Month: December 2022

Thoughts after a week or two of high school winter sports play. We are starting a new segment called CHRIS FEE’S TOP THREE.  I will list the teams I think are the top teams as of now and some that are just outside the top three in the area sections.

Section 8A Boys Hockey – Warroad (by far), East Grand Forks, Thief River Falls.  On the outside looking in, Detroit Lakes.

Section 8A Girls Hockey – Warroad (by far), Crookston, East Grand Forks.  On the outside looking in – Thief River Falls.

Section 8AA Girls Basketball – Perham, Hawley, and Barnesville.  On the outside looking in – Pelican Rapids.

Section 8A Girls Basketball –
West Sub-section – BGMR, Goodridge-Grygla, and Red Lake Falls.  On the outside looking in – Warren-Alvarado-Oslo, Sacred Heart.
East Sub-Section – Fosston, Northome-Kelliher, Fertile-Beltrami.  On the outside looking in – Cass Lake-Bena, Mahnomen/Waubun.

Section 8AA Boys Basketball – Perham, Thief River Falls, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.  On the outside looking in – Pelican Rapids, Fergus Falls, East Grand Forks.

Section 8A Boys Basketball –
East Sub-section – Cass Lake-Bena, Fertile-Beltrami, Ada-Borup West.  On the outside looking in – Mahnomen/Waubun, Blackduck, Fosston.
West Sub-Section – Warren-Alvarado-Oslo, Goodridge-Grygla, Northern Freeze.  On the outside looking in – Sacred Heart.

Section 8A Wrestling– United North Central, Frazee, Crookston.  On the outside looking in, Foston, BGMR.

Section 8AA Wrestling – Pequot Lakes/Pine River, Thief River Falls, DGF.   (It is too early to be sure who is third, but I am going with DGF after their football run!)

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If you are looking for an agent, you might want to hire P.J. Fleck‘s agent.  Once again, Fleck is receiving a new contract and extension.  The new contract is a seven-year $42 million worth.  An increase of $1 million per year from the previous.   I think P.J. is sticking around for a while.

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Section 8AA Girls Basketball alumni are fairing well at their colleges with two players of the week in their respective conferences.

Peyton Boom of Barnesville was named the NSIC north Women’s Basketball player of the week last week.  Boom plays for Minnesota State Moorhead as a senior this year. She was named the Rollins College Thanksgiving Tournament Most Outstanding Player while averaging 16 points, 7.5 rebounds and two blocks, while shooting 68 percent.

Kacie Borowicz, of Roseau, collected this week’s Summit League Women’s Basketball Peak Performer of the Week honor for the second straight week. Borowicz averaged 23.0 ppg, 4.0 apg, 3.5 RPG, and 1.5 spg to help North Dakota finish 2-0 during the week with victories over Wisconsin-Superior and at Eastern Michigan.

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The  Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors met on Thursday, Dec. 1, and below is a recap of the meeting.

Executive Director Erich Martens:  

• Provided an update on Competitive Section Placement followed by District Football determination. League Staff is anticipating receiving enrollment data from the Minnesota Department of Education which is the key information to start the process. Schools are encouraged to follow the timeline posted on the AD’s dashboard.
• Gave updates on online ticketing, including the League’s partner HomeTown Ticketing, apparel vendor Signature Concepts, and streaming partner NSPN.tv.
• Yielded the floor to League Staff for updates on the many successful Fall State Tournaments.

Executive Committee Report

Board President Troy Stein reported:  

• Approved a waiver for one additional game for softball opponents playing Spring Grove High School.
• Discussed the Adoption of Programs Task Force’s work and Representative Assembly.
• Williams Arena, Target Center and Concordia University will be used for the Boys Basketball State Tournament to be held March 21-25, 2023. Because of a scheduling conflict with the Minnesota Timberwolves, there will be no games played at Target Center on March 22.
• The Board of Directors approved a venue change for the League’s Prep Baseball Championship Series. The four-game championship event will be held Friday, June 16 at CHS Field in St. Paul. The weather date is Saturday, June 17. The venue change was necessitated because of an extended Minnesota Twins homestand at Target Field. The event is planned to return to Target Field in 2024.

Action Items 

9A: Adoption of Programs Task Force Recommendation 

• The Board of Directors approved a board policy recommendation by the Adoption of Programs Task Force to create a path for the adoption of activities through the development of an emerging status process. The approval process is in alignment with the directive of the board’s senior leadership in June that called for the development of a clear process by which activities or sports may be added to the League’s programming.
• The Board of Directors approved a proposal to classify Boys Volleyball as an emerging sport beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.
• The Board of Directors approved a proposal to send consideration of the Boys Volleyball proposed bylaw amendment directly to the Representative Assembly. The approved proposal includes the recommendation of Boys Volleyball becoming a fully sanctioned, interscholastic sport for the 2024-2025 school year.

Discussion Items 

10A: Together We Make a Difference 

• League Staff shared an update on the “Together We Make a Difference” initiative. Planning continues toward a statewide event that is tentatively scheduled for Friday, Jan. 13 at Park Center High School. The League appreciates the strong partnership of MSBA, MASSP, MASA, AMSD, MNIAAA, MSHSCA and Forbes Solutions in this initiative.

10B: Wrestling Weight Classes 

• Beginning in 2023-2024, due to a change in the NFHS wrestling rules, each state association may select the number of weight classes for their state at 12, 13 or 14. League Staff shared data received from member schools sharing feedback. Feedback from the Wrestling Advisory Committee will be shared and a decision is anticipated in February 2023.

10C: Fall Activity Advisory Proposals 

Football: 

• A proposal has been submitted to seed the Class Nine-Player through Class AAAAA fields prior to the quarterfinal round. Currently, the state tournament quarterfinal matchups are a rotation of geographically connected section opponents. The proposal seeks to seed Nos. 1-8.

Soccer: 

• Mercy rule — This proposal would implement a running clock if the goal differential is five goals or more in the second half.
• Regular season overtime — This proposal would eliminate regular-season overtime games. The result will be recorded as a tie.

Tennis  

• Adding a third class — This proposal seeks to add a third class for both boys and girls tennis and modify the way schools are grouped in each class. The proposal also seeks a modification to the MSHSL Classification Formula for Activities Conducted in Multiple Classes.
• Seeding — Member schools competing in Class A are seeking the implementation of a seeding system that uses the seeding of Nos. 1-5.

Volleyball 

• Official squad size increase — This proposal seeks to increase the number of players on the official roster from 15 to 18.

10D: Representative Assembly 

• The Representative Assembly is scheduled to convene Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
• The Board of Directors has submitted the proposed bylaw amendment relative to requiring eligible Cross Country officials at meets.
• Another proposed bylaw amendment is to create a separate bylaw for Adapted Athletics Programs. The authors of the proposed bylaw amendment are working closely with and supported by the Minnesota Adapted Athletics Association.

Committee Reports 

11A: Eligibility Committee 

• The Eligibility Committee report included updated data on the number of cases and outcomes and was approved as presented.

11B: Audit/Finance Committee 

• The Board of Directors approved the September 2022 and October 2022 financial statements.

11C: Marketing and Communications Committee 

• League Staff:
• Shared a social media update from State Tournament coverage. The League seeks to continue and grow its use of social media.
• Shared updates on corporate sponsorships and corporate engagement via public messaging and support of League programming.

• Shared a technology update that included AD Education tracking and reporting and website mobile display enhancements.

• Analytics and historical information on souvenir state tournament programs were shared.

11D: Education and Leadership Committee 

• The committee introduced an Action Item for approval for a three-year Continuing Education Renewal beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. The Board of Directors approved the proposal. The focus areas will be concussion protocols, mental health, education-based activity philosophy, and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• League Staff shared that 40 applicants have shown interest in the Student Advisory and Leadership Team (SALT). An introductory Zoom meeting is planned for Jan. 4, 2023. An in-person meeting is tentatively planned for Jan. 23, 2023, at the League Office.
• Winter Season Rules meetings are posted on the League’s website for viewing by coaches and referees. Activities Directors are encouraged to view the meetings. They can be found on their AD Dashboard.

Information Items 

• Board of Directors Workshop, via Zoom: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, 2 p.m.
• Next Board of Directors Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.
• The League Office will be closed from Dec. 23, 2022 to Jan. 2, 2023.
• The meeting was adjourned at 12:53 p.m.

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The 2022 Crookston Hockey Alumni games/scrimmages will be held Friday, December 23 at the Crookston Sports Center. Johnny Holmes will be back again at the Eagles and all players in the alumni games get in free.

Alumni from Crookston Central High School, Crookston High School, Cathedral, and the Mount will be back/are invited back to participate in this year’s games. The schedule and info are listed below –

GAME 1 – 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. – 2012 to 2022 alumni……..Odd vs Even
GAME 2 – 4:00 to 5:15 p.m. – 2011 and older alumni………… Odd vs Even
GAME 3 – 5:30-6:45………PIRATE GIRLS vs GIRLS ALUMNI
GAME 4 – 7:00-8:15……….PIRATE BOYS vs PIRATE ALUMNI

Cost – $10.00 (Make checks out to Pirate Hockey)

Social at the Crookston Eagles Club from 9 PM to 1 AM.  Johnny Holmes performing, and all alumni game players get in free.

Mail registration forms to
Steve Biermaier
PO Box 496
Crookston, MN  56716
or email steve.biermaierchiro@midconetwork.com

For the registration form click here.

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JOKES

 

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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

Emma Osborn is a freshman playing basketball at Northland Technical and Community College in Thief River Falls.

Jacey Larson is a freshman playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.

Olivia Huck is a freshman playing soccer at Minnesota State Moorhead.

Brooks Butt is a freshman playing football at the University of Jamestown.

Aleah Bienek is a freshman playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.

Elise Tangquist is the Assistant Girl’s Volleyball and Assistant Girl’s Golf Coach this year at Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove.

Emma Borowicz is a sophomore running track at Minnesota State Mankato.

Kaleb Thingelstad is a sophomore playing golf at North Central University in the Twin Cities.

Joslynn Leach is a sophomore playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead.  The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.

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

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

Ty Hamre is playing football at Bemidji State University.

Paul Bittner is playing professional hockey in Norway.

Kate MacGregor is senior swimming at Minnesota State Moorhead.

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

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

Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.

Crookston School District Coaches –
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 –

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.

Katy Westrom is the Head Girl’s 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 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

Ben Andringa is serving our country with the Army and is deployed to Iraq for nine months.

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 a grad of West Point and currently 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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