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SPORTS FEEVER – September 9, 2021

The first Minnesota State High School football, volleyball, soccer, and tennis polls are out and they are available by clicking below-

https://kroxam.com/minnesota-high-school-polls/

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With high school sports still in the first two or three weeks of competition, I will hold off on some thoughts on how things are shaping up so far until next week, possibly a week later.

I will give some thoughts on Pirate athletics though.

Football – One game is in the books. It was a struggle on the line against a solid Osakis team and the offense wasn’t able to do much if anything.  It will get tougher this week against Barnesville.

Volleyball – They beat Bagley in the first match of the season in five sets.  They have struggled since.  They haven’t had a full lineup yet and are still working on getting on the same page.  Coach Englestad is doing a nice job and is as competitive as the girls, if not more, and she will get them to figure it out soon.

Soccer –
Boys soccer has struggled offensively and that doesn’t come as a surprise, even though they have had a pretty easy schedule so far.  They lost their top scorer from last years team and nobody was close, so it will take a while to get the offense going, if they can.

Girls Soccer is 2-2 and are coming off a seven-goal performance.  They have some great athletes and if they can get all their players to put the team first and not miss any more games for a myriad of reasons, they could make a run.

Girls tennis – The Pirates only have one loss so far this season and they are a favorite to win the Section 8A championship, but Staples-Motley will be tough and Park Rapids showed they will be a very tough opponent too.

Girls Swimming – Crookston has 13 girls out this year and they have started a little slow against some good competition.  The girls always show solid improvement and you can’t look at team scores to see how they are doing.  You have to look at the individual times to watch the improvement early on.

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Last week we told you about Alex Gullingsrud, son of area official Michael Gullingsrud and Red Lake Falls Volleyball coach Nicki.
After going in for testing the doctors found a tumor on his pelvic bone.  Alex and his family found out that it is Osteosarcoma on the tumor on his right pelvic bone. They also found two very small nodules in his left lung. These nodules are concerning, as it could be something that has spread from the tumor on his hip.

On September 3 – Alex had surgery and a port was put in place.

On September 4 – Alex started chemotherapy

The latest update on September 8 – After 3 rough days in a row, he is feeling quite a bit better today and has been able to keep food/drink down.

Local fundraising for Alex’s family can now be done thanks to Dakota Heritage Bank in Red Lake Falls. Monetary donations can be sent to:
Alex Gullingsrud Benefit Account
c/o Dakota Heritage Bank
PO Box 340
Red Lake Falls, MN 56750

— — —

Our friends at the Grygla School will be hosting a fundraiser for the Ryan and Jennifer (Saurdiff) Wichterman and the Mike and Nicole Gullingsrud families on Saturday, October 16th, beginning at 8:00, in conjunction with the Frostbite Volleyball Tournament.

Both families have children, Dylan Wichterman, 13, and Alex Gullingsrud, 8, who are battling Cancer.  They both face several trips to the Mayo Clinic for treatment and appointments.

We ask that you come out to support these area families by supporting the Bingo, silent and live auctions, Beef Brisket dinner and bake sale.  You can order t-shirts at:

https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSePEZ…/viewform…

T-shirts are $20.  $8 per t-shirt will go directly to the two families.

— — —

Major Division 1 student-athletes in the big sports like football and basketball continue to get good news as more and more donors and businesses are chipping in money, cars, and everything else towards the student-athletes.

The latest –

Michigan State football and men’s basketball players will receive $500 monthly stipend after a donor gave money to make it happen. 

Six Ohio State football players – defensive linemen Haskell Garrett and Zach Harrison, wide receiver Chris Olave, linebacker Teradja Mitchell, quarterback C.J. Stroud and running back Miyan Williams – received new cars for the 2021 season from Coughlin Chevrolet of Pataskala as part of a partnership with the dealership.

The cars have been leased to the players only through the end of the football season, though players who return to Ohio State for the 2022 season will have the option to extend their partnerships with the dealership.

As part of the partnership, the football players will also participate in toy drives, fundraisers and other community outreach in addition to promoting the dealership.

— — —

Two take aways from the Wisconsin vs Penn State football game on Saturday.  It was a solid game with both teams struggling on offense, but they kept showing the crowd during the game, especially when they went to the awesome game ritual of “Jump Around” while playing House of Pains Jump Around.  I noticed something…..there were a lot of unattractive people in the stands.  Just putting that out there……It is a classic case of the Pot calling the Kettle black, but just my thoughts.

Also, I was a little disappointed in the Badgers fans with their game day numbers, as far as arrests go.

Final UWPD stats from 9/4/21 Wisconsin vs. Penn State football game:
12 citations (10 underage alcohol)
22 ejections
21 paramedic calls
30 first aid calls
1 ambulance transport
1 detox transport
1 contact with .20 BAC or higher

—  — —

Speaking of college football, the new Texas Longhorn football stadium has a symbol that happens to look like something else.  Texas has been in the news for something pretty controversial this past week (if you need a hint)……..See if you see it.

— — —

What an opening week for high school football in Minnesota.

Two of the top programs in Class AA, Caledonia and Barnesville, both lost on Friday night.  Barnesville lost to West Central 14-12 in Barrette, and Caledonia lost to Lake City 30-13.  The Caledonia loss snapped the nation’s current longest winning streak at 71 games.  The streak came up short of Stephen-Argyle’s 76 game winning streak that was snapped on October 31, 2008 when Kittson County Central “finally” beat the Storm in the Section 8 9-Man championship at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.
Speaking of the Storm, they lost to Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal on Friday afternoon.  I wonder if the Storm, Barnesville, and Caledonia have ever lost on the same day before?  Probably not in the last 30 years.

— — —

UMC Volleyball played four matches last weekend at Colorado State University-Pueblo’s tournament.  I watched all four matches on the live stream and I liked the improvement I saw from the team as the tournament progressed.  They have a lot of new players, so there is a learning curve as far as learning to play with each other.
The Golden Eagles played their best match of the weekend in their final match and led 2-1 over CSU-Pueblo, but ran out of gas in the fourth and fifth set.  UMC will have an important match, in all honesty, a must-win as they travel to Minot State in the Northern Sun Conference opener on Tuesday, September 14.

— — —

The NSIC has announced the dates, formats and locations for the 2021-22 league championships and post-season tournaments.

The biggest change comes in the Women’s and Men’s Basketball tournaments.  The NSIC is split into 8 teams in the north and 8 teams in the south.  The bottom two teams (7th and 8th seed) will NOT make the playoffs this year and the top two teams from each division will get a bye.

The NSIC sponsors 18 sports, with teams advancing to post-season tournaments in the sports of soccer, volleyball, men’s & women’s basketball, baseball, softball, and women’s tennis.  Championship meets are held in the sports of men’s & women’s cross country, women’s swimming & diving, men’s and women’s indoor/outdoor track & field, and men’s & women’s golf. Football and wrestling regular-season championships are based on regular-season standings, with no NSIC post-season tournament.

All dates and times are subject to change with minimal notice.

2021 Fall NSIC Championship Information
NSIC Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Championships
Date(s): Saturday, October 23, 2021
Location: Wayne Country Club – Wayne, Nebraska – Hosted by Wayne State College
Championship Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICCC

NSIC Soccer Tournament
Date(s): Wed., Fri., Sun., November 10,12,14, 2021
Location: On campuses
Tournament Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICSoc

NSIC Volleyball Tournament
Date(s): Thurs-Sat., November 18-20, 2021
Location: Sanford Pentagon – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Tournament Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICVB

2021-22 Winter NSIC Championship Information
NSIC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship
Date(s): Wed-Sat., February 9-12, 2022
Location: Midco Aquatic Center – Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Hosted by University of Sioux Falls
Championship Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICSD

NSIC/Sanford Health Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournament*
Date(s): Wed., & Sat.-Tues., February 23, 26-28 & March 1, 2022
Location: 1st Rd on Campus; Qrt/Semi/Champ at Sanford Pentagon – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Tournament Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICTourney
*New in 2021-22, the NSIC men’s & women’s basketball schedules will pre-identify which gender plays first in doubleheaders. Also, the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournaments will consist of 12 teams.   

NSIC Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship
Date(s): Fri.-Sat., February 25-26, 2022
Location: Myers Field House – Mankato, Minnesota – Hosted by Minnesota State University, Mankato
Championship Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICIDTF

2022 Spring NSIC Championship Information
NSIC Men’s Golf Championship
Date(s): Thurs.-Sat., April 14-16, 2022
Location: Adams Pointe Golf Club – Blue Springs, Missouri
Championship Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICMGolf

NSIC Women’s Golf Championship
Date(s): Fri.-Sun., April 22-24, 2022
Location: Paradise Pointe Golf Complex – Smithville, Missouri
Championship Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICWGolf

NSIC Women’s Tennis Championship
Date(s): Fri.-Sun., April 22-24, 2022
Location: Huether Family Match Pointe – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Championship Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICTennis

NSIC Softball Tournament
Date(s): Thurs.-Sat., May 5-7, 2022
Location: RYFSA Complex – Rochester, Minnesota
Tournament Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICSB

NSIC Baseball Tournament
Date(s): Wed.-Sat., May 11-14, 2022
Location: Karras Park, Sioux Falls, South Dakota / Aspen Park, Brandon, South Dakota – Co-hosted by Augustana University & University of Sioux Falls
Tournament Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICBase

NSIC Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Date(s): Thurs.-Saturday, May 12-14, 2022
Location: Swisher Field – Aberdeen, South Dakota – Hosted by Northern State University
Championship Central: www.NorthernSun.org/NSICODTF

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JOKES

A man came home from an exhausting day at work, plopped down on the couch in front of the television, and told his wife: “Get me a beer before it starts!”

The wife sighed and got him a beer.

Ten minutes later, he said: “Get me another beer before it starts!”

She looked cross, but fetched another beer and slammed it down next to him. He finished that beer and a few minutes later said: “Quick, get me another beer, it’s going to start any minute!”

The wife was furious. “Is that all you’re going to do tonight! Drink beer and sit in front of that TV! You’re nothing but a lazy, drunken, fat slob and furthermore…”

The man sighed and said: “It’s started.”

— —

v

A man came home from an exhausting day at work, plopped down on the couch in front of the television, and told his wife: “Get me a beer before it starts!”

The wife sighed and got him a beer.

Ten minutes later, he said: “Get me another beer before it starts!”

She looked cross, but fetched another beer and slammed it down next to him. He finished that beer and a few minutes later said: “Quick, get me another beer, it’s going to start any minute!”

The wife was furious. “Is that all you’re going to do tonight! Drink beer and sit in front of that TV! You’re nothing but a lazy, drunken, fat slob and furthermore…”

The man sighed and said: “It’s started.”

— —

Two life-long friends were enjoying a few pints down at the local bar, when one said to the other: “If I ask you a question, will you promise to answer me honestly?”
“Yeah, sure thing,” replied his friend, “fire away.”

“Well,” said the first guy, “why do you think all the guys around here find my wife so attractive?”

“It’s probably because of her speech impediment,” replied the second guy.

“What do you mean her speech impediment?”

inquired the first fellow.

“My wife doesn’t have a speech impediment!”

“Well,” replied his friend, “you must be the only guy who hasn’t noticed that she can’t say ‘NO’!!”

— —

— — —

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

Kaleb Thingelstad is a freshman playing golf at Kansas Wesleyan University.

Joslynn Leach is a freshman playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead.

Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Sweden.  He will be returning to Sweden in the fall.

Aleece Durbin, is a Junior on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team.

Ben Trostad is playing Club Hockey at UMC.

Ty Hamre is playing Club Hockey at UMC.

Brandon Boetcher is playing Club Hockey at UMC.

Brady Butt is a sophomore playing football at the University of Jamestown.

Rachel Hefta, a Sophomore, is playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.

Nick Garmen is a junior playing tennis at the University of Minnesota Morris.

Crookston School District Coaches –
Sue Tiedemann is the Pirate head girls tennis coach
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 –

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.

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 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

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

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