All five Pella girls tennis athletes who entered the Class 1A state girls individual tennis meet walked away with medals following the two-day event in Iowa City.

Emily Blom finished 3rd in the singles bracket, earning her third placewinning spot at the event in a row in four appearances. Blom fell to Kate Holton of Columbus 6-2, 6-3, but bounced back in the 3rd place match, defeating Jana Isanta Vila of Mt. Pleasant 6-3, 6-3.

In doubles, Bryn Higginbotham and Claire Smock won both of their day-two matches to place 5th. They battled to defeat Izzy Norton and Aidalyn Tott of Dike-New Hartford 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (10-6), and then avenged their teammates’ loss by knocking off Jocie Hobbs and Ellie Volkmann of Ballard 6-2, 6-2. Alloree Else and Lily Van Dusseldorp lost to both of the doubles pairs who played their teammates, and placed 8th overall.

The Dutch will finish the 2024 season with two matches regardless Wednesday at Byrnes Park in Waterloo in the Class 1A state semifinals. Pella will take on Spencer in the round of four at 8 a.m., with the championship match or 3rd place consolation to follow at noon against either Xavier or Dike-New Hartford.