For the first time in 15 years, Fort Dodge did not feature the full girls cross country team from Pella High School last fall. A roster made up of the same group of varsity girls and a few newcomers not only looks to start a new streak, but compete for a trophy among Class 3A’s best this October.
Pella Head Coach Doug Cutler says on paper, this is one of the deepest returning teams he’s had in all of his seasons dating back to 2006 — and it’s an extra motivated group knowing the disappointment of last year can fuel what they can accomplish over the next two-and-a-half months.
“It probably looks the same on paper, but I can tell you after the first few days of practice, this group is on a different level than they were last year — just speaking to those who are back,” he says.
It’s not like this group doesn’t know what the state meet is like or what it takes to get there — many of the current juniors ran as freshmen on the 2020 qualifying team that placed 8th in Class 3A, and standouts Raegan Sneider and Autumn Blink earned individual bids last October, with the former earning All-State honors as a 9th grader.
Pella opens the cross country season at Cedar Rapids Prairie on August 27th.
Athletes to Watch for Pella
Raegan Snieder, Sophomore
The 9th grader came into high school with a lot of hype and expectations for success — and she not only met those, but probably exceeded what many thought was possible in her first varsity season. Raegan had one the best individual finishes for the Pella girls at state (6th among 3A individuals) since 2017 and then-freshman Caroline McMartin, who placed 9th and earned All-State honors. It was the 8th All-State performance for the Dutch since 2007, and her time of 19:27.26 represents a new Freshman 5K record and the 2nd fastest time in school history. Snieder had a strong track and field season this past spring, which included an 8th place finish in the 800 meters and qualifying bids in the 1600 and 3000. Raegan is one of Class 3A’s top distance runners, and while it will be hard to track down Ballard’s Paityn Noe–the defending individual 3A champion, there’s plenty of reasons to think that Snieder could improve on her top six finish and compete for the conference title.
Autumn Blink, Junior
It’s unfair to Autumn to classify 2021 as a complete surprise — Blink was the No. 3 runner across the line at state as a freshman (20:31.1 – 49th among all individuals). But it was certainly a bit unexpected that she would leap into the No. 2 spot with consistency for most of the fall. Blink was the 35th individual across the line at Lakeside last October (20:17.88), and was 7th at a loaded 3A district at the Pella Sports Park to qualify for that bid. Autumn was perhaps the most consistent member in Coach Cutler’s lineup in 2021, and there’s no reason to expect anything different in 2022. If Autumn can find that form again, the Dutch will be a dangerously deep team and a contender for a strong finish this year.
Jacie Trine, Junior
After Trine was the first Pella runner to cross the state finish line in 2020 for the 8th place 3A team, there were expectations that she would take a big leap forward into her sophomore campaign after a strong performance in the 2021 track and field season. But injuries can be a fickle beast to tackle — and a preseason injury unrelated to running knocked the determined runner off of her tracks, and she wasn’t ever quite able to capture the speed that pushed her to a 38th place finish two years ago. Trine was still very good — she placed 21st at the district meet and 15th at a tough conference meet, so it’s completely unfair to knock her for those contributions. But Jacie knows what she’s capable of, and coming off of another brilliant spring on the track (6th in the 400 meter dash, 7th sprint medley, and 7th in the 4×200), the expectations are high for a return to form this fall. And according to the Pella coaching staff, Trine has been pushing her teammate Snieder near the front of the pack in practice. If Jacie can make that big of a leap (one she’s fully capable of), Trine might take the rest of the Dutch team with her to new heights in October.
Sophia Boonstra, Abby Teagarden, Macy Schroeder, Tess Paulsen, Juniors
With all due respect to each of these individuals, the top three in Pella’s lineup is fairly well set and barring injury, should hold together for most of the fall. The biggest intrigue internally for the Dutch comes with a group of juniors who all ran most of last year, and if any newcomers on the roster or others from last year’s JV emerge to nab a competitive four spots filling critical spots in the varsity lineup. Sophia Boonstra was the best performer among the four by the end of the 2021 season, placing 4th for the team at both the Little Hawkeye Conference meet (23rd overall – 21:40.3) and the state qualifier at the Pella Sports Park (21:52.38 – 33rd). Schroeder had a strong finish to her track and field season, placing 12th in the 800 and was joined by Abby Teagarden in both the 4×400 and 4×800 relays. However, it was nearly two years ago, but Tess Paulsen was the fastest of this group at the state meet in 2020 (21:32.8 – 95th among individuals) on a team that also featured Boonstra and Schroeder as freshman. Coach Cutler is hopeful the competition will push this group just a little extra, and also provide some depth in case on injury elsewhere. If any of these four can watch their times drop closer to 21 minutes, they could compete for the 4th spot on this deep team and make the Dutch dangerous in the 3A trophy race and in the Little Hawkeye Conference meet.
Lizzie Neumann and Marissa Ferebee, Freshmen
As has been stated before, Coach Cutler doesn’t like to put undue expectations on freshmen as they come into the program. And with the amount of returning depth and experience coming back for the Dutch, there isn’t any immediate need as there was with Snieder last year to have a newcomer become an immediate place winner. But the Pella coaching staff is excited for the potential that two girls have coming off of the Pella Middle School State 3A Cross Country champions. Lizzie Neumann was 7th and Marissa Ferebee 14th among all individuals at the 28th Middle School XC Championships in Ankeny last fall. Among a large freshman class of 14 expect to suit up this fall, those two might stand the best chance of making an impact and competing with the deep junior class.
Abbey Bogaards, Senior
While much of the story of the Pella Cross Country team will likely be written by the athletes above, it’s not fair to count out a senior who had a strong showing at the end of the track and field season last spring. Abbey ran the third leg of the 4×800 relay for Pella at state. Bogaards had the second fastest time for the Pella JV meet in the final race of the 2021 season for anyone not featured on the state qualifying roster (23:38).
The Class 3A Field – Top Returning Teams
Pella did not qualify for the girls state meet as a team for the first time in 15 years. Their district was loaded with the 2nd place, 5th place, and 13th place teams in Class 3A and had five top 15 teams enter the race that week, including Clear Creek-Amana. The Dutch are hungry to return, but a deep 3A class awaits them.
Solon – 2021 1st Place, 1st in final team rankings
The Spartans won the Class 3A championship wire-to-wire in Fort Dodge last year, part of a remarkable fall/spring combination where they also won the Class 3A state track and field title in dominating fashion. Solon will be paced by the 3rd fastest returning runner from state in 2021, Kayla Young, and have their No. 3 runner Anna Quillin (19th among individuals), No. 5 placewinner Mara Duster (43rd individually), and their No. 6 runner Gracie Federspiel (75th) all returning. The Spartans have a strong chance to earn another trophy, but a repeat will be a challenge with a strong field looming behind them.
Ballard – 2021 2nd Place, 4th in final team rankings
The Bombers were dethroned by Solon after winning the 2019 and 2020 titles. While they certainly missed Shewaye Johnson to an out-of-state move, Ballard proved they were a strong team regardless and posted up a statement runner-up score last fall. Defending individual champion Paityn Noe earned the Bombers a title trophy anyway — and she returns in her senior season as a heavy favorite to repeat. Junior Ava Vance was the 11th place individual among 3A runners, earning All-State honors in her sophomore campaign, and No. 3 runner Annika Larson (30th) and No. 5 runner Ava Richardson (61st) also return. The Bombers are loaded, and it would be shocking if they don’t wind up with one of the top three trophies again.
Epworth, Western Dubuque – 2021 4th Place, 3rd in final team rankings
A dynamic duo led the Bobcats at the top of their lineup, but they remained a distant 4th to the dominant top three trio of Solon, Ballard, and DCG. Alyssa Klein returns (14th) and assumes the top role occupied by Lilly Boge (10th invidiually). Standout track and field sprinter Audrey Biermann graduates out of their No. 4 spot as well. Olivia Thul (56th) and Bella Meyers (85th) were underclassmen. Western Dubuque will need some fairly significant improvement and maybe a strong newcomer to emerge to crack the top three, even with DCG’s move up to Class 4A. But they remain a strong potential top eight and possible top five team.
Mount Vernon-Lisbon – 2021 5th Place, 8th in final team rankings
The Mustangs went from 10th in the 1st mile to 5th at the finish line, and did so with a mix of all four grades represented. Mount Vernon’s top runner Laura Swart just missed out on an All-State finish (18th). Anna Johnson (21st) will be a significant loss, but the Mustangs had underclassmen in their No. 3 spot (Emrie Johnson – 42nd at state), No. 4 Abbie Moss (81st), and No. 6 Sierra Snyder (122nd). There seems to be quite the gap preseason between the top two teams and the rest of the field, and much like Western Dubuque, this eastern Iowa team will need a bit of improvement or a strong newcomer to establish themselves closer to the top three, but again, they have a good chance to find themselves near or in the top five again.
Carlisle – 2021 6th Place, 11th in final team rankings
All-time Iowa track and field great Ainsley Erzen was strong on the cross country course as well, posting back-to-back 3rd place finishes, but her contribution is gone to graduation. Younger sister Tessa was pretty solid too, placing 22nd, and she enters 2022 as the presumed No. 1 runner for the Wildcats. Carlisle had sophomore Marie Daggett and Maya Bergstrom finish 68th and 70th respectively, and in fact, their 5, 6, and 7 runners also were underclassmen, although the all placed outside of the top 120. Experience will be on the side of the Wildcats, but Ainsley is a big loss at the top in terms of team scoring. They’ll still likely be in the mix for a top five finish in a crowded field and have a strong chance to return to Fort Dodge.
Harlan – 2021 7th Place, 6th in final team rankings
It seems as if almost every girls team at Lakeside Golf Course had a strong senior representative among the top teams in 3A, and Harlan was no exception. The Cyclones were led by Kaia Bieker, who placed 7th among individuals. Lindsey Sonderman was one spot shy of an All-State honor (16th), but their next underclassmen, Taylor Bieker, placed 97th as the No. 4 runner. Their 5th through 7th placewinners also return, placing 107th, 116th, and 126th. On paper, their team composition is very similar to Carlisle, and may find themselves in a really competitive middle-of-the-pack race if they return to state in 2022.
MOC-Floyd Valley – 2021 8th Place, 12th in final team rankings
The Lady Dutch of northwest Iowa had one of 3A’s top graduates (seems to be a repeating theme), as they were led by Emily Haverdink and her 4th place showing. Elin Van Der Werff placed 37th as a freshman and now seniors and twin sisters Aryana Dokter (76th) and Biyanca Dokter (83rd), with underclassmen Sarah May (113th), Payge Bahrke (117th), and Kennedy Fernstrum (133rd) all potentially back this fall. Again, it’s a crowded field possibly from the 3rd through 12th spots in Class 3A, based on last year’s state results, and it’s a broken record at this point, but they will need to find a way to replace their top runner.
North Polk – 2021 9th Place, 5th in final team rankings
The Comets had the 2nd tightest returning “pack” from last fall, with their 1st and 5th runners placing 35 spots and 45.3 seconds apart. North Polk has a solid group returning, paced by junior Abby Bell (44th) and senior Aubrie Kiesling (52nd). As it often is with closer teams, it’s about getting to Fort Dodge and finding the right group to pace with. If the Comets’ formula is similar to last season, they could find themselves in the top ten again in 2022. But they’ll probably want to be closer to their team ranking than their placement from last year — but so it goes with pack racing.
Spencer – 2021 10th Place, 10th in final team rankings
In a field where seven of the 15 All-State runners graduate, the Tigers have a strong No. 1 runner returning in Peyton Morey (12th), who was the 2nd fastest freshman at the state meet behind Raegan Snieder and comes in as the 5th fastest time returning. Two of Spencer’s scoring spots were seniors, but Emma Morey (80th), Aliza Edwards (99th), Ana Olson (121s) and Ivy Hamilton (123rd) were all underclassmen. There will be a fine line between the top and bottom of the 3A standings, and if the Tigers are back in Fort Dodge, they have a top runner that could help lower their score and move them up the standings.
Glenwood – 2021 11th Place, 7th in final team rankings
Outside of one senior, Glenwood was REALLY young in 2021. The Rams top three of Madelyn Berglund (31st), Breckyn Peterson (45th), and Brooklyn Schultz (74th). Their 5th through 7th runners Lauren Hughes (106th), Kate Hughes (109th), and Emerson Griffin (127th) are all back as well. If there is a team that is outside of the top 10 that could make a big jump in, and maybe more, it’s Glenwood.
Center Point-Urbana – 2021 12th Place, 15th in final team rankings
Only 42 points separated 5th place and 12th place in 2021 and as has been written several times, the Stormin’ Pointers have a top-tier runner to replace. Kora Katcher placed 8th, but the next five for CPU return, including Emma Wilkerson (57th), Emily Bowe (77th), Sydney McCormick (89th), Julia Paine (110th), and Madison Bockenstedt (124th), and much like Glenwood, they were young, with four returning sophomores. The Pointers might be more of a pack, and might need to be, if they are getting back to Lakeside Golf Course this spring.
Gilbert – 2021 13th Place, 9th in the final team rankings
The Tigers came out of the fast and competitive Pella Sports Park Course district race and did so as a pack, but weren’t able to get the start they needed to get closer to their team ranking, coming into the 1st and 2nd mile as the 15th team out of 15. Their squad was close wit ha 44.7 second spread and 33 places between their 1st and 5th runner, and four of those were underclassmen, including Clare Stahr (51st), Mia Kautman (55th), Abby Patel (69th), and Abby McGuire (90th). Their 6th runner Adi Siegel was just seven spots behind their graduating No. 5, so on paper, it appears Gilbert will bring a pack to their state qualifying site again. They’ll need a lot of improvement among all of those runners to get back to Fort Dodge and move into the top 10.
Wahlert, Dubuque – 2021 14th Place, 13th in the final team rankings
Wahlert started out strong in 7th but couldn’t keep the pace, and found themselves behind a talented group of teams in Fort Dodge last fall with only six runners that made it to the first mile. Their top runner also graduated (Ellie Meyer – 15th), and also had a senior in their 2nd and 4th spots. Lilah Takes (73rd) and Josie Belken (111th) are the top returning state placewinners. Unless there is a big jump from the returners or some strong newcomers, it will be a tough road for the Golden Eagles back to the Lakeside Golf Course, especially if their district ends up as close as it did last fall, with just 41 points separating 2nd through 6th.
Marion – 2021 15th Place, 14th in the final team rankings
Marion had a pair of seniors in their top two spots, in Madison Prier (36th) and Peyton Steffen (40th). The Wolves have the next five from their state roster potentially back, but Sydney Andresen was the 94th runner across the line among 3A competitors. Again, they’ll need some improvement and/or a newcomer to make them a stronger contender to return to Fort Dodge, especially in when a district where they earned their spot at state by six points over Assumption. This does not count out Marion and their strong athletic programs, but it’s difficult to automatically assume they will be back at the state meet based on what their roster make up looks like based on last year’s standings.
Teams to Watch:
ADM, 4th at Winterset District Meet
The Tigers have the 3rd fastest returning runner in state runner-up Geneva Timmerman (more on who is the 2nd fastest returning athlete due to class change in a moment), who was a big key in taking the ADM track and field girls from 27th to 2nd from 2021 to 2022. They also were stuck in the same district as a dominant DCG team, who is no longer in 3A. The Tigers feel like a really strong team that could return to Fort Dodge, with
their 2-4 runners coming back as well.
Clear Creek-Amana, 4th at Pella District Meet
The Clippers clipped Pella by three points at a tough district and were 16 points behind Carlisle with a trip to state on the line. Haidyn Barker placed 20th and Kira Barker placed 86th in her freshman season — CCA had three individual qualifiers, an extremely rare feat for a school that did not send their entire team. If the Clippers can find an eastern Iowa draw (as they probably should), they would be a strong candidate to knock off a Center Point-Urbana, Marion or Wahlert to get into the field of 15. It was a bit strange to see CCA, who was ranked 14th, get shipped 90 minutes west to Pella to take on four other ranked teams, when they sit less than 30 minutes away from Solon.
Clear Lake, 13th ranked in 2A before state qualifying, 4th at Pleasant Valley 2A District
Clear Lake was a bit of a victim of geography, getting into a tough district in Gowrie and placing 4th in that meet. Addison Doughan was a freshman who placed 4th in Class 2A, and her time of 19:04.88 would have been the 2nd fastest in Class 3A, and teammate and fellow freshman Reese Brownlee was 23rd in 2A, which would have put her right behind Pella’s Autumn Blink, who placed 35th. Clear Lake also has a bit of a geographical advantage in 3A, with most of the dominant teams mainly along or south of Highway 30. It would not be too much of a stretch to see this team in Fort Dodge in Class 3A, especially since their entire varsity squad is back.