SPORTS FEEVER by Chris Fee of KROX Radio – chrisjfee@yahoo.com
I am not going to talk about this week’s terrible events but God bless us and we need him more than ever right now!! Be safe and take care folks!!!
SPORTS……
The Vikings suck…..one hour later, the Vikings are awesome. KOC and JJ are amazing. What a game. This is why we love sports, but also hate being Vikings fans. Monday night’s game was a roller coaster, but it was fun to see how they seemed to come together as the game went along. Are they going to be a top-notch team this year?? I have no idea. Are the Bears any good? I have no idea. All I know is the Vikings are 1-0 and the NFC North will be tough this year.
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Minnesota-Duluth Men’s Hockey has received a commitment from forward Max Cullen. The 2008-born in-state recruit had 28 points in 31 games for Moorhead High this past season. Cullen represented Minnesota at this summers National 17 Festival picking up 6 points in 6 games.
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Section 8 9-Man Football
After three games, Goodridge/Grgyla and Kittson County Central are the only teams without a loss.
Kittson County Central got a big 26-24 victory over Stephen-Argyle on Friday. Goodridge/Grygla beat Fertile-Beltrami 28-26 in overtime on Friday for a big win to go 3-0. Kittson County Central and Goodridge-Grygla will meet for what could be the top seed on Friday, September 19, at Hallock. That isn’t the only big game coming up. Goodridge-Grgyla takes on Stephen-Argyle on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in Argyle. KROX will have the game, but if Stephen-Argyle wins, they are right back in the hunt for the top seed. Every game in football is important with the QRF, but those two games I just mentioned are important for both teams, because getting a top seed, you will SHOULD have a less challenging semi-final game, instead of having to play one of the other top three teams.
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Section 6 9-Man Football
Two teams are undefeated after two weeks of play. Fosston and Clearbrook-Gonvick are 2-0. Blackduck is 1-1, and then you have Fertile-Beltrami, Kelliher-Northome, and Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal at 0-2.
The only Section game played so far is Fosston vs NCE/UH. There are a lot of important games coming up like Fosston playing Stephen-Argyle, Fertile-Beltrami and Clearbrook-Gonvick yet so those will be three important games.
Fertile-Beltrami has had the toughest schedule so far with Stephen-Argyle and Goodridge-Grgyla. They have Fosston and Clearbrook-Gonvick on the schedule.
Clearbrook-Gonvick has a tough schedule left with Border West, Kittson County Central, Fosston, and Fertile-Beltrami.
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Section 8A Football –
There are three undefeated teams with no surprises with Red Lake County and Mahnomen-Waubun. A bit of a surprise so far is Bagley going 2-0, including a 21-14 victory over Ada-Borup-West.
Bagley has Red Lake County, Nevis, and Park Christian on the schedule yet as three very good opponents.
Big games coming up in the section are-
Red Lake County vs Bagley on September 19.
Mahnomen-Waubun vs Nevis on September 19
Red Lake County vs Mahnomen-Waubun on September 26
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Section 8AA Football-
There are two undefeated teams left after two weeks with Barnesville and Frazee.
Warroad and Hawley are 1-1, and Crookston, Roseau, and Pelican Rapids are 0-2.
Pelican Rapids did something not many teams have done in recent years, they gave Barnesville a run for their money in a 44-36 loss. The score was a little surprising after a 26-0 loss to Hawley in week one. Pelican Rapids has TRF, EGF, and Staples-Motley on the schedule yet.
Barnesville has some big games coming up with Pillager on Friday, Hawley on September 19, Staples-Motley on October 3, and Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton on October 10.
Frazee has a much easier schedule with some tougher games being Breckenridge and that is about it.
Warroad had a big win at Hawley last week for a big Section win 17-16. They have EGF, TRF, Park Rapids, Pelican Rapids, and Barnesville left.
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Section 8AAA Football –
There are two undefeated teams left after two weeks with Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton and Perham. Minnewaska Area and Morris Area are 1-1. EGF, TRF, and Park Rapids are 0-2.
There are some big games coming up for the teams –
DGF vs Perham on Friday.
DGF vs Pillager September 19
Perham vs Staples-Motley September 19
DGF vs Staples-Motley September 26
Perham vs Barnesville September 26
DGF vs Hawley October 3
Perham vs Pillager October 3
DGF vs Barnesville October 10
Perham vs Hawley October 10
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The 2025 Valley Plains District Football stat leaders have been released by Statistician extraordinaire Dave Peterson, and they are below-
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The 2025 9-West North Sub-district football stat leaders have been released by Mr. Dave Peterson and they are below.
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For the first time in program history, the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Volleyball team has two players named NSIC Offensive player and Defensive player of the week during the same week. Madison Carsten (Jr., OH, Wadena, Minn.) was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week, while Kailee Waasdorp (Jr., DS, West Fargo, N.D.) was named NSIC Defensive Player of the Week.
It’s the first weekly awards for the juniors. Carsten becomes the first Golden Eagle since Brittany Looker in 2014 to earn a weekly offensive honor, while Waasdorp becomes the first Golden Eagle since Chelsea Wiesner in 2013 to earn a defensive weekly honor.
Carsten and Waasdorp were key cogs in the engine for the 4-0 Golden Eagles.
Carsten finished the weekend 77 kills throughout four matches, including a career-high 23 in a four-set triumph over Saint Anselm. She also collected three double-doubles and averaged an NSIC best 5.77 points per set, while playing every rotation. In a win over Felician, the junior had an attacking percentage of .447, which was a career high.
Waasdorp continued to do what she has done throughout her career. Waasdorp collected 93 digs in four matches, giving her an NSIC high of 6.20 digs per set. She also finished with nine service aces on the weekend. Waasdorp enters this weekend just one dig shy of 1,000.
Waasdorp is top-10 nationally in digs and digs per set, while Carsten is top-10 nationally in attacks per set, kills per set, points per set and total kills.
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Former University of Minnesota Crookston baseball player and NCBWA National Player of the Year Jake Hjelle is going to continue his professional baseball career with the Mid East Falcons of Baseball United, the first-ever professional baseball league in the Middle East and South Asia.
Hjelle has played two seasons of professional baseball after graduating from Minnesota Crookston in the spring of 2024. He split the 2024 season with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association, and the Ottawa Titans of the Frontier League. In 2025, Hjelle had a breakout season with the Boise Hawks of the Pioneer League. He hit .338, with 26 home runs, 102 RBI, 91 runs scored, and a .635 slugging percentage.
Hjelle was a two-time All-NSIC First Team team, a Regional Player of the Year, All-Region selection, All-America selection, and National Player of the Year in his time for the Golden Eagles. He is one of the top hitters to ever come through the Minnesota Crookston baseball program.
Hjelle will play alongside former Major League Baseball players Alejandro De Aza, who played with the Marlins, White Sox, Orioles, Giants, Red Sox, Mets, and Nationals, and Munenori Kawasaki, who played with the Mariners, Blue Jays, and Cubs.
Baseball United’s inaugural regular season is set to run from November 14 to December 14, featuring four teams: the Mid East Falcons, the Arabia Wolves, the Mumbai Cobras, and the Karachi Monarchs.
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Perham will host a youth 3-on-3 Basketball tournament on Saturday, November 15, for Grades 2-8 (boys and girls divisions)
Our Goal: Run a 1st-class tournament with strong officials, beautiful facilities, get you in & out quickly, play different teams from all over, and awesome prizes for the winners!!!
*Please fill out a form for each team registering.
*Please submit a separate registration for each team.
($100 per team, 3 games guaranteed, possibly 4 depending on schedule).
*Please bring your own basketballs. 2nd & 3rd grade “might” play on lower hoops.
Email one of the coaches listed if you’d like to register a team. Hoops at the Hive may need to combine grade levels (using team ability levels) to fill some brackets. If needed to combine, players will play teams within one grade level.
*Cost is $100 per team. Please send payment immediately after registration to reserve your spot.
Payment Methods:
Venmo: @PerhamBBB (2349) (You must include the following info)
GRADE of PLAYERS (‘25-’26, max of 5 per team):
GENDER: B or G
TEAM NAME:
1 Parent/Guardian CONTACT CELL NUMBER
Check: Perham Boys Basketball (add below info on check)
Mail to: Arly Ohm 810 2nd Ave SW. Perham, MN 56573
GRADE of PLAYERS (‘25-’26, max of 5 per team):
GENDER: B or G
TEAM NAME:
1 Parent/Guardian CONTACT CELL NUMBER:
*No refunds after November 2nd.
*Registration deadline is Sunday November 2nd at 7:00 PM (or until filled) Brackets will be emailed the week prior to the tournament.
*Efficient scheduling. Expect some back to back games. Get in, play,
get on your way.
*Questions? Contact:
Arly Ohm at arlyohm@perham.k12.mn.us Cell: (701) 640-3850
Garry Grewe at ggrewe@perham.k12.mn.us Cell: (320) 241-4877
Grant Dierkhising gdierkhising@perham.k12.mn.us Cell: (218) 252-2349
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The Crookston Youth Basketball Association will hold a Mini Hoopers Intro to Basketball Academy for ages 4 to 6 at the Crookston High School gym.
The academy will meet on Saturdays from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. through October 4.
This introductory program teaches basketball basics using simple drills and fun games.
Cost is $10. For more information, contact Erik Griffin at 218-201-2767.
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JOKES
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Crookston Pirate Wrestler Masyn Arguelles has committed to wrestle for the Northland Community and Technical College Pioneer Women’s Wrestling team.
Bemidji Lumberjack Girls Hockey’s Megan Berg has committed to play hockey for the College of St. Scholastica.
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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
Addie Fee is a freshman playing tennis and hockey at Wisconsin-Superior.
Kambelle Freije is a freshman playing hockey at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Riley Helgeson is a freshman playing football at Northern State.
Emily Bowman is a freshman playing Softball at North Dakota State College of Science.
Halle Winjum is a sophomore playing basketball at Minnesota Crookston.
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College.
Naomi Johnson is a freshman playing volleyball at Alexandria Community College.
Paul Bittner is an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
Reese Swanson is a sophomore playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a sophomore playing football at Minot State.
Isaac Thomforde is a sophomore playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Halle Bruggeman is a Junior on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Sophomore 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 Junior playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Senior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Ty Hamre is Senior 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.
Jason Cassavant is a Jr. High Baseball Coach and Head American Legion 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
Jaren Bailey is serving our country and is currently in the Marines’ Boot Camp.
Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
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.