Welcome to another Sports Feever Column! It has been an interesting week with less than a month left before our first playoff event with Section 8A tennis. After this Friday, there will only be four and a half weeks left of the regular season in football. It is hard to believe playoffs are right around the corner. It looks like, besides Barnesville in Section 8AA, the rest of the area sections in football are up for grabs! There are some big games coming up for seeding purposes and we can’t wait for an exciting October of playoff action.
I found out something interesting this week. I came home from work on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning just after midnight after a 16-hour workday. I was in a pissy mood because it was a long day and the Pirate teams we covered didn’t do well, I didn’t get to watch my daughter plays tennis with her cousin because they started 90 minutes late and I had to get to TRF for volleyball. We were training in somebody at the studios and of course the computer was causing problems during the match. So I get home after writing a story, writing recaps for the announcers to read on the air, finish getting the scores, etc. I pull up to my house and there is about 15 pink flamingo’s in my front yard. Again, I am in a pissy mood already and now I think some punks put these things in my yard so I said to myself – “I will show these %**&#!!! I pulled them out of the yard and went do the dump and put them in the recyclable container. I started to feel a little better and was thinking I showed a bunch of punks who was boss and go to bed around 1:30 a.m.
My wife wakes me up at 7 AM or shortly after and says what happened to the flamingos in the front yard. I told her I brought them out to the dump to show the punks and she said ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!!!! That was some dance group trying to raise money for a trip!!! I said, “How in the hell was I supposed to know that?” She had pulled the sign out of the ground that had the information on it, but left the stupid flamingos in the ground. She said everybody knows about this…..I said obviously not…becuase I didn’t (and most everybody I talked to had no idea what it was!) Anyway, they were able to retrieve the flamingos out of the recyclables at the dump and all is good.
So my public service announcement – If you have flamingos in your yard and you toss them, be prepared for your wife’s rath.
My other public service announcement – Sell some candy bars, pizza’s, food, etc if you want to do a fundraiser. I can guarantee I will never throw that anywhere but my belly!
Enjoy this week’s column and if you have anything you think should be added, send it to chrisjfee@yahoo.com.
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Last week I had information on the Minnesota State High School League moving Ada-Borup/West football into section 8A from Section 6A the day of the first game of the season.
A lot of people have been asking how, why, etc. so I asked the Minnesota State High School League’s Bob Madison (head of district scheduling) during a phone call on Friday.
I asked Bob how the MSHSL was able to make the move so late – He said they officially made the decision on Thursday (September 5). The MSHSL has the flexibility with football scheduling to make changes to section assignments. ONLY in football can they try to balance sections after they have been set.
Part of the reason why changes were made was due to the coop agreement of Carlton and Wrenshall. That was approved and they had seven teams in Section 7. He also said if Section 8A would have had 8 teams in the section they wouldn’t have added them. Pine River-Backus went to 7 and Ada-Borup/West went to 8A.
Bob said the Ada-Borup/West Activities Director knew there might be a possibility earlier this year. He said it wasn’t ideal, but they would have had a section with nine teams, forcing the moves.
I also asked Bob about District Scheduling and why teams can’t play all the section teams- He said if the coaches/A.D.’s of each team in the section wants to play a section schedule, they would need to talk to Doreen Zier (Activities Director at Bagley and the head of our area District Scheduling). He said if most teams want to do it, they can do it as the MSHSL is giving more flexibility to the scheduling.
So coaches and A.D.’s it is up to you to change the scheduling. From what I gather from talking to most coaches in NW Minnesota, most sections would like to go to section schedules.
Bob said the district scheduling is a work in progress and they are trying to be as flexible for every part of the state because something that works for one area, might not work for the next. The MSHSL is leaving most of the decisions to the regional District committee.
So there you go. That is the latest update on the district scheduling.
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The Star Tribune’s David La Vaque had an article earlier this week that said the Minnesota State High School League has a projected deficit of $407,000 this year.
One has to wonder how much money the addition of all the classes to these sports has cost the state high school league. The article also lists a decrease in sponsorships. I find it hard to believe the MSHSL can’t find money in sponsorships for their state tournaments or throughout the year when they have basically every high school in the state as a member!!! The big blow is Wells Fargo not renewing their sponsorship. If you are familiar with the MSHSL, you know Wells Fargo has been a big sponsor for many years. The rumor is that is well over a $100,000 hit to the budget.
For David’s article click here.
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Congratulations to the Kittson County Central Bearcat Volleyball team on winning the Ruth Hayden Tournament of Roses on Saturday in Ada.
KCC beat BGMR 25-18, 25-9 and Fosston beat Ada-Borup in three sets (15-12 in the third) in the Red division semi-finals and KCC beat Fosston in the championship 25-20, 25-22.
In the Pink division, Roseau beat RLCC in the semi-finals 25-9, 25-14 and Underwood beat Nevis 25-12, 25-17 and Roseau beat Underwood in the championship in three sets.
In the White division, Climax-Fisher beat Win-E-Mac in two sets, Stephen-Argyle beat East Grand Forks in three sets. In the championship, Stephen-Argyle beat Climax-Fisher in three sets.
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We are sad to see Roseau Ram alum and current Minnesota State Moorhead Dragon Women’s basketball player Kiley Borowicz has made a difficult decision to leave the Dragon Women’s Basketball team due to health reasons. Borowicz said arthritis has taken a toll and she can’t do it anymore. Kiley would have been a junior this year and was second on the team last year in scoring with 14 points and she also added 5 rebounds and just shy of 2 steals per game.
I know exactly what Kiley is going through because, after my freshman year at UMC, I made the difficult decision to quit playing basketball. I will never forget pulling up to my parent’s house after practice and having to honk my horn in my car to have my mom come out and help me get out of the car because my knees hurt so bad. I needed my moms help to get me out of the car!! It was at that point I realized I couldn’t do it anymore. I took the next year off and transferred to Bemidji State University halfway through the year and did workouts with the Beavers team in the spring and felt great for the first month or so, then all of a sudden it came back and realized I was done playing competitive basketball.
It sucked, but now I am able to play once a week, play tennis against my kids, play catch with the kids and whatever else. It was the right decision, but one I still wish I didn’t have to make.
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Thanks again to Dave Peterson for some area district football stats –
For the District 9 North Football stats, click here
Click here for the Northwest District football stats
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The Columbus Blue Jackets have opened up 2019 training camp and Crookston’s Paul Bittner will be participating with the goal to make the big show! Paul has been with Columbus’ AHL team, the Cleveland Monsters, and looking to take the next step. We will keep a close eye on Columbus and Paul, so stay tuned. The training camp schedule is below.
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JOKES –
A 5-year old boy went to visit his grandmother one day. While playing with his toys in her bedroom while grandma was dusting furniture, he looked up and said, “Grandma, how come you don’t have a boyfriend?” Grandma replied, “Honey, my TV is my boyfriend. I can set in my bedroom and watch it all day long. The TV evangelists keep me company and make me feel so good.
The comedies make me laugh. I’m so happy with my TV as my boyfriend.” Grandma turned on the TV and the picture was horrible. She started adjusting the knobs trying to get the picture in focus. Frustrated, she started hitting on the backside of the TV hoping to fix the problem. The little boy heard the doorbell ring so he hurried to open the door.
When he opened the door, there stood Grandma’s minister. The minister said, “Hello son is your grandma home?”
The little boy replied, “Yeah, she’s in the bedroom bangin’ her boyfriend.”
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A young man goes into a drug store to buy condoms. The pharmacist says the condoms come in packs of 3, 9, or 12 and asks which the young man wants.
“Well,” he said, “I’ve been seeing this girl for a while and she’s really hot. I want the condoms because I think tonight’s “the night.” We’re having dinner with her parents, and then we’re going out after that. And I have a feeling that I’m going to get lucky, so you better give me the 12 pack. The young man makes his purchase and leaves.
Later that evening, he sits down to dinner with his girlfriend and her parents. He asks if he might give the blessing, and they agree. He begins the prayer, but continues praying for several minutes. The girl leans over and says, “You never told me that you were such a religious person.”
He leans over to her and whispers, “You never told me that your father was a pharmacist.”
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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
Cade Salentine, is a redshirt Freshman playing football at the University of North Dakota. Cade didn’t play in a 38-7 loss at #1 NDSU on Saturday. UND will host Sam Houston State in the Potato Bowl on Saturday.
Ben Trostad, Ben finished in a tie for 43rd individually with a 154 (75-79) at the JR at Lake City, Minnesota. UMC finished 14th out of 15 teams. Ben shot a first-round 79 at the Bemidji State invitational at the Town and Country Club in Bemidji.
Isaac Westlake, is a Senior playing golf for the Winona State Warriors. Isaac finished tied for 16th place individually with a 75 and 72 for a two-round total of 147 at the Watkins Invitational in Lake City. Winona State will be off until September 29 when they travel to the Super Regional preview at Owensboro, Kentucky.
Elise Tangquist, is a Junior golfer for the University of Northwestern in St. Paul. Elise shot two rounds of 88 for a 176 for a third-place finish at the UMAC preview at Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker. The University of Northwestern will travel to the NCU Invite on September 17 at Les Bolstad Golf Course in St. Paul.
Mason LaPlante, a freshman, is playing soccer at the University of Jamestown. Mason didn’t play in a 1-0 victory over Mary on Friday and he didn’t play in a 9-3 loss to #8 ranked Rocky Mountain College. The Jimmies will play at #9 ranked Baker University on Saturday.
Rachel Hefta, a freshman, is playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska. Rachel is playing on the J.V. team. The varsity team is 5-6 on the year.
Thea Oman, a freshman, is swimming at St. Ben’s. The first event of the year is at St. Kates Pentathlon October 11.
Kate MacGregor, a Sophomore, is swimming at Minnesota State Moorhead. The first meet of the year will be at the University of Mary on October 14.
Ally Tiedemann, a Sophomore, is playing tennis at the University of Minnesota Duluth. The season will start in February.
Paul Bittner, is playing for the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Bluejacket.
Aleece Durbin, is a Sophomore on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team.
Brita Fagerlund, is a Junior on the University of Jamestown Jimmy Women’s Track team.
Brady Heppner, is a Senior, playing hockey at St. Johns University in Collegeville.
Bailey Folkers, is a Sophomore on the University of Wisconsin-Superior women’s basketball team.
Crookston School District Coaches –
Brody Davidson is an Assistant Pirate Football 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
Wade Hanson is the 8th grade boys basketball coach
Travis Ross is the 7th grade boys basketball 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 an Assistant Wrestling Coach
Nate Merten is an Assistant Wrestling Coach
Tori Demarais is the Pirate Girls Hockey assistant coach.
Non-Crookston High School coaching –
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
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