Atkins Makes Olympic Field

Derrick Atkins, one of - if not the - greatest runners from my alma matter (Dickinson State), made the Olympics.

Click here if you want to see how he did it.

McQuade Results

Want to know how the McQuade tournaments went? I highly suggest clicking here and reading this roundup from the Bismarck Tribune.

Probably the Biggest Comeback in Recent Memory

When I think of memorable comebacks, New Rockford-Sheyenne ralling to beat Bottineau for the state Class B boys' basketball championship immediately comes to mind. I might have to make a little room for another comeback, though.

Hatton's American Legion baseball team trailed 21-2 on the road after just three innings, but rallied for a win against Hillsboro-Central Valley. To me that is fairly rediculous. I am not alone.

The Herald's Greg DeVillers wrote up a story on the game talking with coaches and KMAV's Dan Keating, who was covering the game. Basically all agreed it was pretty unbelievable.

To get the full rundown on DeVillers' story, click here.

More Good From Schlossman

When it comes to a good Monday pick-me-up, I didn't have to go much further than the Herald's Brad Schlossman.

Schlossman brought all kinds of good stuff talking to and about former UND runner Arjan Gelling. I had no idea who Gelling was, but I was really pumped for him, not only with running, but with him going through his battle with cancer.

Click here to give it a read.

Question and Answer: Weston Dressler

KO - Today we are talking a little shop with former Bismarck Demon and University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux standout Weston Dressler, who is currently in the Canadian Football Leagues' Saskatchewan Roughriders. I certainly appreciate the time Weston, but let's not waste any time talking about me. Let's talk about you.

1. How exciting has the last couple of weeks been with preparing for your first pro preseason game?

WD – The last couple of weeks have been exciting. I’ve learned a lot about the CFL game and I’m just trying to continue learning and improving every day.

2. KO - Talk a little bit about that first game. What was it like going into that kind of atmosphere? Obviously you know how to play the game, but did everything feel brand new?

WD – The first game was very fun. The fans here are amazing and they make the games fun for the players and fans.

3. KO - You didn't record a reception in your first game, but I'm guessing that first experience isn't about stats. Was it more a process of seeing how well you made reads and how quickly you were able adapt to the situations presented? How crazy was it settling under a punt for the first time, getting ready to return it?

WD – I learned a lot from the two pre-season games. The game is different from what I’m used to and those games helped me become more accustomed to it. I’m starting to feel more comfortable on the field now and I just need to focus on continuing to learn the game.

4. KO - Do you have anything in store for the next time you meet up with British Columbia? Don't you guys open the regular season against them?

WD – We actually play Edmonton in our first regular season game this weekend. We play B.C. in week 2. Each week of preparation is a little different studying player and team tendencies.

5. KO - Do you have any pregame rituals that seem to stand out as quirky or a little superstitious?

WD – Nothing out of the ordinary. I usually listen to some music to help keep me relaxed and not get overly excited before the game.

6. KO - Entering a program like Saskatchewan, a team that won the Grey Cup last season and has made the playoffs six years straight, is there quite a bit of pressure to step in and do well? How do you handle that pressure?

WD – Winning the Grey Cup last year the Riders have a pretty good team. This has helped me coming in as I get to play with and learn from some the best players in the league. I’ve always had high expectations for myself and the teams I have played on so the outside pressures don’t bother me too much.

7. KO - What do you see as your role on the team and what do you want your role to be on the team? What kind of work are you putting in to accomplish that?

WD – As an incoming rookie its hard to tell exactly what my role on the team will be. I just want to do anything I can to help the team win. Every week I need to be as prepared as I can both physically and mentally to do that.

8. KO - Any older players that have taken you under their wing? I would think all of a sudden being a rookie after gaining a bit of celebrity status while at Bismarck and while at UND would have to be strange getting used to. Any interesting rookie hazing stories?

WD – The veteran players have been real helpful. They understand what it takes to win and on the field they do whatever they can to help the rookies understand the game better. The rookie hazing comes after practice and in meetings. We won’t get into that now, but so far it hasn’t been bad.

9. KO - What does one for for fun outside of football in Saskatchewan?

WD – Honestly during training camp there isn’t much time outside of football and when we do get some free time its spent resting. Now that the season is starting we will have more time. I’ve checked a few golf courses in town and I’m hoping to get out on the links one of these days.

10. KO - Any advice for any high school or college football players that have the dream of playing professional ball?

WD – I have always been a believer in goal setting. Set goals for yourself that you can evaluate on a daily basis. Set short-term goals to help you achieve your long-term goals. Always continue to evaluate your goals. Sometimes they need to be changed, set them higher or sometimes lower from your initial expectations. Most importantly work as hard as you possibly can in everything you do. Get in the habit of always working hard.

KO - Fantasic stuff, and that about wraps it up. Again man, I sure do appreciate the time. Best of luck wherever your adventures take you and take care. Anything else you'd like to add?

WD - I would like to say thank you to everyone in Bismarck, Grand Forks and North Dakota. The support and blessings I have received is truly remarkable and it makes it fun and enjoyable for me. Thank you.

Note: You can keep up with Dressler all season by going to to the Saskatchewan Roughriders website. Click here for a link to Riderville.com.

Minot's Olympic Hopefulls

I caught a bit of the Olympic trials on the Tele over the weekend, and much to my surprise, we have a couple of Olympic hopefulls right here in North Dakota.

Minot's Matt Lowe and Dagny Knutson will both be in the running (technically swimming) for a berth in the Olympics next week.

I have no idea what their odds of making the squad are, or what the swimming situation is this year - guess I'll have to catch it on TV and figure it out with the rest of America.

Chris Bieri, who is hopefully not regretting picking up too many Brewers inhis fantasy baseball draft, from the Minot Daily News handles the story here.

Fargo South to Field 2 Teams

Come the fall of 2010 Fargo South will field a pair of varsity teams in preparation for the opening of Davies High School which is slated to open its sports schedule in 2011.

It creates a bit of an interesting situation coming up for South, as I'm not exactly sure how the teams will be determined or things of that nature. Still, it is going to give kids more of a chance to play sports at the high school level and that is never a bad thing.

One issue created out of this is a possible ramification in which Davies (and/or South I suppose?) may not have the enrollment to warrant playing at the AAA level and may be moved to AA. Couple this with a request to move more sports to three or four divisions, and suddenly that is a whole big ball of wax that I thought was just voted down. Regardless, it appears as though more classes are still being debated.

Big E, Eric Peterson, is on the horn - you know the drill. Click here.

Joe Mays Gets Paid

There is nothing like picking up six figures to play a game, just ask former NDSU linebacker and current Philadelphia Eagle Joe Mays.

Mays signed his first pro contract that might be worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $2.6 million over four years. Tremendous.

Great stuff from Mays, too. In Jeff Kolpack's story in the Forum, Mays was quoted as saying, "It was like signing the Declaration of Independence or something like that." Mays, who graduated from SU in the spring, is still my favorite player to come out of the Bison football program in case you were wondering.

Good stuff from Kolpack throughout. Click here to open the gateway.

Optimist All-Stars Tip Off

The summer all-star games always seem to sneak up on me. I think it is that I get lulled into a false sense of security once all the sports wrap up at the end of May and beginning of June. And then all of a sudden, here is another round of things coming down the pipe when I'm dreaming about summer vacations and stuff.

East and West duke it out for bragging rights and the final chance for many to compete in the sport while for others it is a final time to play in high school.

The Forum's Tom Mix put together a preview taking a look at the Fargo kids that are playing and the roster of both squads is also included. Click here to read it.

NDAPSSA Award Kick Off

So here you have it, the highest award handed out by the North Dakota Sportscasters and Sportswriters Assocaition - the Special Achievement award.

This year it goes to a pair from Minot and one person from Bismarck.

The awards go to Minot High's Gene Manson and Ken Disher, along with the University of Mary's Al Bortke.

There is not enough room on the Interweb to list all of their achievements and plusses they brought to North Dakota athletics, so instead I'm going to turn it over to the MDN's Michael Linnell. Click here to read his story.

6 UND Players Taken in NHL Draft

This will be short and sweet because basically when there is someone out there who does something better, you can either try and beat them when you know you can't, or you can direct people to the real deal.

Ladies and gents, here is the real deal's blog. You might otherwise know him as the Grand Forks Herald's Brad Schlossman.

On a Hot Day, Nothing is Better Than a Kolpack

Jeff Kolpack has one of the most busy, most fun jobs in the state - covering NDSU athletics. Still, even though he is pumping countless inches every day/week/month/etc., Kolpack continues to produce fine copy.

Case in point: Kolpack put together a tremendous feature on Bison Football over the weekend, taking a look at the work players put in each summer and how they make some coin to afford luxeries in life like a roof over the head and enough food to fuel a football-player body.

Kind of funny actually...how much work goes into those 60 minutes a week in the fall, barring overtime of course.

Anyway, catching up on some weekend stuff here, but I promise you - if you have not read it yet, it is well worth 5 minutes of your time. Click here.

Montana Crushes ND in Badlands Bowl

Well...

Not a whole lot seemed to go right for North Dakota as they found themselves on the short end of a 54-14 game to Montana at the Badlands Bowl.

The backbreaker was a pair of picks that were taken back for points in the second quarter, moving a 14-0 Montana lead to 27-0.

From the comment left from Mr. Chris Aarhus, Montana had a pair of D-I offensive linemen that were pretty dominant.

Tyler Steffan had a solid game with three catches totaling 94 yards, the bulk of which came on a 50-yard scoring grab. But as far as highlights go, that would be about it as North Dakota's only other score came via a Michael McAtee three-yard plunge.

Montana's Beau Donaldson was named the game's MVP, rushing for 94 yards on 16 carries.

So that means no two-game winning streak for North Dakota as Montana has now won 11 of the first 15 games played.

To recap the damage, click here.

Leever's Classic Tournament Pairings

2008 Leever's Classic

June 26-29
at Charlie Brown Field, Valley City

Pool A

Valley City, Dickinson B, Kindred, Washburn

Pool B

Groton (SD), Oakes, Fargo B, Langdon

Thursday, June 26

Game 1 - Oakes vs. Fargo, 9 a.m.
Game 2 - Kindred vs. Washburn, 11 a.m.
Game 3 - Fargo vs. Langdon, 1 p.m.
Game 4 - Valley City vs. Kindred, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Groton vs. Oakes, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6 - Valley City vs. Dickinson, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, June 27

Game 7 - Oakes vs. Langdon, 9 a.m.
Game 8 - Dickinson vs. Washburn, 11 a.m.
Game 9 - Langdon vs. Groton, 1 p.m.
Game 10 - Dickinson vs. Kindred, 3:30 p.m.
Game 11 - Fargo vs. Groton, 5:30 p.m.
Game 12 - Valley City vs. Washburn, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 28

Game 13 - Pool A4 vs. Pool B3, 10 a.m.
Game 14 - Pool A3 vs. Pool B4, Noon
Game 15 - Pool A2 vs. Pool B1, 2:30 p.m.
Game 16 - Pool A1 vs. Pool B2, 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 29

Game 17 - Game 13 Loser vs. Game 14 Loser, 10 a.m.
Game 18 - Game 13 Winner vs. Game 15 Winner, Noon
Game 19 - Game 15 Loser vs. Game 16 Loser, 2:30 p.m.
Game 20 - Game 15 Winner vs. Game 16 Winner, 4:30 p.m.

Question: Where's the Beef? Answer: North Dakota

North Dakota has a bit of a size advantage on the offensive line when it faces Montana at the Badlands Bowl.

According to the story by Chris Aarhus, six of the Prairie Rose state's 10 hogs (offensive linemen) tip the scales at 270 pounds or heavier. Yeah...love the girth. When it comes to pushing the ball down someone's throat, there is nothing better than leaning on a defense with a couple of beefy boys.

Nice selection Aarhus, saving a story about the linemen for the final preview. I likey.

Click here for the story.

UND Tabs Dodson as Diamond Coach

UND has named Jeff Dodson the school's new baseball coach.

Dodson has been coaching in Missouri the last few years, and I'm going to go out on a limb that he'll be faced with a few different challenges up north than he was down south (namely snow on the ground in April). Still, with UND making the move to Division I, it more or less makes for a pretty attractive position.

I don't know much about UND's baseball program, so I'll turn you over to the Herald's Wayne Nelson now - click here.

KVRR Gets New Sports Director

KVRR's new head sports guy is Greg Enkers who had been their weekend sports guy. I'm going to go out on a limb and say they are likely going to have to sign a new weekend sports guy now.

Click here for a two-sentence wrapup.

Sun's Scotty T on Jimmy K

When it comes to living the football dream in North Dakota, I always turn to Jimmy Kleinsasser. I first saw Ol Clank Clank from the sidelines my freshman year in high school when Carrington came up to Mayville to play under the Friday night lights.

That game was pretty amazing, going down to the wire when Patriot fullback Dan Swift was stopped just short of the goal line as time expired, denied the game-winning score on a leap toward the end zone. Crazy game.

Kleinsasser then went up to UND and as I lived in Ross Amlie's old house, basically I grew up a Fighting Sioux fan. At the end of my freshman year in college Kleinsasser was drafted by the Vikings (it didn't take the sting out of the playoff loss from that season, but it game me hope for the future) and the rest has been history.

Jimmy K has never been the receiving threat I thought he would be, but he has far exceeded what I thought he would be as a blocking tight end. He is a mammoth man and I can't imagine lining up against him.

With that, I indirectly present to you dear reader, Jim Kleinsasser - one of three to be inducted this year into the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. Scott Throlson, Jamestown Sun sports editor extraordinaire, delivers a solid read on the hometown man-child. Click here to read it.

Sun's Story on Dick Karlgaard

Dick Karlgaard had quite a ride as one of the athletic leaders in North Dakota athletics.

Karlgaard began his role as Bismarck Athletic Director in 1963, holding the position until 1990. You can imagine the changes he saw in the course of his job.

One amazing stat: He managed 81 state tournaments and 54 regional tournaments, while also serving as the NDHSCA's first executive secretary. He has previously been inducted into the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame, the North Dakota High School Coaches hall of Fame, the Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame and the Bismarck State College Hall of Fame. Wow.

To read up on what sets Karlgaard apart from the rest of the pack, click here.

Pronk Needs to Keep With It

Sounds like Pronk's second opinion on his ailing shoulder was quite a bit like the first one.

The doc said he probably wouldn't need surgery, but should get his shoulder examined again in 7-10 days.

Click here to read the AP story.