Yankton Bucks and Gazelles soccer kick off their 2024 season tonight with a road doubleheader against Rapid City Stevens.
The Bucks will play first at 5:00 PM Mountain/6:00 PM Central in Rapid City, with the Gazelles to follow. Games will be held at Rapid City Sioux Park.
Yankton will have another doubleheader tomorrow morning against Rapid City Central.
The Yankton Bucks have been picked 5th in Class AA in the South Dakota High School Soccer Coaches Association preseason poll.
The Bucks enter the year with a new head coach following the retirement of Dave Dannenbring. Dane Hansen looks to guide the Bucks back to the playoffs in his first season following an 11-3-2 record and a Class AA Quarterfinal appearance last year.
Elsewhere locally, Vermillion is 1st for Class A Boys and 5th for Class A Girls to start the year. Full preseason polls for Class AA and A Boys and Girls Soccer are listed below.
Class AA Boys Soccer Preseason Poll:
- Sioux Falls Lincoln
- O’Gorman
- Sioux Falls Jefferson
- Rapid City Stevens
- Yankton
Receiving Votes: Aberdeen Central, Brandon Valley, Brookings, Sioux Falls Christian, Sioux Falls Washington, Spearfish, and Watertown
Class AA Girls Soccer Preseason Poll:
- Harrisburg
- Aberdeen Central
- Rapid City Stevens
- Rapid City Central/Sioux Falls Lincoln (tied)
Receiving Votes: Brandon Valley, Mitchell, O’Gorman, Pierre T.F. Riggs, Sioux Falls Jefferson, Sioux Falls Roosevelt, and Spearfish
Class A Boys Soccer Preseason Poll:
- Vermillion
- St. Thomas More
- Dakota Valley
- Belle Fourche
- James Valley Christian
Receiving Votes: Custer, Freeman Academy, Groton Area, Hot Springs, Rapid City Christian, and West Central.
Class A Girls Soccer Preseason Poll:
- Groton Area
- West Central
- Sioux Falls Christian
- Dakota Valley
- Vermillion
Receiving Votes: Belle Fourche, Garretson, and St. Thomas More.
Yankton Gazelles Tennis will play their first matches of the season this afternoon, taking on Pierre and Rapid City Central in the state capital.
The Gazelles ended 2023 with a 12 and 12 record, finishing the season 8th as a team in the Class AA State Tournament led by defending flight one singles state champion Nora Krajewski (Kra-ski).
The Gazelles are scheduled to face Pierre at 1:00 PM and Rapid City Central at 4:00 PM in Pierre.
The Yankton High School Athletic Booster Club is currently auctioning off VIP Reserved Parking Spaces for YHS events at Crane-Youngworth Field and the YHS Main Gym.
There are two VIP spots available each for football, soccer, and volleyball. Bids can be placed online at Riverfront Broadcasting dot com, backslash auction.
The auction for soccer ends at 10:00 PM tonight, for Volleyball on August 23rd, and for football on August 26th.
Bucks and Gazelles Soccer will have their home opener on August 20th, Gazelles Volleyball on August 29th, and Bucks Football on August 30th.
Yankton Quarterback Club opens up its 77th year on Wednesday, August 28th at the River Rock Events Center in Yankton.
Yankton High School head football coach Brady Muth will be the featured speaker for the first meeting of the year.
A meal will be available for purchase beginning at 11:15 AM with the meeting beginning at noon. The public is invited to attend.
