By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SPEARFISH — There aren’t a lot of things that Wagner junior Ashlyn Koupal can’t do on a basketball court. 

Koupal wrapped up her junior season with 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocked shots as the Red Raiders claimed seventh place at the 2025 Class A state tournament with a 48-39 win over Mount Vernon/Plankinton. She was recently named the South Dakota Gatorade girls basketball player of the year. 

In a Jan. 21 loss to O’Neil, Nebraska, Wagner had lost four of six games and didn’t look at all like a state tournament team. 

“It was exciting to make it to state but we weren’t satisfied just to get here,” Koupal said. “We wanted to do a lot better but there are a lot of teams that didn’t make it so we are just grateful to be here.” 

There is no question that Koupal is the leader of this squad but in order to make the state tournament multiple other players had to step up and Koupal picked her spots while carrying the load when necessary. 

“I think we’re an unselfish team and that comes from the coaching staff and the way we play,” she said. “I think we all want to see the next person do just as well or better than ourselves and who scores the most points really doesn’t matter as long as we’re winning.”

Koupal plans on jumping right into summer basketball but also said she is planning on competing in track this spring where she is a four-time Class A state champion in the high jump. 

Wagner’s Ashlyn Koupal and Mahpiya Luta’s Ashlan Carlow-Blount are friends:

Mahpiya Luta's Ashlan Carlow-Blount and Wagner's Ashlyn Koupal shared a hug after the Crusaders beat the Red Raiders in the opening round of the Class A state tournament - Photo courtesy of Amanda Carlow

During a state tournament appearance in 2025 the Wagner girls and the Mahpiya Luta girls were staying in the same hotel. Carlow-Blount and Koupal were eighth-graders at the time and the two became friends.

“I have a lot of respect for her and I really like her,” Koupal said. “We’ve known each other for a while now and have gone to the same camps over the years. Anytime we are in the same place we just kind of find each other.”

In Thursday’s opening round in Spearfish Mahpiya Luta defeated Wagner, 76-39. While her teammates were celebrating the win, Carlow-Blount stayed behind so she could console her friend. 

During Friday’s semifinal game between Mahpiya Luta and Dakota Valley, Koupal and her teammates could be spotted in the Mahpiya Luta student section. 

“Friday night was a lot of fun,” Koupal said. “I was telling my friends that I have never been able to cheer in a student section so, I don’t know, I really enjoyed that.”