When students return from spring break, practices for all spring sports will begin in earnest for the Dutch boys and girls as they bring back one of Iowa’s best groups of athletes in the upcoming seasons.

The spring of 2022 was special yet again for the Dutch, which included runner-up state tournament finishes from the Pella boys track and field team, boys tennis, and boys soccer, and a 4th place team score from boys golf. Multiple state qualifiers return from the Pella girls track and field team, a state qualifier (Karsyn Lyons) leads the pack for the Pella girls golf squad, two All-State players pace both ends of the pitch for the Dutch girls soccer team (Abby Warner and Haley Van Houweling), and the 2022 state-qualifying girls tennis team is paced by several returners, including multiple-time individual qualifier Emily Blom.

Pella’s boys and girls track and field teams have already turned in several strong performances during the indoor season, which includes four Drake Relays qualifying bids — three from Chase Lauman in his first three races of the year by breaking the Blue Standard times in the 800, 1600, and 3200 meters, and Hanson King topping the 54 foot mark in the shot put.

Stay tuned to 92.1 KRLS in the coming weeks for spring sports previews.