With six players returning with state tournament experience, including the defending flight one singles champion, the Yankton Gazelles have high expectations for the 2024 girls’ tennis season. Yankton opens the 2024 season with matches against Pierre and Rapid City Central on Friday in Pierre. The Gazelles return five of the six competitors that helped the squad place eighth in the South Dakota State Class AA Girls’ Tennis Championships a year ago.
That group is led by junior Nora Krajewski, who won the flight one singles title a year ago, and junior Sabrina Krajewski, who was sixth at flight two singles. The sisters combined to finish fifth at flight one doubles a year ago. Also back is Addison Gordon, the team’s lone senior, who was the consolation champion at flight three singles; sophomore Karalyn Koerner and junior Meagan Scott.
Returning for the Gazelles is Paige Mitzel, who missed the last two state tournaments due to injury. She will play flight three singles and team with Gordon on flight two doubles. Mitzel was second at flight six singles in the 2021 Class A tournament.
“It’s a luxury that not every team is fortunate enough to have,” said Yankton head coach Ryan Hage. “We’ve got a healthy Paige Mitzel back, and she’s definitely going to make a difference.” Hage has seen the squad work hard to improve upon last season’s finish.
“The girls put in a lot of time in the off-season,” he said. “We should be a very competitive team. We have a lo.