SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
It is championship Thursday with four section football championship games at the Fargodome (KROX will carry three of them) and then Friday is Section 8A and 8AA volleyball championship matches (KROX will have the 8A on the radio) and some more football championship games. Oh, by the way, girls hockey is wrapping up its first week of practice!!!!
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Do you want to watch or listen to the Section 8 9-Player, Section 6 9-Player, or Section 8A Football Championships? KROX has you covered.
2:00 PM – 8 9-Player Championship – Stephen-Argyle Central Storm Football vs Kittson County Central Bearcats – Link to watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn25fQiafTU
4:30 PM – Section 6 9-Player Championship – Fertile-Beltrami vs Fosston Greyhounds – Link to watch – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuJO8iJTokU
7:00 PM – Section 8A Championship – Red Lake County Rebels vs Mahnomen/Waubun Thunderbirds – Link to watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9yVYmet9Fw
To listen to the games – click on the following link – https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KROX
For those fans going to the game, here is some helpful information for you –
• The East (Main) entrance is the only one that will be open for this event
• Parking will also be on the east side of the Dome
• NO BACKPACKS OR BAGS will be allowed entrance into the Dome. You will need to return them to your vehicle should you bring to the entrance
• They recognize that Halloween, costumes will be allowed
• NO face painting, masks, or face coverups will be permitted
• We/you must be able to identify all fans
• CASH only for ticket purchases
• Cash or card for concessions
• ATM machine(s) located in main lobby
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State Cross Country is November 1.
State Volleyball is 5-8
State Football is November 6-8, 13-15, and 21-22.
State Girls Swimming and Diving is November 13-15.
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The first day of winter sports practices are listed below –
Boys Hockey – November 10
Girls Basketball – November 10
Wrestling – November 17
Boys Basketball – November 17
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Lets take a look at the area Section Football Championship games at the Fargodome-
Section 8 9-Player – 2:00 PM Thursday, October 30
Stephen-Argyle vs Kittson County Central – This one is an intriguing matchup. They had a two-point game with KCC winning the regular-season matchup. This game has all the makings of an dandy. The Storm have so many offensive weapons with Kellen Johnson, Raydon Woinarowicz, Shay Setterholm, Anders Thompson, Ryan Swanson, and Caden Pagnac to name a “few.” KCC responds with their offensive stockpile of weapons with Ashton Knutson, Elijah Mjur, Eli Peterson, Brody Scalese, Kellen Johnson, James Cerkowniak, and Sebastian Groven.
On the defensive side, the Storm have the dynamic duo of Dylan Widner and Owen Widner at linebacker who lead the team in tackles with over 60 each. You have one of the best defensive end duos with Winorowicz and Pagnac, and the rest of the interior line with Korben Clauson, Keenan Srnsky, and Rylan Anderson that clog everything up and cause havoc. Anderso Thompson and Setterholm are two ball hawks at defensive back with five interceptions. KCC’s defense is equally impressive with Brody Scalese and Track Folland at linebacker leading the way in tackles. Kellen Johnson has 8.5 tackles for a loss, along with 2.5 sacks, and Keaton Brewer has 6.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks. The three defensive backs of Muir, Ashton Knutson, and Brock Scalese have a total of 5 interceptions.
I could go on and on about how good these teams are, but it should be a good one. I am thinking it will be Stephen-Argyle 27-20.
Section 6 9-Player- 4:30 PM Thursday, October 30
Fertile-Beltrami vs Fosston – The last time these teams played, Fertile-Beltrami had no problems. The Falcons schedule was the toughest in the section and after battling through some injuries they are mostly healthy, but will be missing a player or two due to illness so they just can’t get a break this season. Fosston is a team that I haven’t completely figured out yet. They will have an impressive game and then a game where I scratch my head at the score.
Fertile-Beltrami is the four-time defending champ and are led by all of their offensive weapons like Bryer Strem (one of the most exciting players to watch in NW Minnesota), Gavin Aakhus, Preston Hanson, Creed Tollefson, Drew Gullickson, Caleb Sather, and Adam Kobetsky just to name a few. You have experience, players that only know how to win and that is it!!!! Fosston has a bunch of weapons. They have Jakob Rudie, Brydin Daniel, Jaxen Daniel, Jakob Manteufel, Noah Martinson, Darien Holzer, Tucker Nyland, Max Bockness, to name a few.
I am going with Fertile-Beltrami winning 53-22.
Section 8A – 7:00 PM Thursday, October 30
Red Lake County vs Mahnomen/Waubun – This could be another knock ’em out game IF Red Lake County takes care of the ball. Last year the Rebels turned the ball over four times in the first half and it was over. You cannot do that against Mahnomen/Waubun and expect to have a chance.
Red Lake County is a year older and better prepared for the next level that Mahnomen/Waubun seems to find at the Fargodome. The Rebels are healthy, and that makes a huge difference for them. The Rebels have Gunnar Halvorson back, and all he did against Park Christian was run for almost 300 yards and four touchdowns. You add Ben Gullingsrud, Boe Nelson, Connor Duden, Ethan Johnson, Riley Broden, and Thoren Thronson; they literally have weapons everywhere. Then you have the line with Kegan Schmitz and Masen Pahlen, and this team is stacked. Schmitz is one of the top defensive players in the section and had a pair of sacks in the semi-final game. Mahnomen/Waubun is….well….they are Mahnomen/Waubun. They have a myriad of offensive weapons with Brody Lhotka, Manny Johnson, Tanner Stech, Zach Zima, and Blake McMullen leading the way. Their line is stacked and hard-nosed. Both defenses are outstanding and two of the best in the state. The Thunderbirds have another top player in the section with Manny Johnson who has 43 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, and five sacks! Brody Lhotka has 41 tackels and 7.5 tackels for a loss. This while the starters didn’t play in the second half in most of their games!!!!
I pick Red Lake County to win 28-21.
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Section 8A Volleyball – Friday, October 31 at 7:00 PM at UMC
Sacred Heart vs Ada-Borup-West –
It comes as no surprise that the two #1 seeded teams are in the championship. This has the makings of being one of the best section championships in many years. You have two of the top teams in the state battling for a trip to state. Sacred Heart has height across the board. They have Lexi Lawrence, Lydia Riskey, Adley Vigness, Stella Riskey, and Brynn Stevens that are tough at the net. Finley Horken is one of the top setters in the state, and you have Izzy Cwikla at the libero who is a great defensive player and server. Claire Adolphson also comes in and does a great job serving and playing the backrow for the Eagles. Ada-Borup-West is loaded with top-end talent with two girls committed to play volleyball at NDSU! 6’4 Malayna Severson is a force and can go over the top of blocks, go through, and also set! Morgen Engel is a 6’0 setter that can do the same. She can set or she can go over the blocks. They have a great surrounding cast and this should be a great match.
I am going with Sacred Heart to win 3-2.
Finals (Held at University of Minnesota – Crookston)
- West team will be home in the Finals which would be East Grand Forks Sacred Heart. ADA-Borup-West’s bench will be the bench to the left of the score table(East side). East Grand Forks Sacred Heart’s bench will be to the right of the scorer’s table.(West side)
- Ada-Borup-West’s fans will be on the south side of the gym.
- East Grand Forks Sacred Hearts fans will be on the north side of the gym.
- UMC will supply the warm-up balls. MSHSL will supply the game balls
- Schools are to bring their own towels
- Please make arrangements to take care of your valuables
- UMC will provide trainer for each game
- UMC will provide Scorer, Timer & Libero Tracker.
- Officials and Line Judges will be assigned by Region 8A
Pre-Game Protocols
6:25 PM – Captains meeting (Teams are not on the floor)
6:35 PM – Teams enter the floor – start 20 minute warm-up clock
6:55 PM – Clock hits 0:00
National Anthem
Introduce Teams
7:00 PM – Set 1 begins
As assigned by Region 8A, here are the officials: Nikki Wojchowski and Paula Praska (Line Judges – Cindi Weller and Sunny Bowman)
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Former UMC Men’s Basketball Coach and current St. Michael-Albertville boys basketball coach Jeff Oseth, a seasoned and highly respected basketball coach with a career spanning over three decades, has been awarded the prestigious Coaching Service Award in recognition of his 30 years of dedication to the sport and his players.
Oseth continued his collegiate coaching journey at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC), where he worked with another Hall of Fame coach, Gary Senske. Under Senske’s mentorship, Oseth quickly established himself as a hardworking and impactful leader.
Oseth was named head coach of the Golden Eagles in 2002, leading UMC through a critical transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. Under his leadership, the program reached new heights:
- Secured his first college coaching win against the No. 5 ranked University of North Dakota.
- Defeated seven nationally ranked top 10 teams during his tenure.
- Recruited and developed 9 All-Conference players, 2 All-Americans, and 2 NSIC Freshmen of the Year.
- Coached Joe Hasz, who became the NSIC’s all-time leading scorer.
- Led UMC to 6th place finish in the ultra-competitive NSIC conference.
- Oseth’s program had a 97% graduation rate.
In 2022, Oseth took over as head coach at St. Michael-Albertville High School (STMA). In just three seasons, he revitalized the program, leading the Knights to back-to-back appearances in the Section 8AAAA Championship Game — the first such appearances in over a decade. Under Oseth’s leadership:
- STMA recorded its best-ever start for a new head coach in the 57-year history of the program.
- Captured 1st and 2nd place finishes in Section 8AAAA.
- Recorded the most wins for boys basketball in Lake Conference play in school history — widely regarded as the top boys basketball conference in Minnesota.
- Help developed six players in three years who went on to play at the collegiate level.
Oseth’s long-standing commitment to excellence, player development, and competitive integrity has left a lasting mark on every program he’s led.
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Perham will host a youth 3-on-3 Basketball tournament on Saturday, November 15, for Grades 2-8 (boys and girls divisions)
Our Goal: Run a 1st-class tournament with strong officials, beautiful facilities, get you in & out quickly, play different teams from all over, and awesome prizes for the winners!!!
*Please fill out a form for each team registering.
*Please submit a separate registration for each team.
($100 per team, 3 games guaranteed, possibly 4 depending on schedule).
*Please bring your own basketballs. 2nd & 3rd grade “might” play on lower hoops.
Email one of the coaches listed if you’d like to register a team. Hoops at the Hive may need to combine grade levels (using team ability levels) to fill some brackets. If needed to combine, players will play teams within one grade level.
*Cost is $100 per team. Please send payment immediately after registration to reserve your spot.
Payment Methods:
Venmo: @PerhamBBB (2349) (You must include the following info)
GRADE of PLAYERS (‘25-’26, max of 5 per team):
GENDER: B or G
TEAM NAME:
1 Parent/Guardian CONTACT CELL NUMBER
Check: Perham Boys Basketball (add below info on check)
Mail to: Arly Ohm 810 2nd Ave SW. Perham, MN 56573
GRADE of PLAYERS (‘25-’26, max of 5 per team):
GENDER: B or G
TEAM NAME:
1 Parent/Guardian CONTACT CELL NUMBER:
*No refunds after November 2nd.
*Registration deadline is Sunday November 2nd at 7:00 PM (or until filled) Brackets will be emailed the week prior to the tournament.
*Efficient scheduling. Expect some back to back games. Get in, play,
get on your way.
*Questions? Contact:
Arly Ohm at arlyohm@perham.k12.mn.us Cell: (701) 640-3850
Garry Grewe at ggrewe@perham.k12.mn.us Cell: (320) 241-4877
Grant Dierkhising gdierkhising@perham.k12.mn.us Cell: (218) 252-2349
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JOKES
Exercise works best first thing in the morning…
Before your brain figures out what you’re doing.
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A man went to a psychiatrist for his phobia.
“Doc,” he said, “I’ve got trouble. Every time I get into bed, I think there’s somebody under it. I get under the bed, I think there’s somebody on top of it. Top, under, top, under. You gotta help me, I’m going crazy!”
“Just put yourself in my hands for two years,” said the shrink, “Come to me three times a week, and I’ll cure your fears.”
“How much do you charge?”
“A hundred dollars per visit.”
“I’ll sleep on it,” said the man.
Six months later the doctor met the man on the street.
“Why didn’t you ever come to see me again?” asked the psychiatrist.
“For a hundred buck’s a visit? A bartender cured me for ten dollars.”
“Is that so! How?”
“He told me to cut the legs off the bed!”
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Brenda McCarthy is home making dinner for her husband Patrick when Tim Finnegan knocks at her door.
“May I come in, Brenda darlin’?” says Tim sadly, “I’ve somethin to tell ya.”
“Of course, Tim, come in, but where’s Patrick?” she asks.
“That’s what I’m here to be tellin ya, Brenda,” says Tim. “There was an accident down at the Brewery.”
“Oh, God NO!” cries Brenda. “Please don’t tell me…..”
“I’m so sorry, darlin'” says Tim, his voice breaking, “Your dear husband Patrick is dead.”
Brenda buries her face in her hands and asks tearfully “How did it happen, Tim?”
“It was a terrible thing to see, Brenda. He fell into a vat of Guinness Stout and drowned.”
“Oh my dear Jesus! But tell me true, Tim, did he at least die quickly?”
Tim hesitated. “Well, no, darlin, not really, no.”
“NO?”
“No, in fact he got out three times to pee.”
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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
Teagen Lubinski is a freshman playing football at St. Scholastica
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.
Ty Hamre is Senior playing football at Bemidji State University.
Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.
Crookston School District Coaches
Blake Bergeron is the head Pirate Wrestling Coach.
Jason Cassavant is a Jr. High Baseball Coach and Head American Legion Baseball coach
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head 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
Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling 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 currently in the Marines’ Boot Camp.
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.
