For the second time in three seasons, the Pella boys cross country team returned to the Tulip City with a championship trophy in hand, as the Little Dutch topped the competition at Saturday’s State Cross Country Meet in Fort Dodge.  The Pella girls also put up a strong showing, placing third in a loaded Class 3A field; while Knoxville’s boys took 12th place in the team standings.  

The Little Dutch were led by an individual State Title from Zach Buchheit, who ran a personal-best 15:09 to take the gold.  Teammate Evan Jones was close behind in 11th place to also earn All-State honors.  The next five Pella runners finished between 17th and 38th place, as Pella’s 85 points gave them a 15-point lead over runner-up Decorah.  

Knoxville’s Wick Cunningham again led the Panther boys, finishing in 37th place individually.  

In the 3A girls race, Gabi Meirick and Hanna Martin took 3rd and 7th places, respectively, to earn All-State honors as well, as the Lady Dutch scored 118 points in the team standings; just three points behind runner-up Davenport Assumption.  Dubuque Wahlert claimed its third straight State Title with 94 points.  

Knoxville’s Alissa Van Klootwyk competed as an individual, taking 60th place overall.

1. PELLA 85
2. Decorah 100
12. KNOXVILLE 285

Pella individually:
1st Zach Buchheit 15:10-ALL STATE
11th Evan Jones 16:09-ALL STATE
17th Alex Ropes 16:27
26th Wade Pingel 16:40
30th Tukker Bogaard 16:46
31st Michael Schemm 16:47
38th Matthew Klein 16:51

Knoxville individually:
37th Wick Cunningham 16:50
49th Jacob Moats 17:06
54th Jordan Angove 17:12
66th Brad Shearer 17:24
79th Erik Ryan 17:42
95th Matt Beary 18:13
103rd Chris Schwanebeck 18:36

Pella finishes 3rd in the Class 3A Girls team standings.
1. Dubuque Walhert 94
2. Davenport Assumption 115
3. PELLA 118

Pella Individually:
3rd Gabi Meirick 14:53-ALL STATE
7th Hanna Martin 15:08-ALL STATE
25th Sally Ropes 15:36
29th Victoria Kleven 15:40
54th Madeline Meyer 16:05
62nd Ashley Kirkland 16:18
74th Abby Fyfe 16:33

Allisa Van Klootwyk of Knoxville finished 60th in a time of 15:55

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