A magical run to the state football finals officially capped off what will be widely considered as the greatest fall season for the Pella Dutch and their rich tradition of athletics.

Jay McKinstrey had an opportunity few coaches have ever had on Iowa’s high school sidelines — a chance to compete for a state championship in the UNI Dome in his final game. The story marked a cherry-on-top of a remarkable autumn season of athletics for the Dutch in 2024. McKinstrey’s final radio interview as the active head coach of Pella program can be heard on this weekend’s Hy-Vee Radio Coaches Corner.

The Dutch made the team’s first state football title game and UNI Dome appearance since 2017. Five players earned All-State honors from the Iowa Football Coaches Association, including Colin Kerndt, Emmanuel Diers, and Nate Warner on the first team, and Palmer Hemming and Tyson Barnes on the second squad. Warner was also chosen on the Elite All-State Team, regardless of classification, by the Des Moines Register.

Pella’s cross country teams started the postseason parade with a strong 3rd place finish and trophy for a boys team that overcame key senior losses on the roster from 2023 and midseason illness this year. They were led by state runner-up Canaan Dunham running in defense of his individual state title. Teammates Mason Gaulke, Kaiden Browne, and Devon Browne earned Class 3A second team All-State honors — a new award that started this year.

The Dutch girls powered their way to the greatest single race in state meet history, scoring 23 points to demolish the Class 3A field — the lowest ever total in the era of state where they’ve scored five athletes at the line. Marissa Ferebee broke the Lakeside Course finals record and her own All-Time Iowa 5K best (16:30.9), with teammate Elsie Brenneman running the second fastest race in the entire state (17:58.0) to earn Elite All-State Honors from the Iowa Track and Field Coaches Association. Both were also honorees on the Des Moines Register’s All-Iowa team. Ruth Dunham also made the Elite All-State Team, as her 18:23.4 was the 10th best time regardless of class at the state meet and 3rd best in 3A. Mara Schiebout, Carleigh Altwine, and Lizzy VandeVoort were first time Class 3A All-State honorees.

A run to the state finals capped a strong return to form for the Pella volleyball team, making the school’s first final eight appearance since 2018. Katie Scheckel was named the Class 4A volleyball player of the year by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. Scheckel was also named to the 4A All-Tournament team with fellow setter/hitter Emma Eekhoff. Pella’s 41 wins marked the most for the team since they hit 40 in 2009.

The last time the Dutch found similar levels of success in a fall season was 2016, when the football team capped off a third consecutive undefeated season to win the 3A state title, the volleyball team pushed to the state finals against Wahlert, the cross country girls placed 2nd in 3A, and the boys placed 5th.