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 lot of high goals for the season.
” Much of that work has come in doubles, even though flight one and flight three are the same as a year ago. “Paige and Addison will be playing together as doubles partners,” Hage said. “The quicker they can gel, the quicker they can start polishing some of the different techniques and strategies that will help them at the end of the season, when it counts the most.
” Among the high expectations for the team is “putting a number on the wall.” In other words, winning the Eastern South Dakota Conference title. “It’s been a few years since the girls have been able to accomplish that goal,” Hage said.
“That should be a goal every single year, and it’s definitely one that’s well within our range.” Hage also feels this year’s squad has the potential for one of the top state Class AA finishes in program history. “I think top three is definitely something that these girls could achieve,” he said, noting that a top-three finish would be the top post-season finish for a Yankton girls’ team in Class AA.
“The sky’s the limit for these girls. They’re really good tennis players. “As good as they are, their goals need to be set high.
” After the opener on Friday, the Gazelles will play the first of two home dates, Aug. 20 against Lennox and Vermillion. The Gazelles will make two trips to Brandon and Sioux Falls, a two-day trip to Brookings and a trip to Mitchell before returning home to face Class A powers Rapid City Christian and Sioux Falls Christian on Sept.
19. The ESD Championships will be Sept. 30 and Oct.
1 in Watertown, with the Class AA State Tournament Oct. 10-11 in Rapid City. Follow @JCimburek on X (Twitter).
2024 Season Schedule Aug. 16 Pierre Tri. 1 p.
m. (YHS vs. Pierre, 1 p.
m.; YHS vs. R.
C. Central, 4 p.m.
) Aug. 20 Yankton Tri. 11 a.
m. (YHS vs. Lennox, 11 a.
m.; YHS vs. Vermillion, 3 p.
m.) Aug. 23 Brandon Valley Quad 10 a.
m. (YHS vs. Watertown, 10 a.
m.; YHS vs. R.
C. Stevens, 2:30 p.m.
) Aug. 30 Brookings Quad 11 a.m.
(YHS vs. Harrisburg, 11 a.m.
; YHS vs. Brookings, 1:30 p.m.
; YHS vs. Aberdeen Central, 4 p.m.
) Aug. 31 Brookings Jamboree 11:30 a.m.
(YHS vs. Aberdeen Roncalli, 11:30 a.m.
; Yankton vs. Huron, 2 p.m.
) Sept. 3 Brandon Valley Tri. 11 a.
m. (YHS vs. Brandon Valley, 11 a.
m.; YHS vs. O’Gorman, 1 p.
m.) Sept. 6 Mitchell Tri.
10 a.m. (YHS vs.
S.F. Jefferson, 10 a.
m.; YHS vs. Spearfish, 1 p.
m.) Sept. 13 at S.
F. Roosevelt noon Sept. 17 S.
F. Lincoln Tri. 11 a.
m. (YHS vs. S.
F. Lincoln, 11 a.m.
; YHS vs. Mitchell, 1:30 p.m.
) Sept. 19 Yankton Quad 10 a.m.
(YHS vs. R.C.
Christian, 10 a.m.; YHS vs.
S.F. Christian, 4 p.
m.) Sept. 26 Harrisburg Tri.
10 a.m. (YHS vs.
Harrisburg, 10 a.m.; YHS vs.
S.F. Washington, 1 p.
m.) S30/O1 ESD (Watertown) 2 p.m.
/8 a.m. Oct.
10-11 State AA (Rapid City) 9 a.m. CT.
