While there has been plenty of success to go around for the Pella boys wrestling team thus far in the 2022-23 season, it’s happened with many key contributors on the sidelines.

Senior Peyton Ritzert (16-1 record at 145 pounds) knows that there are a lot of talented wrestlers who have been limited or that have even not appeared yet thus far due to injuries and illness.

Among those who are on the mend are Sophomore Logan Bruxvoort–who compiled a 33-5 record last winter, and T.R Putz–who was 28-10 at 145 pounds last year and is recovering from offseason surgery.

Noah Parsons–who was 8-2 at 220 this season, but has missed many recent meets, and Ty Halverson (6-5)–among a small but experienced senior class, may also provide a boost in the wrestling room.

In the meantime, in addition to Ritzert, returning state qualifier Jackson Van Kley (170 – 19-1 record) and conference champions Damion Clark (132 – 14-3) and Kieran Van Voorst (17-3 in multiple weight classes) have been keeping the ship afloat, in addition to varsity newcomer Hunter Smith, who won the 152 pound weight class at the Bill Van Horn Invitational.

Pella opens with Norwalk after Winter Break on January 5th.