SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Wow! We are down to the final week of the 2023-24 High School Sports year.
State Softball, track, and tennis are this week. Next week is baseball and golf.
Congratulations to all teams and individuals making it to state and best of luck to those that are going to comepete in state competition.
— — —
The Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors met on Tuesday and approved seeding the state basketball and hockey tournaments 1-8 instead of the previously used 1-5 and random draw for the final three teams.
9B: Winter Advisory Proposals
Boys and Girls Basketball:
The Board of Directors approved a Minnesota Rules Modification to the NFHS Basketball Rules Book on the Basket Interference rule.
The Board of Directors approved the seeding of the quarterfinals of the state tournaments for all classes, Nos. 1-8.
Boys Hockey:
In a roll call vote, the Board of Directors did not approve a proposal to align the activity with the same practice of classifying teams in other team sports.
Boys and Girls Hockey:
The Board of Directors approved a proposal to seed the quarterfinals of the state tournaments for both classes, Nos. 1-8.
Alpine Skiing:
A motion to permit any available video to protest a disqualification was not approved by the Board of Directors.
Nordic Skiing:
The Board of Directors approved a proposal to remove hats and headgear from inclusion in the uniform requirements under Rule 206.1.1 and 206.1.2 unless graphic illustrations are inappropriate.
Wrestling:
The Board of Directors approved a proposal to increase the number of girls-only events that do not count toward the team limit of 16, from four to eight.
The Board of Directors approved a proposal to codify the required format used for section individual tournaments. The proposal requires sections with 10 or more teams to administer a two-day tournament.
The Board of Directors did not approve a proposal to add full wrestlebacks to the individual state tournament.
— — —
Crookston High School senior Isaac Thomforde has received the #3 seed in singles at the Minnesota State Individual Class A Tennis Tournament that will start on Thursday, June 6 at Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in Minneapolis.
Thomforde won the Section 8A Championship and was 25-2 on the year. Not bad for a kid who started playing tennis four years ago!!!
Isaac will play Patrick Green of Breck School in the first round at 8:00 a.m. Green is 11-5 on the year.
In the second round, Thomforde will play Wyatt Herber of North Branch or Payton Marks of Rock Ridge at Noon.
— — —
The Red Lake Falls Eagle Softball team lost a heart-breaker to Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley in the first round of the State Class A Softball tournament. The Eagles led 7-2 going into the seventh inning, and CGB scored seven runs to win the game 9-7.
Red Lake Falls was the #2 seed, and they will play the #3 seed Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms, in the consolation semi-finals at 11:30 a.m. If they win that game, they will play at 7:00 p.m. for the Consolation Championship. KROX will have the games on the radio.
In Class AA, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton also lost a tough one in a 2-1 loss to #3 seed St. Cloud Cathedral. DGF will play Dassel-co*kato at 11:30 on Thursday in the Consolation semi-finals.
Area umpires will be working the Minnesota State Softball Tournament this week. I have listed them below –
Paul Cyr of Oklee
Peter Larson of Bagley
David Peterson of Detroit Lakes
Jeff Stoen of Dilworth
— — —
The Minnesota State Track and Field meet is being held Thursday-Saturday, June 6-8, at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS –
Thursday, June 6 –
9:00 AM – Class AAA Prelims
3:30 PM – Class A Prelims
Friday, June 7 –
9:00 AM – Class AA Prelims
3:30 PM – Class A Finals
Saturday, June 8 –
9:00 AM – Class AA Finals
3:30 PM – Class AAA Finals
The Section 8A athletes and what they are ranked going into the meet are below –
100 Hurdles – (Top time – Lucea Wales – ABE – 15.30)
20. Nora Osowski (West Marshall) – 17.33
21. Grace McNamee (Nevis) – 17.36
110 Hurdles – (Top time – Christopher Hilton – St. Charles – 14.67
13. Hayden Hauf (DGF) – 15.70
14. Kade Swenson (DGF) – 15.70
Girls 100 meters – (Top time – Chantle Reiland – GMLOKS – 12.30
4. Ava Phrakonkham (Bagley/Fosston) – 12.49
18. Claire Klinkhammer (Bagley/Fosston) – 13.44
Boys 100 meters – (Top time – Makoi Perich – Esko) – 10.87
13. Ryan Kangas (Win-E-Mac) – 11.44
16. Ayo Ogundeji (Nevis) – 11.62
Girls 4×200 Relay (Top team – Chatfield – 1:44.15)
9. West Marshall – 1:46.77
16. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton – 1:48.53
Boys 4×200 Relay (Top team – Caledonia – 1:30.44)
17. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton – 1:34.13
18. Park Rapids – 1:36.33
Girls 4×100 Relay (Top team – Chatfield – 49.27)
7. West Marshall – 50.69
8. Bagley/Fosston – 50.73
Boys 4×100 Relay (Top team – Caledonia – 43.39)
19. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton – 44.86
20. BGMR/Freeze – 44.91
Girls 400 meters – (Top time – Addison Hoof – Lester Prairie – 57.76)
3. Katrina Hitchen (Fertile-Beltrami) – 58.33
13. Annika Aakre (Park Christian) – 1:00.18
Boys 400 meters – (Top time – Oliver Thompson – St. Paul Academy – 48.94)
11. Landon Bakke (United Clay-Becker) – 50.78
20. Charles Scholl (Ada-Borup-West) 51.30
Girls 300 meter hurdles (Top time – Elizabeth Tuttle – St. Paul Academy – 44.79)
10. Hannah Pederson (West Marshall) – 46.78
19. Nora Osowski (West Marshall) – 48.88
Boys 300 meter hurdles (Top time – James Weber – Lac qui Parle Valley – 40.03)
14. Caleb Johnson (DGF) – 42.31
17. Kade Swenson (DGF) – 43.10
Girls 800 meters (Top time – Audrey Brownell – Staples-Motley – 2:19.13)
12. Jayla Abrahamson (Climax-Fisher/SH) – 2:24.20
15. Sarah Prodzinski (Ada-Borup-West) – 2:25.03
Boys 800 meters (Top time – Jayce Kiehne – Lanesboro/Gillmore Central – 1:54.66)
14. Bridger Larson (United Clay-Becker) – 2:02.00
15. Grant Nelson (Wadena-Deer Creek) 2:02.15
Girls 200 meters – (Top time – McKaylen Lewis – Math and Science Academy – 24.94)
8. Ava Phrakonkham (Bagley/Fosston) – 25.87
19. Katrina Hitchen (Fertile-Beltrami) – 27.09
Boys 200 meters – (Top time – Jesse Ortiz – Medford – 22.00)
11. Leif Shervey (United Clay-Becker) – 22.86
17. Bodey DeVries (DGF) – 23.26
Girls 3200 meters – (Top time – Olivia Pauly – St. John’s Prep – 11:07.98)
12. Anjalie Aho (United North Central) 11:51.60
13. Emmi Ihry (Climax-Fisher/Sacred Heart) – 11:52.73
Boys 3200 meters – (Top time – Erik Semling – Winona Cotter – 9:37.59)
11. Noah Huot (Park Rapids) 10:02.94
15. Owen Winter (DGF) 10:07.18
Girls 4×400 Relay – (Top team – Eden Valley-Watkins – 4:05.20)
11. Park Rapids – 4:10.04
14. United Clay-Becker – 4:11.06
Boys 4×400 Relay – (Top team – Winona Cotter – 3:24.28)
15. United Clay-Becker – 3:32.09
18. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton – 3:35.77
Girls Long Jump – (Top jump – McKaylen Lewis – Math and Science Academy – 18-11)
2. Ellie Sosa (DGF) 17-11
15. Avery Aakre (Park Christian) 17-00.75
19. Julia Miller (Ada-Borup-West) 16-11.75
21. Ava Follingstad (Barnesville) – 16-11
Boys Triple Jump – (Top jump – Mason Dalluge – 44-04)
12. Gavin McArthur (Mahnomen/Waubun) 42-06
18. Vincent Perucho (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley) 41-01.75
Boys Pole Vault – (Top vault – Joseph Arens – St. Croix Prep – 14-06)
3. Joe Wilson (DGF) 13-10
15. Hayden Rettke (Walker-H-A) 11-10
Girls High Jump – (Top jump – Annaka Forsberg – Blooming Prairie – 5-05)
4. Allison LaVine (Clearbrook-Gonvick) – 5-03
8. Ava Phrakonkham (Bagley/Fosston) 5-01
15. Annika Aakre (Park Christian) – 5-01
20. Markelle Pederson (West Marshall) 5-01
Boys Shot Put – (Top put – TJ Christensen – Litchfield – 56-04)
20. Josh Dudgeon (DGF) 47-02
21. Treston Nichols (BGMR/Freeze) 46-11.5
Girls Discus – (Top throw – Grace Schmidt – Litchfield – 123-06)
5. Aria Garrett (DGF) – 118-08
6. Allison LaVine (Clearbrook-Gonvick) – 117-00
10. Emily Marquis (West Marshall) – 115.09
12. Sarah Hartung (Park Rapids) 114-04
Girls 4×800 Relay- (Top team – St. John’s Prep – 9:36.47)
7. United Clay-Becker – 9:53.78
9. Climax-Fisher/Sacred Heart – 9:56.34
Boys 4×800 Relay – (Top team – Luverne – 8:12.52)
13. Park Rapids – 8:29.64
16. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton – 8:49.00
Girls 1600 meters – (Top time – Audrey Brownell – Staples-Motley – 5:06.68)
5. Emmi Ihry (Climax-Fisher/Sacred Heart) – 5:13.85
13. Anjalie Aho (United North Central) – 5:21.31
17. Ella Arntson (Climax-Fisher/Sacred Heart) 5:29.49
Boys 1600 meters – (Top time – Owen Janiszeski – Luverne – 4:22.45)
11. Noah Huot (Park Rapids) – 4:31.92
17. Owen Winter (DGF) – 4:41.82
Boys High Jump – (Top jump – Sam Snitker – GMLOKS – 6-08)
10. Elijah Wellumson (Climax-Fisher/Sacred Heart) – 6-02
17. Macswel Kunza (DGF) – 6-02
Girls Pole Vault (Top vault – Riley Sater – LeSueur-Henderson – 11-07)
3. Addison Lauwagie (Park Rapids) – 10-07
6. Markelle Pederson (West Marshall) – 10-01
18. Ashley Maneval (Barnesville) – 9-01
Boys Long Jump (Top jump – Jordan Mount – Crosby-Ironton – 22-04.25)
9. Ryan Kangas (Win-E-Mac) 21-06
11. Macswel Kunza (DGF) 21-03
12. Ayo Ogundeji (Nevis) 21-02.5
Girls Triple Jump – (Top jump – Ellie Sosa (DGF) 37-06.5)
1. Ellie Sosa (DGF) 37-06.5
7. Hannah Pederson (West Marshall) 36-03
Boys Discus – (Top throw – TJ Christensen – Litchfield – 184.08)
19. Ethan Hellerud (DGF) 143-00
20. Logan Broten (Bagley/Fosston) 141-08
Girls Shot Put – (Top put – Jayda Kolstoe – Minnewaska Area – 39-07.5)
3. Aria Garrett (DGF) 38-09.25
12. McKinley Folland (Kittson Co. Central) 36-02.5
— — —
The Section 8A Baseball Championship will have the Sacred Heart Eagles taking on the Red Lake County Rebels. Sacred Heart was the preseason pick by pretty much everybody to win the section championship. Red Lake County is a young team that could be the favorite for several years to come. and they are coming into the game by beating Ada-Borup-West and Fosston in loser-out games on Wednesday.
It should be an interesting game with Sacred Heart going with Parker Erickson. Both teams are playing great baseball and the Championship game is at 2:00 p.m. and we will have it on KROX Radio.
Congratulations to the Perham Yellowjackets on winning the Section 8AA Baseball Championship. They were the favorite coming in and took care of business. They advance to St. Cloud next week to play in the Class AA State Baseball tournament next week.
— — —
Former University of Minnesota Crookston pitcher Jake Osowski (East Grand Forks) signed a professional contract with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association. He becomes the fifth player who is currently playing professional baseball, who was a former Golden Eagle baseball player. The Golden Eagles have had 10 former baseball players go on to play professional baseball. Osowski joins his former teammates Jake Dykhoff (Wadena), and Jake Hjelle (East Grand Forks) on the RedHawks. Hjelle and Osowski have been teammates most of their lives, from when they were young to East Grand Forks H.S. to the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Osowski joins Hjelle, Dykhoff, Zeke Hass (Eaton, Colo.), and Conner Richardson (Grand Forks, N.D.) as former Golden Eagles currently playing professional baseball. Hass is competing for the Santa Fe Fuego of the Pecos League. Richardson is pitching for the Oakland Ballers of the Pioneer Baseball League.
Osowski made his professional debut Sunday, June 2, pitching one inning against the Milwaukee Milkmen, allowing no runs on no hits in one inning. Hjelle has played primarily as a first baseman and designated hitter. He has appeared in 13 games, hitting .255, with eight runs scored, one double, one home run, and four RBIs. Dykhoff is having an outstanding second season with the RedHawks. He has appeared in eight games, with 14 innings pitched. Dykhoff has allowed just one earned run, on 10 hits. He has struck out 17 and walked two. Dykhoff has a 0.64 ERA.
Hass has yet to appear in a game this season for the Fuego. Richardson is 1-0 in seven innings pitched, and three appearances. He has allowed five runs on nine hits. Richardson has 10 strikeouts, and one walk.
— — —
— — —
The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball team is holding a Development Camp for grades 3-8 July 17-19 at Lysaker Gymnasium. The cost of the camp is $100. It will run from 1-3 p.m. If you are interested in registering for the camp please visitmensbasketball.
Campers will receive instruction from the Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball staff. The camp will help with skill development for kids going into grades 3-8. It is catered to both boys and girls interested in participating.
— — —
— — —
— — —
Learn more and register:z.umn.edu/soccercamp24
— — —
— — —
JOKES
A dietitian was once addressing a large audience in Chicago. “The material we put into our stomachs is enough to have killed most of us sitting here, years ago. Red meat is awful. Soft drinks erode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG, and none of us realizes the long-term harm caused by the germs in our drinking water.”
“But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all and we all have, or will, eat it. Can anyone here tell me what food it is that causes the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?”
A 75-year-old man in the front row stood up and said,
“Wedding cake.”
— —
According to a news report, a certain private school in Washington recently was faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night,the maintenance man would remove them and the next day, the girls would put them back. Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man…. She explained that all these lip prints were causinga major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night. To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror. There are teachers, and then there are educators…
— — —
A devoted wife had spent her lifetime taking care of her husband. Now he had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months, yet she stayed by his bedside every single day.
When he came to senses, he motioned for her to come near him.
As she sat by him, he said, “You know what? You have been with me all through the bad times. When I got fired, you were there to support me. When my business failed, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you gave me support. When my health started failing, you were still by my side. You know what?”
“What dear?” she asks gently.
“I think you bring me bad luck.”
— — —
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
Emilee Tate is a freshman playing Softball at Northland Community and Technical College.
Halle Bruggeman is a freshman on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Tennis team.
Grace Fischer is a freshman on the Concordia College (Moorhead) Women’s Golf team.
Ethan Bollis a Freshman on the University of North Dakota Football team.
Breanna Kressinis a Sophom*ore on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Emma Osbornis a Sophom*ore playing basketball at Northland Technical and Community College in Thief River Falls.
Jacey Larsonis a Sophom*ore playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienekis a Sophom*ore playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Elise Tangquistis the Head Girls Golf Coach at Horace High School in Fargo, ND..
Kaleb Thingelstadis a junior playing golf at Kansas Wesleyan.
Joslynn Leachis a sophom*ore playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brady Buttis a Junior playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Ty Hamreis playing football at Bemidji State University.
Aleece Durbinis a Junior on the University of North Dakota Womens Track and Field team.
Elizabeth Erdmanis a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.
Crookston School District Coaches
Emilee Tate is the Pirate 7th grade volleyball coach.
Todd Mineris a Pirate Football assistant coach.
Ben Parkinis the head Pirate Baseball Coach.
Jeremy Lubinskiis a Pirate 8th Grade Football coach.
Amy Bollis the head Pirate Girls Track head coach
Sarah Reeseis the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Marley Melbyeis the Head Girls Swimming coach and assistant girls golf coach
Jeff Perreaultis the Pirate Girls Golf head coach
Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Sam Melbyeis the Pirate Boys J.V. Hockey coach
Chris Dufaultis a youth wrestling Coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching/Admin/etc
Tim Desrosieris an Assistant Coach for Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Pony Boys Basketball
Pat Wolfeis the head wrestling coach for Fosston/Bagley.
Austin Sommerfeldis an Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communication at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Collin Reynoldsis the head baseball coach for the University of Colorado Buffalo Club Baseball team.
Trent Stahleckeris a School Security Specialist & he works for the Brevard Public Schools, Florida.
Cody Weilandis an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown.
Josh Edlundis the head football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axnessis Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach at Champlin Park
Jeff Olsonis the Head Wrestling Coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olsonis an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.
Katy (Westrom) Horgenis the Head Boys Tennis coach at Monticello High School.
Matt Harrisis an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Marty Bratrudis the Superintendent and High School Principal at Westhope High School.
Gordie Haug is an assistant football coach at the University of Wyoming.
Mike Hastingsis the Wisconsin Badgers Men’s head Hockey coach.
Mike Biermaieris the Athletic Director at Grand Forks Schools.
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreaultworks 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 Bushieis the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College.
Chris Myroldis the Director and Fitness at Mission Ranch and Fitness in Camel, California.
Kyle Buchmeieris a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Ben Andringais serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
Jarrett Butenhoffis serving our country with the U.S. Navy.
Joshua Butenhoffis serving our country on a Submarine with the Pacific Fleet with the US Navy.
Peter Courniais a 2002 Crookston High School Graduate and a grad of West Point and currently serving in the U.S. Army.
Erik Ellingsonis serving our country with the U.S. Air Force at Minot.
Philip Kujawaclass of 2004, from Crookston High School. He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.
Rob Sobolikis 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.comor call. Thanks for reading and listening to KROX RADIOand kroxam.com.
