The road to the top of Class 3A was filled with twists and turns for the vast majority of returning members of the state champion winning Pella boys cross country team.
While a pair of freshman coming in provided the boost that ultimately turned the tide for the Dutch, many of the upperclassmen had scars to heal and hurdles they cleared to get back in the lineup this fall and to take another step in their own development.
Take Senior Chase Lauman — who entered the 2021 state meet as a likely candidate to earn all-state recognition, but the key word was “likely,” as he burnt out after too fast of a start for his already ill body to handle, and his fading changed the course of a trophy finish into 4th place for the team from last fall. But Chase was determined to not only come back to Fort Dodge, but to do so stronger and faster — and even though he suffered a foot injury between state qualifying and the final race of this fall season, he was able to finally earn that top 10 finish.
Nathan Vander Waal lost his 2021 season before it began, suffering a similar injury to what Chase ended with, which cost him the chance for a breakout sophomore campaign. And while he was able to come back for last year’s race in Fort Dodge, he wasn’t nearly healthy enough or prepared to best his freshman time. But an offseason of hard work and 100% health in 2022 pushed him also to a podium finish right behind Lauman as a junior.
Devon Browne wasn’t on some of the late season varsity lineups as a battle for the 7th spot unfolded in the Dutch lineup — but a late season surge put the twin on the final rotation heading into state qualifying. And not only did the sophomore come up and participate, he was one of the scoring five for Pella, placing 4th among the Dutch in Fort Dodge last week.