The Sevastopol Pioneers Track and Field team will compete at a meet at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Friday night. 

In the last meet the Pioneers ran at Ripon College, Bea Dramm ran the 1600m in 5:45 to win the event as the Pioneers' top finisher. She also finished in the Top 10 for the 800m as did Kylie Duessler in the 60m and 200m events. Ezra Linnan (1600m) and the 4 x 200m relay were the top finishers for the boys with each taking 14th place. The Waters meet is the only meet the Pioneers have run this season. 

The Pioneers will be up against Adams-Friendship, Amherst, Antigo, Auburndale, Augusta, Bonduel, Coleman, Columbus Catholic, Gresham, Iola-Scandinavia, Kewaunee, Laona-Wabeno, Lourdes Academy, Loyal, Manawan, Marathon, Neillsville, New London, North Fond du Lac, Northland Lutheran, Oconto Falls, Pacelli Catholic, Pittsville, Reedsville, Rosholt, Spencer, Suring, Three Lakes, Tri-County, Westfield, Whitehall, Wild Rose, Wittenberg-Birnamwood.

The meet will begin at 4:00 P.M. 

Allianna Dufek of Southern Door and Bailey Rikkola of Sevastopol were named to the 2023 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All Star Game for each player's respective division. 

Dufek will play for the Division 4 North team, whereas Rikkola will play for the Division 5 North team. This event showcases seniors of each division who possess great talent and tremendous character. The WBCA All-Star games started back in 1978 and each year the purpose of these games is to raise funds to help fight against childhood cancer. Since 1978, the WBCA has donated over $3 Million to the MACC Fund (Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer) in the effort to combat childhood cancer.

The two players were named to the Packerland All-Conference 1st Team this season, and Rikkola has compiled many recognitions and awards, including the Packerland Conference Player of the Year and a Division 5 All-State team nomination. 

Dufek led the Eagles to a 14-11 record on the season, a strong jump from last season’s record. This was her first season back after suffering a torn ACL in the 2021 Volleyball season. Rikkola led the Pioneers to historic heights, finishing with a 25-2 record and the school’s first Regional Title in Girls Basketball since 1985. 

Both players will be fundraising for charity for the game. The Division 5 game is set for 9:00 A.M. The Division Four game will follow at 11:00 A.M. at Justagame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells on June 28th. 

A familiar name topped the leaderboard for the Sevastopol track teams at Ripon College's Waters Meet on Thursday.

Bea Dramm ran the 1600m in 5:45 to win the event as the Pioneers' top finisher. She also finished in the Top 10 for the 800m as did Kylie Duessler in the 60m and 200m events. Ezra Linnan (1600m) and the 4 x 200m relay were the top finishers for the boys with each taking 14th place.

Results courtesy of Athletic.Net

Womens Results

A historic team season for Sevastopol and a historic individual season for Bailey Rikkola just got even bigger on Thursday. 

A couple days after receiving a nomination for the WIAA Division Five All-State team and being on the WIAA All-State Academic team, Rikkola was listed as one of 15 girls basketball players to be on the Elite Individual Academic All-State team. You can read more about her All-State nomination here. 

According to wissports.net, this award is much different than the original All-State Academic award. This is the best of the best combining all aspects of what it means to be a student-athlete. Nominees are reviewed by a selection committee and only 15 boys and 15 girls will be selected for the Elite Academic All-State team. These 15 boys and 15 girls players will be recognized at the WBCA All-State Banquet and receive plaques recognizing their accomplishment. 

Between her Packerland Player of the Year and First team award, then the awards mentioned above, Bailey Rikkola has put her name in Sevastopol Basketball history.

The layoff is over for Sevastopol's boys as the indoor track season opens Thursday.

In Marinette, Sevastopol's boys' team is scheduled to compete against Bay Port, Beaver Dam. Berlin, Hartford Union, Marshall, Menasha, Neenah, New Holstein, North Fond du Lac, Oakfield, Oshkosh North, Pardeeville, Rio Community, Waterloo, Waupun, Wautoma, and Winneconne. The first events begin at 4 p.m.

Sevastopol’s Bailey Rikkola has been named to WBCA’s Division 5 All-State Team, adding yet another honor for the guard's spectacular senior season. 

Bailey averaged 16.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 4.4 steals per game throughout the 27 games played by the Pioneers resulting in a 25-2 season ultimately coming to an end against Wabeno-Laona. According to wissports.net, Rikkola has led Sevastopol to a 43-10 record in her junior and senior year seasons. 

She will add this accomplishment to her Packerland Conference Player of the Year award she received early last week. Rikkola joins 10 other girls in the entire Division Five to make the team, being one of the five seniors to make the list. 

Sevastopol will move onto the softball season, where they look to take a trip once again to the Sectional Finals, and potentially further. 

Sevastopol's Libby Ash was all smiles after her WIAA 3-Point Challenge performance despite the final result.

Ash scored two points in her debut in the event held at the Resch Center, putting her on the outside looking in for the semifinals and finals. Emily Jaenke of Fox Valley Lutheran won the 3-Point Challenge for the second year in a row, posting scores of 20, 19, and 20 points. 

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Even though she probably wishes her entire team could shootaround with her on Saturday, Sevastopol's Libby Ash is ready for the opportunity Saturday morning will bring to her at the Resch Center.

Ash earned her spot in the Division 5 3-Point Contest by holding the best shooting percentage from behind the arc at 45.4 percent. Her opponent, Jaden Zuber from Monticello, boasted a three-point shooting percentage of 44.6 percent.

A starter since her freshman year, head coach Ben Rikkola said after Ash was named to the WIAA 3-Point Contest that she has always been a great shooter, but took it up a notch this year.

After her team won their first regional championship since 1985 and their first in front of their home fans, Ash said it was a goal of her this year to make it to the shootout, but it would have been 10 times better to make it as a team (Start watching at 2:41)

Ash will take the Resch Center floor at 9:30 a.m. Stay tuned to the NEW Radio Sports Network for coverage of Ash's experience.

While only two individuals were honored as being Academic All-State, the team recognition might be more telling of how good the Sevastopol girls' basketball squad is in the classroom.

The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association announced its Team Academic All-State Awards earlier this week according to WisSports.com's Travis Wison. The Pioneers came in third place in Division 5 and 14th overall in the state with a team GPA of 3.900. Clayton took the top spot in Division 5 with a team GPA of 3.934 and Division 4's Westby was the best in the state with a team GPA of 3.990.

Bailey Rikkola and Reese Schauske were named the two Pioneers players on the individual list and remain eligible for the elite Academic All-State status. This was the first year the Academic All-State recognition was expanded to include underclassmen, which likely led to some worthy individuals across the state being left off despite meeting the necessary criteria.  

Although her team may not be making the trip to the Resch Center this weekend, Sevastopol’s Libby Ash will be taking her outside shooting talents to the WIAA 3-Point Challenge on Saturday morning. 

Ash will be competing against Jaden Zuber from Monticello in the Division Five shootout. Ash is considered the top shooter between herself and Zuber, as she shot 45.4% from the three point line this season compared to Zuber’s 44.6%. 

Libby was a vital part of the Pioneers 25-2 historical record and winning their first regional title since 1985. Ash averaged 7.4 points per game and attempted 118 three pointers throughout the season. She went 4 for 10 in their two wins in the playoffs against Suring and Lena. 

The 3-Point Challenge will be held on Saturday, March 11th at 9:30 am at the Resch Center in Green Bay. Fans can attend the event with tickets from the morning/afternoon session.

The Sevastopol Girl's Basketball team saw their magical season come to a close Thursday night in Crivitz as they fell to the Wabeno/Laona  44-29 in the WIAA Division 5 sectional final. 

 

 

 

 

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The two team's defense dictated the game's pace early as neither team could find their groove offensively. Neither team held the lead by more than four points in the first half. Bailey Rikkola helped keep the Pioneers afloat scoring 10 of her 12 team-high points in the first half.

The second half started much like how the first half played out with both teams' defenses suffocating each other's offenses. The Rebels were able to take any momentum the gain carried when a delayed charging call against Naomi Rikkola took points off the board and started a 7-0 run. The Pioneers could only muster two made field goals in the second half while the Rebels' Malerie Krawze took over the game with 10 of her team-high 12 points coming after halftime. Four other Rebels players contributed seven points in their second straight Sectional Semi-Final win. For the Pioneers, Naomi Rikkola added seven points while Kayla Ranly and Libby Ash each chipped in three points.

The Sevastopol Pioneers finish their season 25-2 overall after winning their first regional title since 1985. 

The Sevastopol Pioneers may still be fighting in the playoffs and inching their way closer to the State tournament, but that has not slowed down their players' success in the classroom. 

Bailey Rikkola and Reese Schauske were named the two Pioneers players on the WBCA Girls Basketball Academic All-State team that was released earlier this week. According to Wissports.net, this is new for 2023, and requires that nominated athletes be varsity players from any grade level and hold a GPA of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale).

The Pioneers are still rolling through their season, as they match up tonight against the Wabeno/Laona Rebels in the Sectional Semifinals, just two wins away from the state tournament. The two seniors are having great success so far this season, with Bailey averaging 16.4 points per game and Reese averaging 3.4 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game. 

You can listen to the Pioneers’ matchup against the Rebels of Wabeno/Laona tonight on U-102.1 and NEWRadioSportsNetwork.com. Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 with tipoff from Crivitz set for 7:00 P.M.

The Road to Green Bay for the WIAA Girls Basketball State Championships takes a detour to Crivitz on Thursday when Sevastopol faces off against top-seeded Wabeno-Laona.

Both teams won their respective conferences with the Pioneers taking the Packerland with an undefeated mark while the Rebels earned a tie with Crandon for the Northern Lakes crown.

The Pioneers earned their spot with wins over Suring and Lena on consecutive nights. The team rode their defense to their first regional championship since 1985 when they beat Lena 56-19 in front of a partisan crowd in Institute last Saturday night. Naomi Rikkola scored six of her 12 points and Libby Ash connected on one of her two three-pointers to stake the Pioneers to an 18-5 lead at the break. Bailey Rikkola came alive in the second half, scoring 13 of her game-high 16 points in the second half, while Kayla Ranly combined her hard-nosed defense with six second-half points. 

The Rebels won a blowout against Wausaukee and close game against Niagara to take their spot opposite the Pioneers in the sectional semifinal. In their 49-45 victory over Niagara in the regional final, Malerie Krawze scored 11 points and Allison Albrecht added 10 points in the win. This is the second straight year the Rebels have appeared in the sectional round, losing last year in the final to eventual state runner-up Assumption.

Tim Kowols and Reece Robillard will have the call from Crivitz Thursday night on U 102.1 and NEWRadioSportsNetwork.com beginning at 6:45 p.m. with the pregame show followed by the opening tip at 7 p.m.

Click here to listen to our interview with head girls' basketball coach Ben Rikkola

The Sevastopol boys’ basketball season ended Tuesday with a 73-55 defeat to Oneida Nation in Division 5 regional quarterfinal.  The Pioneers were within 11 points at halftime, 38-27, but could not mount a comeback in the second half.

Ernest Stevens IV led the Thunderhawks with 14 points while Nick Peterson tallied 15 points for the Pioneers and Zaul Valdivia added 11 more in the loss.

The Pioneers managed to drain seven three-pointers but struggled from the free-throw line, hitting just six of 15 attempts. Sevastopol ends the season with a 2-23 record.