Pella Soccer Team Splits with Ranked Foes at Home Tournament
The Dutch soccer team showed why they may belong among the ranked teams of Class 3A at their home tournament Saturday. Pella’s boys defeated #3 in 3A Fort Madison 3-0 and lost in a penalty kick showdown to #5 in 3A ADM. In the opener, the Dutch tied the game late in the contest with a with a Teddy Apostolopoulos goal. Logan Solomon scored twice against the Bloodhounds and Tyson Barnes tallied a goal in the afternoon matchup, which saw Pella snap the undefeated season for Fort Madison. Pella moves to 5-5 and heads to Eagle Lane Monday to take on Pella Christian in the second game of a varsity doubleheader, with the girls starting at 5:30.

Pella Boys Golfers Shoot Season Low
Scores were low at Pine Knolls in Knoxville as the Dutch boys golfers hit their 2023 best Saturday. Pella shot 316, placing 3rd behind meet champions Pella Christian and runners-up Knoxville, who both broke the 300 stroke barrier. Pella’s top scores were:

Cade McGinley – 70 – tied-3rd individual
AJ Hoekstra – 77
Cole Floden – 85
Simon Thoreson – 85
Luke Keitges – 87
Luke Naig – 91

The Dutch are back in action Monday at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside for the Washington Demons Meet at the Blue Top.

Pella Girls Place 2nd at Home Tennis Tournament
In a rain-shorted invitational that featured three ranked teams, the #6 in 1A Pella girls placed 2nd at their home tournament Saturday. #1 Waterloo Columbus was in progress of running away with the meet title, and #8 in 1A Pella Christian placed 3rd. Fittingly, Emily Blom and Katy Roose were in the 3rd place match tied 5-5 as heavy rain came down, and Sydney Van Arendonk and Claire Smock were about to play for 5th. Doubles pair Alloree Else and Lily Van Dusseldorp were able to finish 3rd, while Mallory Westerkamp and Bryn Higginbotham were tied 5-5 in the consolation round. The Dutch and Eagles girls will settle the score Tuesday on Eagle Lane in the final regular season match of 2023.