Several of the greats of Dutch athletics past are starting their fall sports seasons in college soon.

A State Track and Field Champion and All-State Football Player for Pella, Nick DeJong (’19 at Pella) entered fall camp as the backup right offensive tackle for the Iowa Hawkeyes. DeJong started nine games and appeared in 13 total in 2021 as Iowa played in the Citrus Bowl. Nick won the state shot put title in his senior season and was an All-State football selection before walking on to Iowa.

Three Time First-Team All-State Soccer Player Grace Held (’19 at Pella) is transferring a bit closer to home to finish her collegiate career, playing for the Wartburg Knights. Held played in 2019 and 2021 for the University of Sioux Falls, starting in 16 of 18 matches in 2021 with 942 total minutes played and two goals scored — both of which were game-winning. Held scored 117 career goals for Pella, leading them to three state tournament appearances, and earned All-Iowa player of the year in 2019.

Her teammate on the opposite side of the pitch for those seasons in Pella enters her senior campaign at John Brown University in Arkansas. Chloe Griffin (’19 at Pella) has spent time defending the net in the NAIA, with 172 minutes played last fall. Chloe was a two-time All-State Selection at Pella, with 21 saves as a junior. She also received the National Soccer Coaches Association’s Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award immediately after graduation.

After helping Morningside College win NAIA national championships in 2019 and 2021, a former Pella kicker has a new home this fall. Chase Carter (’19 at Pella) is now playing for Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado, which is an NCAA Division I Football Championship Series school in the Big Sky Conference. Carter was a 2nd team NAIA All-American selection, making 248 extra point conversions in his three seasons in northwest Iowa. Chase was 47/48 on point after tries and four of five on field goal makes for the 2018 Pella football team.

Emily Holterhaus (’19 at Pella) enters her fourth season as a starter for the UNI Panthers Volleyball team. In 2021, Emily was a Missouri Valley Conference Scholar Athlete, starting all 31 matches for the Panthers and playing all 88 possible games in her first three seasons. Holterhaus is arguably the most decorated female athlete in Pella High School history, earning four All-State volleyball nods, two All-State basketball selections, and winning both a relay and team state track and field championship, qualifying for events all four years at the Blue Oval.

All three of Emily’s graduating classmates remain active — including Kennady Klein at Nebraska Wesleyan, Natalie Clayberg at Wartburg, and Jenna Schulte at Central Missouri. Klein appeared in all 25 matches for the Prairie Wolves in 2021, totaling 391 digs and was named to the American Rivers Conference Academic team. Clayberg played in 87 sets in 2021 for the Knights, recording 46 kills and 20 service aces as Wartburg advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 18 seasons. Schulte has yet to play any collegiate sets due to injury and COVID-19 related cancellations, but remains on the roster.

Annika Pingel (’18 at Pella) has excelled as she did for the Dutch at Doane, now entering her 5th season running cross country and, in the spring, track and field. Pingel is a multiple time NAIA national track and field qualifier at Doane, placing 15th in the 800 meters this past spring and placing 26th among individuals in the Great Plains Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships. Pingel was a part of several runner up teams at Pella in girls basketball, cross country, and track and field, and was the member of the Pella girls track and field team champions that clinched the 1st place trophy by crossing the finish line in the 4×400 relay in 2018.

Caroline McMartin (’20 at Pella) headlines the Central College cross country team after appearing in the National Championship race in 2021, placing 118th. She was 8th in the American Rivers Conference last fall as well. Caroline enters her junior season at Central one of the most decorated cross country athletes in Pella High School history, graduating with the fastest all-time girls 5K time at 19:13.8 and was a four-time state qualifier, earning All-State honors in 2017.

Recent Pella Dutch graduates competing this fall (football, volleyball, golf, cross country, swimming, soccer):
Bryce McCain, ‘19 – Central College, Football
Tirzah Wittenberg, ‘20 – Northwestern College, Cross Country
Hailey Kowzan, ‘20 – Simpson College, Soccer
Warren Page, ‘20 – Central College, Football
Ellie Roorda, ‘20 – Central College, Cross Country
John Oltman, ‘20 – Central College, Golf
Trey Wood, ‘20 – Central College, Golf
Luke Galeazzi, ‘20 – Hawkeye Community College, Golf
Josh Warner, ‘21 – Dordt University, Football
Abby Cutler, ‘21 – Truman State University, Cross Country
Ethan Gordon, ‘21 – Central College, Golf
Grant Nelson, ‘21 – Central College, Football
Joe Jansen, ‘21 – Central College, Football
Mason Holland, ‘21 – Drake University, Soccer
Camille Dixson, ‘21 – Grand View University
Courtney Paxton, ‘21 – Simpson College
Kody Huisman, ‘21 – North Dakota State, Football
Tony Schmitz, ‘21 – U.S. Army, Cross Country

Class of ‘22 Pella graduates competing this fall (football, volleyball, golf, cross country, swimming, soccer):
Avey Amelse – Dordt University, Volleyball
Blake Meyer – Central College, Football
Hannah Nedder – University of Northern Iowa, Swimming
Aidan Pollock – Elmhurst University, Football
Meridith Rowe – Elmhurst University, Volleyball
Preston Rowe – Dordt University, Football
Will Simpson – Troy University, Golf
Bailey Van Voorst – Northwestern University, Volleyball
Anna Vander Waal – Grand View
Josiah Wittenberg – Dordt University, Cross Country

**This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but the latest information publicly available on these athletes. Please note that other Pella graduates who compete exclusively for winter/spring teams are not mentioned, and will be later throughout the year as those rosters become confirmed and those seasons approach. There will also be a story soon about Pella Christian graduates. If you have details about alumni changes not reflected above for fall athletes, email andrewschneider@kniakrls.com