SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Happy post-Liberation Day to those who celebrate……and to those who have no idea what the heck is going on right now! No political talk in the column….I apologize!
April Fools brought some snow and a snowstorm to much of the state. Luckily for those of us in the far northwest corner of the state, we have had a lot less snow than those to the south and all the way down to the Twin Cities!!! We are getting much-needed precipitation, and I will take happy farmers over a baseball/softball game or track meet happening in the first week of April ANY DAY!!! While I hate the snow and would much rather see rain, I will take it and enjoy one more week of not broadcasting a game. But, I hope that changes next week.
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Warren-Alvarado-Oslo High School is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Head Volleyball Coach. This role provides an opportunity to lead a competitive program while developing student-athletes both on and off the court.
At WAO, we take pride in our student-athletes, our community, and our tradition of excellence. We’re searching for a coach who’s ready to develop skills, foster teamwork, and compete at a high level.
If you’re ready to make an impact and join our team, apply today! Call 218-745-5393 or stop by the WAO district office for more information. Join the WAO Ponies and be part of something great!
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Crookston Pirate Spring sports are all underway, and I have added a few more sports to the list. But this senior class is extremely disappointing! The lack of seniors out for sports this spring is EMBARRASSING!! Come on, parents, get your lazy kids off the couch and have them go out for something!! It isn’t too late, and any coach would be happy to have your kid out for any sport! Have your kid contact a coach or Mr. Lubarski, and he will be happy to guide your kid in the right direction!!!!
I still haven’t received the Crookston Pirate Girls Golf roster yet, but here is the rest of the teams rosters.
Baseball – 20 out 9-12
Seniors (3) – Matt Contreras, Conner Hanson, Parker Kelly
Juniors (10) – Jose Arriaga, Nolan Cassavant, Cody Demarais, Isaiah Donarski, Greyson Ecker, Anton Elbinger, Carter Fee, Gavyn Hlucny, Lucas Perala, Jay Reese, Masen Reitmeier, Tarek Siegle
Sophomores (2) – Aiden DeLage, Ethan Lanctot
Freshmen (5) – Mauricio Arriaga, Jax Frederick, Josiah Herberg, Jaron Knutson, Gabe Perala
Clay Target Team – 30 out 7-12
Seniors (4) – Joslyn Wallace, Michael Miller, Riley Helgeson, Conner Hanson
Juniors (8) – Casey Weiland, Lennon Prudhomme, Isaac Michaud, Wyatt Marsyla, Zander Luckow, Tate Hamre, Tony Elbinger, Greyson Ecker
Sophomores (3) – Austin Thode, Addisyn Schiller, Jack Nobles
Freshmen (8) – Evan Wagner, Jayde Uttermark, Ivan Luckow, Jaron Knutson, Kai Hoppe, Lukas Helgeson, Rilynn Aubol, Allison Abeld
Eight graders (4) – Axl Page, Tanner Owens, Anna Heldstab, Jacob Biermaier
Seventh graders (7) – Garrett Wilkens, Korynn Uttermark, Boden Turnwall, Elijah Hoppe, Calianna Donarski, Ella Capistran, Evan Boucher
Boys Golf – 8 out 7-12
Seniors: None
Juniors: Garrett Fisher, Tate Hamre, Evan Shockman, David Dauksavage
Sophomores: None
Freshmen: John Lisov, Colin Trudeau
8th Grade: None
7th Grade: Harrison Cameron, Hayden Ricard
Coach Steve Kofoed says, “If there are other boys that would like to join, it isn’t too late. We would love to have you.”
Boys Tennis – 16 boys out
Seniors (5) – Nickolaus Bachmeier, Michael Deng, Jack Everett, Codey Heinle, Teagen Lubinski
Juniors (3) – Gunnar Groven, Sam Widseth, Reggie Winjum
Sophomores (6) – Sawyer Anderson, Ean Deleon, Grant Funk, Colton Osborn, Hudson Rick, Alex Zammert
Freshman (2)– Tucker Lubinski, Cameron Martin
Boys Track and Field – 27 out 7-12 (I don’t include sixth graders because they can’t compete in varsity)
Seniors (1) – Jayden Mulvey
Juniors (8) – Ryker Arnold, Miles Corneillie, Kahnen Hanson, Ian Olslund, Lennon Prudhomme, Makoti Weber, Peter Wiersma, Cade Wisk
Sophomores (6) – Jackson Fritsch, Aaron Gosse, Landon Meier, Xsavior Ramos, Gavin Reitmeier, Josseft Valadez
Freshman (5) – Travis Blackbird, Paul Bruce, Jesus De Los Santos, Chris Goodrich, Erik Pruneda
Eighth graders (3) – Masen Lessard, Eli Marsyla, Tyrese Middleton,
Seventh graders (4) – Miguel De Los Santos, James Hood, Cohen Luckow, Jude Seddon
Girls Track – 19 out 9-12
Seniors (1)– Madi Harbott
Juniors (3) – Ashlyn Bailey, Chloe Boll, Ziizi Sam
Sophomores (11)– Stella Abeld, Madilyn Abrams, Rylee Anderson, Alicia Bartrum, Aubrey Bartrum, Veronica Deschene, Alaina Goelzer, Ella Huffman, Ashlynn LaLonde, Brooklyn Waldal, Cecelia Widman
Freshman (4) – Grace Boll, Hailey Fritz, Nora Groven, Jayde Uttermark
Softball – 18 out 9-12
Seniors (2) – Emily Bowman, Kambelle Freije
Juniors – None
Sophomores (8) – Madi Bruggeman, Lilyan Corneillie, Brylee Darco, Leah Johanneck, Brea Lessard, Mollie Samuelson, Addisyn Schiller, Allysen Wagner
Freshman (8) – Rilynn Aubol, Shyuh Burnette, Danielle Bushaw, Kylie Delage, Peyton Demarais, Priscilla Gonzalez, Alyssa Johnson, Leia Parkin
Eighth graders: Cecilia Newquist, Emma Pierson, Cora Prudhomme Shane, Brynna Kopecky
Seventh graders: Mckinna Amiot, Delilah Romero Isaacson, Ava Bartrum, Tylie Demarais
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What is going on with UND Men’s Hockey? As a Gopher fan, I find it hilarious, but as a sports fan and a fan of Brad Berry, a good all-around guy, I find it sad!
First, they can Brad Berry after 10 years, then they hire his assistant and an assistant who has been there for 19 years. I am not a genius, but I understand how recruiting works. The assistants are the biggest factor in recruiting, and the head coach is the one who goes in for the “kill” or to seal the deal in D1 programs like UND hockey.
So, with that said, why in the heck would you promote the assistant???? The program (which will struggle now in the NIL era as they will never have the money to compete with the bigger and better schools with more money) is in big-time turmoil!
Now that the transfer portal is open for Men’s hockey, UND took a huge hit on the first day it opened, and NIL money has already had an effect!
They lost the best player they have had in a while with Sacha Boisvert (a Freshman who had 18 goals and 14 assists, and he is a Blackhawks first-round pick)
They also lost Owen McLaughlin (Jr., who had five goals and 25 assists and was a Flyers seventh-round pick) and Jayden Perron (Soph., who had 10 goals and 9 assists and was a Carolina Hurricanes third-round pick).
UND doesn’t have NIL money like these bigger schools, and it sounds like Sacha Boisvert is getting only $150,000 in NIL money from Boston! While hockey doesn’t get the NIL money like football and basketball. Former UND Men’s Basketball player Treyson Eaglestaff reportedly is receiving $1 million to go to South Carolina!!!!!!
NIL is going to be a factor and will hurt UND, who won’t be able to compete with the big boys like the Big 10 schools and other major big-time colleges! If I can get $150,000 to play the same sport somewhere else…..I’m gone in a heartbeat! Anyway, it could be worse. Minnesota State Mankato has seven players in the portal, although most of them didn’t seem like they were any good. Merrimack has a bunch, and Omaha has a few. As of Tuesday, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers don’t have a player in the portal! Just saying!!!
Mark my words. The days of Bemidji State, Mankato, Duluth, St. Cloud State, and other small schools competing on a national stage are pretty much done in the new NIL era!
Now, onto UND Women’s Basketball! UND’s Jocelyn Schiller, the Summit League Freshman of the year is transferring! That is only half of the hit the program is taking. The other half…….She is going to NDSU!!!!!! Good for her.
Now on to Eric Schmidt‘s Football program. No surprise, the Fighting Hawks are getting some outstanding recruits coming in. On Wednesday, they got another big recruit with an OL commitment from Brady Goihl of Melrose. 6’7” and 270 pounds! He is the 5th commitment and all have been over 6’3.
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I was able to track down the HP Boys Hockey 17 team and Crookston’s Tate Hamre was on the team. The Section 8A/8AA team finished third place and Tate had one assist in the three games.
The HP 17 Section 8A/8AA team had a bunch of Section 8A players –
Finn Hanson (Warroad)
Samuel Hard (Warroad)
Ryan Lee (Warroad)
Tate Hamre (Crookston)
Jace Panzer (EGF)
Griffin Lindberg (Detroit Lakes)
The HP Boys Hockey 16 team had several Section 8A players on the team –
Ryan Clauson (EGF)
Conner Lund (Warroad Bantam A)
Gavin Anderson (Warroad)
Wyatt Samuelson (Kittson County Central)
Mason Deraney (Detroit Lakes)
Spencer Anderson (TRF)
Hudson Brouse (TRF)
Cy Hjelmen (EGF Bantam AA)
James Pelmer (Bagley)
Coaches were Jay Hardwick, Jerr Johnson and Jim Scanlan
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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
Paul Bittner is an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
Reese Swanson is a freshman playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a freshman playing football at Minot State.
Isabelle Smith is a freshman playing Tennis at Concordia College.
Isaac Thomforde is a freshman playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Emilee Tate is a Sophomore playing Softball at Northland Community and Technical College.
Halle Bruggeman is a Sophomore on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Red-shirt Freshman on the University of North Dakota Football team.
Breanna Kressin is a Junior on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Jacey Larson is a Sophomore playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Junior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Joslynn Leach is a Senior playing golf at Concordia College in Moorhead. The Cobbers wrapped up the Fall season.
Brooks Butt is a Junior playing football at the University of Jamestown.
Ty Hamre is redshirt Junior playing football at Bemidji State University.
Elizabeth Erdman is a coach for the Moorhead Red Dragon swim team.
Crookston School District Coaches
Blake Bergeron is the head Pirate Wrestling Coach.
Ben Parkin is the head Pirate Baseball Coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Marley Melbye is an assistant girls golf coach
Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ben Trostad is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Ethan Magsam is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling Coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching/Admin/etc
Elise Tangquist is the Head Girls Golf Coach at Horace High School in Fargo, ND.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson is the head Little Falls Volleyball coach.
Tim Desrosier is an Assistant Coach for Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Pony Boys Basketball
Pat Wolfe is the head wrestling coach for Fosston/Bagley.
Austin Sommerfeld is an Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communication at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
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.
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 North Dakota.
Mike Hastings is the Wisconsin Badgers 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 in the Army and is now a Ranger.
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.
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.
The post SPORTS FEEVER – April 3, 2025 first appeared on KROX.