Seven teams wearing green and white competed on Thursday, which included the debut of the tennis teams after several delays and several successful competitions for the Dutch.
Debuting Tennis Teams Sweep Indianola
After several days of cold, rain, and wind postponed their opening matches, the #2 ranked Pella boys and girls tennis teams finally hit the courts and did so in dominant fashion, both winning 11-0 over Indianola. At home, the girls had to battle through multiple third-set tiebreakers to get to the sweep, which included Senior Mallory Westerkamp (pictured above) fighting through those long sets in both singles and doubles. In fact, Pella had to go to the third set in four of their five doubles matches. Westerkamp was joined in victory in singles by Emily Blom, Alloree Else, Claire Smock, Lily Van Dusseldorp, and Bryn Higginbotham. Find full results here. The Dutch return to the courts against Pella Christian at 3:15 this afternoon.
Pella’s boys had wins in the singles lineup from Jack Briggs, Joshua Roozeboom, Cameron Rowe, Ben Van Gorp, Nile Rozenboom, and Brody Ferrell at Indianola. Pella next heads to a triangular with Boone and Dallas Center-Grimes on Monday.
Pella Girls Soccer Scores Twice in First Half to Move to 3-0
Two days removed from a battle with conference foes Norwalk, the #3 Pella girls soccer team scored two first-half goals to stay undefeated, knocking out Bondurant-Farrar 2-0 at home. Bri Shannon was assisted by Abby Warner and Avary Hunsinger by Lauren Mace in the first half as the Dutch defense held in the second half. Pella soccer players Sarah Hardman and Hailey Amos are featured on Today’s Lely Radio Sports Page. The 3-0 Dutch head to #1 and defending champions Dallas Center-Grimes on Tuesday.
Pella Boys Golfers Win Home Invitational
In a field the featured multiple 2023 state placewinners, the Pella boys showed off their improvement from 2023 to 2024, winning their home invitational Thursday. Pella knocked off their in-town rivals by one at Bos Landen, and found wins over the 2023 state runners-up from Knoxville, 3rd place Gilbert, and 5th place Solon. Cade McGinley fired a 73 to earn meet runner-up honors and AJ Hoekstra was 5th with a 76. Kyler Besick and Cole Floden each carded 85 to round out the 319 team score. Pella next heads to Oskaloosa on Tuesday.
Dutch Girls Golfers 3rd at Newton Cardinal Invite
Pella placed 3rd at the Newton Girls Golf Invitational Thursday. The Dutch were led by Runner-Up Medalist Karsyn Lyons at 41, Emerson Lee at 48, Sophia Reynolds at 52, and Carlyn Henry at 52. Find full results here. They next compete against the rest of the conference at Willow Creek Golf Course Tuesday
Dunham Breaks Blue Standard at Southeast Polk
A small contingent of Pella boys track and field athletes split off from the group in Oskaloosa — and to great effect as they competed at Southeast Polk Thursday. No team scores were reported, but the Dutch had several successful events, led by Canaan Dunham, who joins the Blue Standard list for as his 4:17.44 in the 1600 meters (2nd place) and his 9:18.68 in the 3200 (1st place) both broke the qualifying marks needed, and Dunham is officially Drake Relays bound in two events.
Pella also had other successful events, including Harrison Mullens winning the 400 meters (51.78) and the Shuttle Hurdle Relay placing second. Field events were not posted by the hosting Rams. More results can be found here.
Pella Girls Victorious, Boys 2nd at Oskaloosa Relays
The Pella girls were dominant while a group of the Dutch boys held their own without their Drake Relays qualifiers at the Osky Relays Thursday. The green and white won the girls team race with 137 points, while the boys were 2nd.
Event winners:
Boys Discus – Garrett O’Halloran – 133-05
Girls Sprint Medley – Abbi Melvin, Bray-Lynne VanZante, Mara Schiebout, Kyla Barnes – 2:01.69
3000 Meters – Marissa Ferebee – 10:03.15 (school record)
Girls 4×200 Relay – Melvin, Schiebout, VanZante, Avery Parks – 1:53.31
Girls 800 Meters – Marissa Ferebee – 2:24.44
Girls 4×400 Relay – Kyla Barnes, Abby Teagarden, Chloe Punt, Macy Schroeder – 4:22.07