The 2026 high school sports season has officially arrived. The summer workouts, the team camps, all of the club action has led up to this point where athletes rejoin their high school programs and hope to make a run to state. And with that, the Pierre Governors host Sioux Falls Jefferson with hopes of starting the boys and girls soccer seasons off on a high note.
The Pierre Governor girls have had quite the summer with numerous current and former soccer athletes winning national championships. Jasmine Jost and Lexie Hillmer both secured their trophies with their respective club teams from the Black Hills. Jost, who graduated last year, will be taking her talents to the collegiate level. Hillmer, however, will continue on what has been an incredibly successful high school career as she enters her junior season. Emlyn Swanson, Myah Fravel, Brittany Sargent, Aubrey Fischer, Cameron Larson and Josephine Wurtz all won a US National Cup championship with South Dakota United Spirit later in the month of July. With that, they have set their expectations high for 2026. We talked with a few of those girls on Players Perspective about that championship run and also about this upcoming season.
After the girls went to Harrisburg in the semi-finals a year ago and lost a close battle, they have had one thing and one thing only on their mind. Redemption. The goal for both squads is State Championship, especially after seeing how far they were able to will themselves in last year’s playoffs.
For the boys, they handle the loss of some crucial seniors with the return of some of their top talent. Lucas Hight, Jacoby LaRoche and Caiden Ahartz headline as some of the key returners that will serve as the leaders for Chris Blanchette’s 2026 roster. The boys fell short in the first round a year ago, taking Sioux Falls Christian to the brink. They carry their own chip on their shoulder as they feel they have the talent to make a run this year.
It all begins today on River 92.7 and DRGnews.com/River with coverage beginning at 3:30 PM CT.
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