient, you know how it is, and I didn’t have time to get you a gift”
“Not to worry,” said the father. “Important thing is we’re all together today.”
Son No. 2 arrived. “You and Mom look great. Dad, I just flew in from Montreal between depositions and didn’t have time to shop for you.”
“It’s nothing,” said the father “We’re glad you were able to come.”
Just then the daughter arrived, “Hello and happy anniversary! Sorry, but my boss is sending me out of town and I was really busy packing so I didn’t have time to get you anything.”
After they had finished dessert, the father said, “There’s something your mother and I have wanted to tell you for a long time. You see, we were really poor, but we managed to send each of you to college.
Through the years your mother and I knew we loved each other very much, but we just never found the time to get married.”
The three children gasped and said, “WHAT? You mean we’re bastards?”
“Yep,” said the father, “Cheap ones, too.”
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80-year old Bessie bursts into the rec room at the retirement home.
She holds her clenched fist in the air and announces, “Anyone who can guess what’s in my hand can have sex with me tonight!!”
An elderly gentleman in the rear shouts out, “An elephant?”
Bessie thinks a minute and says, “Close enough.”
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As a senior citizen was driving down the motorway, his car phone rang.
Answering, he heard his wife’s voice urgently warning him, “Vernon, I just heard on the news that there’s a car going the wrong way on I-25.
Please be careful!”
“Hell,” said Vernon, “It’s not just one car. It’s hundreds of them!”
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A little old lady who had lost her way was running up and down the halls in a nursing home. As she ran, she would flip up the hem of her nightgown and say “Supersex.” She ran up to an elderly man in a wheelchair, flipping her gown at him, she said, “Supersex.”
He sat silently for a moment or two and finally answered, “I’ll take the soup.”
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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
Brady Butt is a freshman playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Paul Bittner is playing for the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Bluejacket.
Brady Heppner, is playing hockey for the Roanoke Raildogs in the SPHL.
Aleece Durbin, is a Junior on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team.
Brita Fagerlund, is a Senior on the University of Jamestown Jimmy Women’s Track team.
Ben Trostad, is a Junior member of the University of Minnesota Crookston golf team.
Elise Tangquist, is a Senior golfer for the University of Northwestern in St. Paul.
Mason LaPlante, a sophomore, is playing soccer at the University of Jamestown.
Rachel Hefta, a Sophmore, is playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Cade Salentine is a redshirt Freshman playing football at the University of North Dakota.
Nick Garmen, is a sophomore playing basketball and tennis at the University of Minnesota Morris.
Caden Osborn, is a freshman playing basketball at the University of Minnesota Morris.
Thea Oman, a sophomore, is swimming at St. Ben’s.
Crookston School District Coaches –
Emily Meyer is a girls hockey and softball assistant coach.
Carrie Clauson is a Junior High girls tennis coach.
Jeremy Lubinski is a Pirate 8th Grade Football coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach and assistant volleyball coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Cody Brekken is the Head Pirate Girls and Boys Tennis coach and Crookston Community Pool Supervisor
Marley Melbye is the Head Girls Swimming coach
Mitch Bakken is the head Pirate Baseball coach.
Brock Hanson is the 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
Blake Fee is an assistant wrestling coach
Colton Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching –
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown
Kaylee Desrosier is a softball coach for Fargo Davies Middle School.
Justin Johnson is an assistant softball coach at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
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.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson, is Head Volleyball coach at Little Falls High School.
Katy Westrom, is Head Girls Tennis Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Monticello High School.
Matt Harris, is a Director of Athletics at the British International School of Houston.
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
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.
Scott Riopelle is head of Crookston Parks and Recreation
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
