The 2024 Wagner Lady Raiders softball team is coached by Samantha Boehmer, head coach, and assistant coaches Steven Koupal and Jessa Mc-Carthy. As this is the second year that the softball program has been offered by Wagner Community School, this is both Samantha and Jessa’s second years coaching and Steven’s first year. Although it is just the beginning of their coaching career for the WCS high school softball team, all three of the coaches have been coaching summer ball for many years and have a vast amount of experience.

Senior members of the 2024 team include Sydney Cournoyer, Kayden Zephier, Mia Dion, and Aubrey Medricky. Lydia Yost is the lone junior member of the team. Sophomore members are Brylie Link, Libby Kotab, and Brooklin Nielsen. Up and coming freshmen team members are Braxton Nedved, Ravyn Medricky, Mara Wright and SheaLee Turner. Eighth graders include Hannah Holzbauer and Aubrey Kazena. Finally, the seventh- grade team members are Bella Kotab, Delainee Brunelle, Kaymari Drapeau and Tegan Langdeaux.

The girls ended the inaugural season last year with a 8-6 record. They picked up their first win ever on the road against Winner. Their season ended after losing the SoDak 16 game against Elk Point Jefferson 1-14.

This season, the team has set some really great goals as a team. The girls want to become a family in order to play as one. Ultimately, the team wants to make it to the state tournament and have a winning record. In order to achieve this goal, the team is well aware that there is a short-term goal that has to be met first, and that is for the team to improve each week.

The coaches and players both feel that Beresford will be a tough competitor again this year. Last year the Lady Raiders lost two close games against Beresford. As the head coach, Samantha is looking forward to spending time with the coaching staff and players that love the game as much as she does. She is really looking forward to the girls becoming a softball family and watching them all grow as young adults and athletes. As a coach, her philosophy on building a successful team/program is through leadership, the girls finding and stepping into key roles, and becoming a family and playing as one.

The team will kick off their season in a home game against Viborg Hurley on Monday, April 1st at 4:00 p.m. Best of Luck on your upcoming season Lady Red Raiders!