After another remarkable year for Pella athletics, a loaded list of moments get left off of the top ten countdown each academic calendar, and 2022-23 was no exception. Before the countdown resumes with #5 on Monday, here are some of the “best of the rest” stories from the Dutch over the past year (in chronological order):
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Pella Football Three Game Winning Streak to End 2022
Considering some recent heights for the program, a 3-6 finish won’t stand up in the Pella football record books. But, the turnaround at the end of the year was fun to watch for a team that couldn’t buy a win against several playoff teams. Pella finally broke through with dominating wins over Oskaloosa (49-0), Clear Creek Amana (35-2), and Cedar Rapids Washington (47-14). The Dutch narrowly missed the playoffs, placing 20th in the RPI with the toughest schedule of any 4A team.
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Pella Girls Basketball Ends Long Drought in Final Conference Game Against Grinnell
On February 2nd, the #8 in Class 4A Dutch girls rallied back in the second half to knock off the #8 in Class 3A Tigers in overtime 57-52. Pella’s girls were flustered at times by tight interior defense by the home team — with both key post players contained to just one point through three quarters, all at the same time the Tigers used their high-powered three-point shooting attack to build a nine point advantage in the 3rd quarter. But the Dutch relied on their chaotic defense to rally at one point to a two-point lead, before the two ranked foes traded big shots that pushed the contest to overtime. Pella was able to hit the big baskets when they counted, and pulled away in the extra four minutes to earn their first win over Grinnell in 13 tries since 2016.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH KYLIE TAUKE:
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Dutch Basketball Storms Back Against Pella Christian in Boys Showdown
The Pella boys basketball team made a late charge to upend their crosstown rivals for a 59-56 victory over Pella Christian in the final Tulip City Showdown of the winter on February 3rd. The Eagles were in control for the majority of the boys showdown, leading by as much as nine in the 4th quarter, with Pella making a few rallies to take brief leads throughout. Down starter Roman Hugan for the stretch run, the home team still found big buckets late, including a pair of three pointers from freshman Austin Schulte to pull the game within one possession and another by Trey Van Hauen to take the final lead.
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Pella Bowlers Both Qualify for State, First Time Boys and Girls Represented at State Meet
Carter Failor and Taylor Walker made it to state this winter.
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Ruggles, Eekhoff, Copeland Make it to State Swimming
Maylei Ruggles qualified for state all four seasons with the NCMP Aquagirls. Ruggles of Pella qualified in the 200 yard freestyle relay this past fall. (Interview):
Eli Eekhoff and MacK Copeland were part of the qualifying 400 freestyle relay for the NCMP Swim Team. (Interview):
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Dutch Boys Tennis Qualifies All Individuals for State For First Time
Don’t fear Dutch tennis fans — the boys are in the top five for a really special season. But, another separate fun note was Pella’s ability to sweep the state qualifying site as individuals. For the first time in program history, all bid-winners from a single site were Pella Dutch. The #1 in 1A tennis team flexed its muscle in the district site on May 8th — a new format this year, by sweeping the singles and doubles spots available for the state tournament. Previously, boys individual state qualifiers were determined while the teams competed for state bids.
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Karsyn Lyons Makes it Back-to-Back to State Golf
In a repeat appearance at the 3A state girls golf meet in May 2023, Karsyn Lyons finished in the top 20 of the field in Cedar Falls. The sophomore shot 171 over the two day tournament to finish in a tie for 18th in the 2023 tournament. Last year, Lyons finished in a tie for 28th.
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Abby Warner to 100 Career Goals on Pitch
All-State striker Abby Warner continued her fantastic season and career in the playoffs this past spring, scoring six goals against Carlisle, which pushed her by the 100 career mark as a junior. Warner enters her senior campaign at 105 for her career.
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Pella Softball Stuns Indianola and Knocks off Knoxville
The Red Rock Rivalry renewed on the softball diamond on June 14th, with a late-inning rally for Pella giving them the edge to knock off #15 in 4A Knoxville 4-3, as heard live on KNIA/KRLS. That kicked off as strong stretch for Pella, as they knocked off Indianola 4-0 on June 19th.
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Pella Baseball Puts It Together Against Grinnell in Playoff Opener
The Pella baseball team put together arguably their most complete seven-inning performance of 2023 in a convincing 8-3 win over Grinnell, in the Class 3A substate opener heard live on 92.1 KRLS on July 7th. Just nine days after the Tigers swept the Dutch on senior night and held Pella to just one run scored in 14 innings, the bats from the home team this time were locked in, scoring three runs in the 1st inning while getting all nine batters to the plate. The Dutch would add three runs in the 3rd and a pair of tallies in the 4th to give themselves an insurmountable advantage.