The 2024-2025 Red Raider girls’ basketball team will be coached by Head Coach Mike Koupal with Assistant Coaches Hunter Hewitt, Tera Koupal and Courtney Baumgart. Coach Koupal has been coaching for the past 18 years.

This year’s team is comprised of three seniors Lydia Yost, Stephanie Atencio and Genesis Patterson. The rest of the team’s upperclassmen consists of two juniors Ashlyn Koupal and Brooklin Nielsen. Members of the team’s sophomore class are Braxton Nedved, Hayden Fischer, Ravyn Medricky, Mateya Bruguier and Katrina Zephier. Up and coming freshmen on this year’s roster include Mila Hopkins, Jazlyn Lhotak, Braelyn Scott, Olivia Podzimek and Hannah Holzbauer.

The team kept busy in the offseason this summer by attending several team camps including the Cornbelt team camp, USD’s team camp and Southwest Minnesota’s team camp. The Red Raiders also hosted their own annual basketball camp the last week in May.

Last season was very successful for the team ending the season with a 18-4 record. The Raiders lost twice to their region foe Mt. Vernon/Plankinton, lost to Florence Henry in the Sacred Hoops Classic and lost to Ethan, which was also a team that qualified for the state tournament. The ladies defeated several class A and Class B state tournament teams during their regular season play including Sioux Falls Christian and Hanson.

This year’s team will return four starters and three more players that saw a lot of varsity playing time last season. What Coach Koupal is hoping is that the team gained adaptability to being able to play multiple positions as well as hopefully the ability to adjust on the fly and adapt to what the opposing team is giving or taking from the Raiders. Having players that can play position less basketball can make for a very exciting game to watch and that is exactly what the Raiders are hoping for this season.

Key players for the team will be senior, Lydia Yost who was named to the SESD and LMVC All Conference teams last year. She will be looked to to lead both on and off the court this season as well play both inside and outside offensively. Senior, Genesis Patterson is rejoining the team this year and will be an asset to the team. Ashlyn Koupal, a junior, who last season was named to the 1st Team All State, SESD and LMVC All Conference teams and averaged 22 points a game will be looked to continue to lead the Raiders on both ends of the court. Braxton Nedved, a sophomore who was named to the LMVC All Conference team last year will be looked at to become more of a scorer this season in addition to her defensive skills. Sophomore Hayden Fischer after recovering from an injury last spring and summer will be changing her position from forward to a guard. Three team members who really stepped up and contributed during summer ball were Mateya Bruguier, Brooklin Nielsen and Ravyn Medricky.

This year’s schedule for the Red Raiders puts them up against some very competitive teams including Lennox, Elk Point-Jefferson, Winner, Parkston, Hanson, ACDC and Sandborn Central Woonsocket. The team will also play in two classics, Sacred Hoops and the Sandford Pentagon.

Coach Koupal is most looking forward to another season where the team is returning a lot of players from last year. As a coach it is fun to see how players grow from season to season which in turn alters the team dynamic. His philosophy for building a successful program is having great people whether it is players and or coaches that trust and care for what is the best for the team overall. “Together WE WILL accomplish many things successfully and help each other in times of defeat to be the best people we possibly can be”, said Coach Koupal.

The Wagner girls’ basketball team kicks off their season with a home game against Winner on December 13th. Best of luck in your upcoming season. Go Big Red!