Yankton High School announces its 2025 PIONEER DAYS schedule. Yankton High School has prided itself on exciting and unique homecoming activities ever since 1925 when homecoming first originated. This year marks year 101 of YHS homecoming celebrations! Last week, Seniors chose the 2025 Royalty. In alphabetical order they are:
Pioneer Princess Candidates: Pioneer Prince Candidates:
Ellison Bauman Tate Beste
Taeya Kennedy Owen Eidsness
Nora Krajewski Drace Gaskins
Sabrina Krajewski Nels Hanson
Paige Reese Byron Jimenez De Anda
From the royalty, a “Pioneer Prince” and “Pioneer Princess” will be selected. YHS Student Council and Pioneer Club are excited about the 2025 Homecoming events.
YSD Website to keep up with the Homecoming Activities (Including Parade Entry Link): https://www.ysd.k12.sd.us/o/yhs/page/ysd-happenings
The major schedule of events for the week are as follows:
High School Dress-up Days September 22 - 26:
Monday- Superhero vs. Villain Day
Tuesday- Childhood TV Show
Wednesday- Country vs. Country Club
Thursday- Battle of the Classes: Music
Seniors- Pop
Juniors- Rap
Sophomores - Rock
Freshman - Jazz
Teachers - Classical
Friday- Spirit Day- Yankton Pride! Let’s support the Bucks and Gazelles with our best red, black, and white to show your school spirit!
High School Activities:
Monday, September 22:
6:30 PM Gazelles Volleyball vs Vermillion (Home).
Tuesday, September 23:
10:00 AM Bucks Golf at the Watertown Invite.
5:00 PM Gazelles Cheer & Dance at the Brandon Valley Invite.
6:30 PM Gazelles Volleyball at SF Lincoln.
Wednesday, September 24:
No Activities
Thursday, September 25:
9:00 AM Gazelles Tennis Triangular at SF Washington with Harrisburg.
4:15 PM Bucks & Gazelles Cross Country Yankton Invite (Home).
5:00 PM YHS Athletic/Fine Arts Hall of Fame Banquet in the YHS Commons.
Athletic HOF Inductees:
Megan Hilson Hohenthaner - Class of 2010
JJ Hejna - Class of 2014
Rob Ness - Class of 1998
Fine Arts HOF Inductees:
Roger Huntley - Class of 1955
Sara Otteman-Bray - Class of 2006
Ryan Wuestewald - Class of 2021
Ross Wuestewald - Class of 2006
7:00 PM Coronation of the “Pioneer Prince” and “Pioneer Princess” in the Yankton HS Main Gym. The MCs are Kate Fanta and Ellia Homstad. This will be
followed by the traditional burning of the “Y” in the back Parking Lot on the Southwest side of Yankton HS.
Friday, September 26:
2:00 PM School Dismissed
2:30 PM Parade - MCs & Parade Marshall TBA
Parade Prep/Staging Area
W Riverside Dr. & Levee St. from the Baseball Field to Cedar St.
Parade Route
Start at W Riverside and Cedar St, North to 3rd Street.
West to Walnut on 2nd Street. North on Walnut to 3rd Street.
East on 3rd Street until Pearl Street. Floats/participants disperse back to the Baseball Field.
Follow the link below and scroll to bottom of the page to see the parade route map. https://www.ysd.k12.sd.us/o/yhs/page/ysd-happenings
7:00 PM Bucks Football vs. Pierre Governors (Gates open at 5:30 PM).
Halftime: YHS Dance Team & YHS Marching Band Performances.
Saturday, September 27:
12:00 PM Bucks Soccer vs. Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles.
2:00 PM Gazelles Soccer vs. Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles.
2:00 PM Gazelles Volleyball at Aberdeen Central.
TBA Bucks & Gazelles Marching Band @ Starfest in Sioux City.
