Prior to last Thursday’s Pella boys track meet at Waukee, the last Dutch spring sports event held was when the Pella girls soccer team ended their 2019 journey at the Cownie Sports Complex and the 2A state tournament.

Nearly two years later, a senior-heavy leadership group and a mix of talented newcomers have the Lady Dutch dreaming of Des Moines and a run at the top prize in the state.

Head Coach Mark Howard says he’s thankful that unlike many coaches across the state and in different sports, there are plenty of returning athletes to balance the two new classes, which he hopes gives them a strong competitive advantage, especially early.

However, there are still large shoes to fill — the Class of 2019 represented perhaps the most talented in program history, and the 2020 trio of seniors were all key members of the state meet squad from two seasons ago.

Pella’s girls will be keyed by Seniors Macy Schulz, who scored nine goals as a sophomore, Roselande Vanderhoff, a dual sport athlete with state track speed and who scored two goals over multiple games in 2019, Emma Yoder, who was a key player on one of the top defenses as as sophomore, and Camile Dixson, a future Grandview Soccer player after graduation. Junior Anna Vander Waal also figures to be a key returner as well after starting 13 games as a freshman.

The Lady Dutch open the season on Monday, April 5th at Marshalltown.