Contact: Mitch Bakken- Sports Information Director (218) 281-8414

(Crookston, Minn.)- The University of Minnesota, Crookston Athletic Department recognized the recipients of the 2010 Ed Widseth and Agassiz Bowl Scholarships on Saturday, October 16 at a breakfast on campus and at half-time of the U of M, Crookston and Northern State University football game.
 
The Ed Widseth Scholarship recognizes those qualities epitomized by Ed Widseth - outstanding athletic, leadership and academic achievements.  A scholarship of $1,500 is awarded, with preference, to an incoming freshman or a college transfer football player and is renewable for up to four years.  A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to receive this distinguished award.
 
Ed Widseth, a Gonvick, Minn., native began his football career here in the fall of 1929 at the Northwest School of Agriculture graduating in 1932. He went on to star for the Minnesota Gophers and was a Co-Captain of the 1936 National Championship Team. Widseth was actually a candidate for the Heisman Award and was on Lindy's All-Century Team for Defensive Line. He was the first player drafted by the New York Giants in 1937, played five years in the National Football League (NFL), and was the NFL MVP in 1938. A member of the National Collegiate Hall of Fame, Widseth also was selected in 1991 as a charter member of the Gopher's Men's Sports Hall of Fame and as one of the 20 greatest Gopher athletes ever. The 2010 award winners are Ben McGraw (Wasilla, Alaska), Luke Williams (Port Moody, British Columbia), Andrew Steinfeldt (Green Bay, Wis.), Josh Perea (Pico Rivera, Calif.), and Steven Perry (Poplar, Wis.) For more information about the Ed Widseth Scholarship Endowment Fund, contact Corby Kemmer (Director of Development & Alumni Relations) at (218) 281-8434 or Dan Svedarsky at (218) 281-8129.
 
The Crookston Chamber Agassiz Bowl Scholarship is a $600 scholarship presented to a student-athlete preferably from the local area. The Crookston Chamber Agribusiness sponsors this scholarship and is working hard to promote agriculture and strengthen the very important relationship with the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The 2010 recipient of the Crookston Chamber Agassiz Bowl Scholarship is Shane Rasley (Deer River, Minn.).
 
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).

Photos (Left to Right)- Ben McGraw, Luke Williams, Andrew Steinfeldt, Josh Perea, Steven Perry, Shane Rasley

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Contact: Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu); Mitch Bakken, sports information director, 218-281-8414 (bakke044@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - Two alumni and a local radio personality will be inducted into the University of Minnesota, Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame during homecoming weekend. The 2009 inductees include Christina (Nettum) Cyr, '97, Al Strandberg, ex.'79, and Frank Fee, president and general manager of KROX AM radio in Crookston. A recognition event will be held on Friday, October 2, 2009, in Bede Ballroom. The evening begins with a social at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by a program recognizing the Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and the outstanding alumni for 2009.

Tickets are available by contacting Rose Ulseth in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 218-281-8439 (rulseth@umn.edu). The event marks the tenth annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the Crookston campus.

The 2009 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees:

Al Strandberg, ex.'79, played football for the U of M, Crookston Trojans. Named most valuable player, Strandberg was also named All American, All Region, and All Conference while playing with the Trojans. His remaining two years of eligibility he played for Minnesota State University Moorhead and was All Conference both years. He signed as a free agent in 1981 with the Dallas Cowboys and played two pre-season games with them before being released due to an ankle injury. Strandberg was picked up by the Arizona Wranglers of the United States where he played for a year for them and briefly for the Chicago Blitz.

Christina "Chrissy" (Nettum) Cyr, '97, was an outstanding member of both the women's
basketball and volleyball teams. She was awarded student-athlete of the year in 1995 and again in 1997 for her outstanding athletic and academic performance. All Conference in the North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC) in 1996, Cyr was recognized as the most valuable player in both volleyball and women's basketball in 1995 and 1997 and a member of the all-academic team from 1995-97. In volleyball, Cyr holds the record for most solo blocks in a season and most career blocks.

Frank Fee has covered the University of Minnesota, Crookston athletic programs for many years traveling thousands of miles to cover athletic events for KROX AM radio in Crookston. He is the president and owner of the station, serving as sales manager and sports director as well. Fee, a loyal supporter of the Golden Eagles, has a dedication that is unprecedented. He also has served on numerous advisory committees for the campus. In 1983, Fee was recognized with the Torch & Shield award, the highest honor an individual can receive from the Crookston campus.

The induction ceremony for the U of M, Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame will also include recognition of this year's outstanding alumni: Mary Jo (Melbye) Eastes, '79; David Genereux,'80; Troy Olson, '89; and Karissa (Dahl) Olson, '99.

For more more information on all the events, visit the Web page for Homecoming 2009.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.

Contact: Corby Kemmer, director of development, 218-281-8432 (ckemmer@umn.edu); Mitch Bakken, director, sports information, 218-281-8414 (bakke044@umn.edu)

The Jim LeClair Practice Field was dedicated on Friday, August 28, 2009, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. In the photo are (l to r) Shannon Stassen, head football coach; Chancellor Charles H. Casey; Stephanie Helgeson, athletic director, Jim LeClair, and Corby Kemmer, director of development and alumni relations.

 LeClair, ex. '70, was captain of the 1969 football team at the U of M, Crookston. He was named for two consecutive years to the Minnesota State Junior College All-Conference Team. In 1970 he transferred to the University of North Dakota (UND), where he played two more seasons of collegiate football. In 1972, LeClair was drafted by the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals where he played twelve seasons. He finished his fourteen-year career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League. In 1999, Le Clair was inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame, South Bend, Indiana.

For more photos, visit the photo gallery.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu. 

Contact: Corby Kemmer, director of development, 218-281-8432 (ckemmer@umn.edu); Mitch Bakken, sports information director, 218-281-8414 (bakke044@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - The football practice field at the University of Minnesota, Crookston will be named in honor of Alumnus James "Jim" LeClair on Friday, August 28, 2009. The dedication will begin at noon on the field and the public is invited to attend. The Jim LeClair Practice Field is located just east of Evergreen Hall, the new residence hall on the Crookston campus.

LeClair, ex. '70, enrolled at the U of M, Crookston in the fall of 1968, and as a student-athlete, he excelled in football. He was captain of the 1969 football team that finished second in the conference and was named for a second consecutive year to the Minnesota State Junior College All-Conference Team. In 1970 he transferred to the University of North Dakota (UND), where he played two more seasons of collegiate football.
 
In 1972, LeClair was drafted by the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals where he played twelve seasons. He finished his fourteen-year career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League.  Following his professional football career LeClair has been a successful coach, businessman, entrepreneur, and civic leader.  In 1999, Le Clair was inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame, South Bend, Indiana.  He was inducted into the UND Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985 and into the U of M, Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.
 

Contact: Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu); Mitch Bakken, sports information director, 218-281-8414 (bakke044@umn.edu)

Crookston, Minn.  - Support from businesses in the region has provided new athletic scoreboards at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, home of the Golden Eagles. The athletic department is pleased to announce that sponsors have helped secure the necessary funding to install new scoreboards at Ed Widseth Field, in Lysaker Gymnasium, and at the softball and baseball fields on the Crookston campus.

Northwest Manufacturing, Inc. of Red Lake Falls, Minn., is being recognized for their signature sponsorship of the scoreboard project. Chuck Gagner is president of Northwest Manufacturing, the company responsible for manufacturing and distribution of WoodMaster furnaces.

Joining Northwest Manufacturing are premier sponsors of the project: Bremer Bank in Crookston, Rob Jacobson, president; Hugo's, Kristi Magnusson, president; RiverView Health, Deb Boardman, CEO; and Crookston McDonald's, Mike and Cindy O'Keefe, owners.

"More than $100,000 was raised for the scoreboards, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed to the project," states Stephanie Helgeson, athletic director at the U of M, Crookston. "The support we have received for the scoreboards will enhance the experience for both student-athletes and fans, and it would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors."

Under the leadership of Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising, the Crookston campus supports student-athletes through scholarships and projects that enhance the student experience. To learn more about how you can support student-athletes at the U of M, Crookston, contact Tyrrell at 281-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu)

Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 applied-science undergraduate degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; math, science and technology; and natural resources. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.