The Pella boys track and field team will be keyed by a group of seniors and juniors for leadership as they vie for a top spot at the famous Blue Oval at Drake Stadium in May.

Head Coach Brent Van Hauen says a core group of leaders on the track and in the throws, along with a wave of returners in the upper classes and newcomers in all classes, gives him thoughts of a fun season — even with more uncertainty than ever due to missing last spring. 

Van Hauen believes a trio of leaders give an example to all of the inexperienced athletes that will be competing this spring.

“Tony Scmitz has been a mainstay on our varsity since he was a freshman, he was a place winner as a freshman.  Kody Huisman in the throws was a state qualifier his freshman and sophomore years and a Drake qualifier his freshman and sophomore years and a Drake place winner his sophomore year.  We look at those guys as the leaders of those two groups – the throwers and the distance / middle distance guys.  Josiah Wittenberg, even though he’s only a junior, he ran as a freshman for us and placed at state in a couple of events and had a very good cross country year again this year.” 

Pella’s boys opened the indoor season Friday at Central College.

They continue running, jumping, and throwing indoors today at Dubuque, while the Lady Dutch will do so at home at Central College.