Two of the most accomplished athletes in recent memory at Pella High School are among several Tulip City high school alumni facing uncertain futures in college athletics this coming academic year.

The Pingel sisters — Kiki, a senior at Central College, and Annika, a junior at Doane in Nebraska, are both aiming to continue their collegiate careers in an era with many postponements and cancellations due to COVID-19. Both were slated for potential special seasons this past spring after the indoor season, but instead came back home after the abrupt end to those campaigns. They are looking forward to returning to competition whenever they can, even with many changes to upcoming seasons in both NCAA Division III and the NAIA.

Annika finished this past March at the NAIA Indoor National Championships with Doane and an 11th place finish in the 600 meters, and in 2019, was a member of the national qualifying 4×400 meter relay. She has been both a cross country varsity runner and key member of the Doane women’s track sprinting and middle distance group.

Kiki is a multiple time All-Conference multi-event athlete at Central, competing in the 4×400 relay, hurdlers, indoor pentathlon, and outdoor heptathlon, and is also a two-time national All-Academic recipient.

Both are two of the most decorated athletes in the history of Pella track and field — serving as key members of the 2016 and 2017 Lady Dutch runner up state teams, which in back-to-back seasons, scored over 70 points and finishing behibd record breaking seasons from Assumption. Annika was the athlete to hit the finish line in the 4×400 relay that clinched the 2018 3A state championship after older sister Kiki graduated in 2017 from Pella. Kiki was a member of the Class 3A champion shuttle hurdle relay team in 2016 that still holds the state meet record (1:03.13) to this day, alongside Emma Thoreson, Emily Holterhaus, and Corin McKinstrey.

Hear more from the Pingel sisters on tonight’s Radio Sports Page at 6 p.m. on KNIA/KRLS.