Man is it good to be home. I just wrapped up an eight-night and nine-day trip from home that had me eating out and staying in hotels for a little over a week.
It all started last Tuesday night when I got into Bloomington at about 1:00 a.m. to cover Crookston’s Joslynn Leach at state golf in Jordan at 7:48 a.m. I followed her all day and when I was done with the report, story, and pictures, etc it was about 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. I had thought about coming back home and turning around Thursday night and coming back and thought that would be silly so I stayed and woke up Thursday morning and worked until about 1:00 p.m. on my computer and on the phone. I went for a walk and got 20,000 steps in and then did some more work, ate and went to bed. Woke up Friday morning and drove to St. Michael Albertville High School to cover one of the top days for the Pirate and Section 8A tracksters that I have seen in my 20-plus years of covering the event. After arriving at the track before 9:30 a.m. I got back to the hotel around 7:00 p.m. and was joined by my wife and three of my kids waiting to go out to eat.
We hung out with my oldest daughter who is living in Woodburry, and her boyfriend’s family for the afternoon than we celebrated fathers day at one of my favorite restaurants in the cities, Hazelwood (in Bloomington). Sunday morning we woke up and traveled to Wisconsin Dells for my youngest daughter (Macy) and the Pirate Girls Basketball teams tournament on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, we drove home and got back home around 7:00 p.m. with several stops in the middle.
It was a great week, surrounded by great student-athletes, parents, people, and of course most of my family so it was a great week……but still nice to be home.
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If you ever have anything you think is newsworthy let me know at chrisjfee@yahoo.com. Thanks for reading and enjoy this weeks column!
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The Crookston Pirate Girls Basketball team took a fun and productive trip to Wisconsin Dells to play in the Dells Shootout tournament on Monday and Tuesday. They played six games and went 5-1 in the top tier of the tournament.
The girls lost to Goodhue in the first game of the tournament but bounced back to win the final five games in a round-robin format.
On Monday, they lost to a perennial power in Class AA, Goodhue (Minnesota) 55-33, but bounced back to beat Rochester Mayo 57-43.
On Tuesday they beat St. James (Minnesota) 35-30. Crookston beat Highland (Illinois) 44-42 in overtime, they beat Cloquet 45-42, and in the final game of the tourney, they beat Caledonia 34-29.
As a parent of a player, I can say it was a great trip for many reasons.
1. The girls played against some big and physical teams and played better against the physical teams as the tournament went along.
2. All the girls played on Monday and most played (usually 10 to 12 each game) in each game so they got a lot of work in.
3. It was a trip the girls will be talking about for many, many years to come. Between the waterpark, video games, bowling, and basketball, there will be stories for years to come.
Coach Darin Zimmerman was happy with the way the girls played, but also added that the girls know what they need to work on the rest of the offseason!
Oh, the parents had fun watching the girls, taking in the waterslides/waterpark, bowling, card games, etc. The parents enjoyed ourselves and even had a little fun.
It was nice to hang out with the parents at meals and after the games, as I usually don’t get to attend gatherings after games when parents want to get together because I am working on the stories. So it is always enjoyable to do that and the best part was we barely talked any basketball.
It is a great group of parents and a great group of young ladies, and a pretty good coach, that represented the school and city well. They were well-behaved, courteous, respectful, and kicked a little butt too!
One thing that stunk about the trip to the Dells, was the fact we have to wait until December to watch them in real games! They will be fun to watch, and they will be one of the many good teams in Section 8AA again next year!
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It is hard to believe that we are less than a month away from the sub-district American Legion Baseball playoffs.
This year Fertile and Bagley don’t have teams so the north sub-district will look like this –
North Division – Warroad, Roseau, Stephen-Argyle, Lancaster, and Greenbush
South Division – Red Lake County, Crookston, Win-E-Mac, and Fosston
Tournament schedule –
North play-in game – July 13 – #4 vs #5
Sub-district tournament (in Roseau) July 16-18
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The Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association has released the Academic All-State teams and several area players are on the team. The list is below –
Team Awards –
Class AA Gold – Perham
Class AA Silver – Roseau
Class A Silver – Win-E-Mac
Class AA –
Finn Diggins, Jacob McAllister, Noah Rooney, and Andrew Smith (Perham)
Brevyn Lingen (Thief River Falls)
Class A –
Gavin Haskett, Alex Jacobson, Bryer Strom, and Gavin Walker (Win-E-Mac)
Gavin Jacobson (Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal)
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The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team announced the addition of Mitch Goodwin (IF, 6-0 190, Prior Lake/Dakota County Technical College). Goodwin is the fourth junior college signee for the Golden Eagles for the 2021 signing class.
Goodwin hit .320 for Dakota County Technical College during the 2021 season. He led the team with 31 runs scored, eight doubles, six doubles, five home runs, and 37 RBIs. He posted a .410 on-base percentage and a team-high .670 slugging percentage. Goodwin stole 18 bases on the 2021 season.
In 2020, Goodwin had 10 runs scored and two RBIs, along with eight stolen bases for the Blue Knights. Defensively, Goodwin posted a .908 fielding percentage in 2021 with 66 assists, seven double plays, and 33 putouts.
In high school, he helped lead Prior Lake H.S. to their first-ever South Suburban Conference title in 2018. He hit .321 during the 2018 regular season for Prior Lake H.S.
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The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball team announced the signing of Marcus Thompson (F, 6-6 265, Brooklyn, N.Y./Lander University).
Thompson appeared in 14 games for Division II Lander University located in Greenwood, S.C. During the 2020-21 season he averaged five points and four rebounds per game. He averaged 10.1 minutes per game for the Bearcats. Thompson shot 50.0 percent from the field during the 2020-21 season. Prior to Lander, Thompson attended junior college at Monroe College, the same junior college that produced former Golden Eagle Ibu Jassey-Demba. During the 2019-20 season, Thompson tallied eight points and six rebounds per game. He appeared in 32 games and started three. Thompson shot 51.0 percent from the field. During the 2019-20 season, Thompson tallied 11 double-figure scoring outings. He had six games with double-figure rebounds during the 2019-20 slate. Thompson was named to the All-Region Team during the 2019-20 slate. He attended Robert H. Goddard High School during his prep career.
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University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Athletics announced this week that it plans to operate at full capacity for live sporting events when teams return to competition for the 2021-22 academic year. The first ticketed sports slated to welcome full capacity at its venues are soccer, volleyball, and football.
Minnesota’s football and volleyball schedules for the upcoming season are set. A non-conference schedule is still being established for soccer, while conference matchups were recently announced.
Minnesota opens the 2021 football season at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 2, when it hosts Ohio State. Season tickets are on sale now and start as low as $35 per game. Minnesota also has home games slated against Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green (Homecoming), Nebraska, Maryland, Illinois, and Wisconsin this season.
Minnesota also anticipates a return to traditional fan activities surrounding its football games, which includes tailgating, the team’s Ski-U-March arrival, Gopher Garden activities, performances from the University of Minnesota Marching Band, spirit squads, and more.
The 2021 season will also include a return of the popular Gopher Pass which will be available for purchase on July 1. Single game tickets for all seven home games will be available exclusively to Gopher Score members on July 13, with tickets available to the general public on July 15. Flexible Mini Plans will also be available for fans to purchase multiple games of their choosing beginning on July 13. Away game tickets for Minnesota’s five road games can be requested beginning on June 24 with tickets being allocated based on Gopher Score rank four weeks prior to each game.
Minnesota will also be transitioning to mobile tickets for all ticketed events on campus. Additional information and tutorials will be shared directly with ticket holders. This transition to mobile tickets allows for improved ticket delivery and management features.
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The 18th Annual Crookston High School Pirate Pride Golf Scramble will be held Friday, July 9 at Minakwa Golf Course in Crookston.
Registration will start at 9:00 a.m. with a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will be served starting at 11:00.
The cost is $60 per person and includes 18 holes of golf, a t-shirt, sandwich, salad, and chips.
There will be four-member teams. Call the clubhouse to reserve a cart (not included). Golfers must be 18 years old or older or graduated from high school to play.
All the proceeds help support Crookston High School Pirate athletics. They will have a raffle again this year so contact a Pirate coach or staff at Minakwa to purchase a raffle ticket.
Pre-registration is encouraged. Contact Steve Kofoed at 320-290-9904 or email stevenkofoed@isd593.org. Leaving a message with your team members is fine.
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The UMC Teambacker Golf Classic Presented by Altru will be held at Minakwa Golf Course in Crookston on Friday, July 16. The 31st annual golf scramble is a five-person team athletic scholarship fundraiser.
If you are interested in competing for the Cup visit z.umn.edu/teambackergc or in becoming a UMC Teambacker contact Derek Martin at 218-281-8346 or derekm@umn.edu.
UMC Teambackers is the fundraising arm and directly supports Golden Eagle Athletics at the University of Minnesota Crookston. The goal of Teambackers is to help build an athletic program that will provide a sense of pride, tradition, and legacy in our community, region, and state. Consider becoming a member or purchasing a raffle ticket. They will hold the drawing for the 2021 Teambacker raffle for $5,000 in cash prizes.
As in year’s past, the Golf Classic will once again have the hole-in-one contest on hole four with a $25,000 grand prize. The hole-in-one contest is sponsored by Brost Chevrolet, Noah Insurance, and McKinnon Company. Aaron Horak Farmers Insurance will be the food sponsor and will have a great presence at the event. Thrivent Financial representatives Aaron Meyer and Garret Kollin will be game sponsors this year. Contact Derek Martin to discuss other sponsorship opportunities for this great event.
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JOKES
A lawyer named Strange died, and his friend asked the tombstone maker to inscribe on his tombstone, “Here lies Strange, an honest man, and a lawyer.”
The inscriber insisted that such an inscription would be confusing, for passersby would tend to think that three men were buried under the stone.
However he suggested an alternative: He would inscribe, “Here lies a man who was both honest and a lawyer.
“That way, whenever anyone walked by the tombstone and read it, they would be certain to remark: “That’s Strange!”
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A farmer was sitting in the neighborhood bar getting hammered.
A man came in and asked the farmer, ‘Hey, why are you sitting here on this beautiful day, getting drunk?’
The farmer shook his head and replied, ‘Some things you just can’t explain.’
‘So what happened that’s so horrible?’ the man asked as he sat down next to the farmer.
‘Well,’ the farmer said, ‘today I was sitting by my cow, milking her.
Just as I got the bucket ’bout full, she lifted her left leg and kicked over the bucket.’
‘Okay,’ said the man, ‘but that’s not so bad.’ ‘Some things you just can’t explain,’ the farmer replied.
‘So what happened then?’ the man asked. The farmer said, ‘I took her left leg and tied it to the post on the left.’
‘And then?’ ‘Well, I sat back down and continued to milk her.
Just as I got the bucket ’bout full, she took her right leg and kicked over the bucket.’
Man laughed and said, ‘Again?’ The farmer replied, ‘Some things you just can’t explain.’
‘So, what did you do then?’ the man asked. ‘I took her right leg this time and tied it to the post on the right.’
‘And then?’ ‘Well, I sat back down and began milking her again.
Just as I got the bucket about full, the stupid cow knocked over the bucket with her tail.’
‘Hmmm . . . ‘ the man said and nodded his head. ‘Some things you just can’t explain,’ the farmer said.
‘So, what did you do?’ the man asked.
‘Well,’ the farmer said, ‘I didn’t have anymore rope, so I took off my belt and tied her tail to the rafter.
In that moment, my pants fell down and my wife walked in . . . Some things you just can’t explain.’
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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
Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Sweden for Vasby IK of the HockeyAllsvenskan league. 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 freshman playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Rachel Hefta, a Sophomore, is playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Nick Garmen is a sophomore playing tennis 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.
Lacia Hanson is the Junior High softball 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 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 –
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.
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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