Pella Christian Top 10 Sports Stories of 2022-23 School Year – #2

Posted By: Tyler Crabb
August 3, 2023 @ 5:58 am
Today’s Local Sports

The Pella Christian track and field teams claim the #2 spot on our countdown of top 10 sports stories from Eagle Lane this past school year, as they continued their tradition of success with 14 athletes competing in 14 events at the State Meet May 18th-20th.

Highlighting the Eagles achievements at State was boys thrower Trevor Veenstra. After a seventh place finish in the shot put on May 18th, the junior bounced back to capture the Class 2A State Title and Elite All-State honors in the discus the following day with a throw of 180 feet, five inches. While Veenstra was hoping to win both events, he said it was exciting to walk away from Drake Stadium a State Champion.

“It’s just an absolute joy to finally win. Yesterday didn’t go my way, but I’m just glad I could turn it around today and do my best.”

A year after missing the track and field season due to injury, senior Isaac Kacmarynski returned to the State Meet and took fourth in the 200 meter dash (22.43) and fifth in the 100 meter dash (11.08). The Eagles boys sprint medley relay team of Noah Nunnikhoven, Luke Nikkel, Kacmarynski, and Peyton Ritzert took sixth place at State (1:35.22), while senior Kaden Van Wyngarden finished his high school career with a 14th place finish in the 3200 meter run (10:21.74).

Additionally, the Pella Christian girls track and field team earned two Elite All-State nods with second place finishes. Freshman Bailey Vos ran the 400 meter dash in 57.74 seconds, and the sprint medley relay team of Amelia Boender, Anna DeBoef, Meredith Van Wyk, and Vos finished the event in 1:49.16.

Vos also added a 16th place finish in the 800 meter run (2:23.47). Freshman Meredith Van Wyk took third place in the 200 meter dash (25.84) and sixth in the 100 meter dash (12.76), while senior Cara Veenstra was seventh in the high jump (5-02). The Eagles girls’ 4x400m relay team of Amaia Agre, Josie Settles, DeBoef, and Vos brought home a fifth place finish (4:02.79), and rounding out Pella Christian’s state finishes was the 4x100m relay team of Chloe Nikkel, DeBoef, Boender, and Van Wyk in 14th place (51.67).

Interview with Trevor Veenstra: