The postseason begins today for the #1 in 3A girls and #2 boys from Pella High School at the annual Little Hawkeye Conference meet. This year, the challenging Newton course at Maytag Park will be the site for the seven league teams.

In the boys race, the Dutch will try to contend with #9 in 4A Norwalk, #11 DCG, #12 Indianola, and #14 in 2A Pella Christian. Canaan Dunham will look to defend his conference individual title.

Pella’s girls are undefeated this fall season and have defeated some of the toughest teams in the entire state, regardless of classification. Last year’s conference meet was close, won by DCG, who is ranked #8 in Class 4A. No #14 in 4A Indianola and #14 in 2A Pella Christian are fighting for the top three spots. Marissa Ferebee, ranked #28 in the most recent national rankings, will look to wrestle her 2022 individual conference title back after placing 3rd in 2023. Ranked teammate Elsie Brenneman, #2 in 3A, will try to hold off #3 in 4A Piper Messerly and #6 in 4A Maddy Stevens of DCG, and Indianola’s #8 in 4A Jordyn Brown in the front of the pack.

Today’s lineups:
Varsity Girls
Carleigh Altwine (9), Elsie Brenneman (10), Ruth Dunham (10), Marissa Ferebee (11), Lizzie Neumann (11), Mara Schiebout (12), Raegan Snieder (12)

Varsity Boys
Devon Brown (12), Porter Carlton (10), Canaan Dunham (11), Jonah Ebersole (10), Mason Gaulke (11), Asher Schiebout (11), Noah Schuknecht (11)

Racing begins with middle school athletes at 4 p.m. at Maytag Park in Newton, with the varsity girls opening at 4:50. Results are here.