With the vast majority of the varsity roster returning, the Pella boys cross country team hopes to use depth and an offseason of development to climb thes standings in the Class 3A state field.

Head Coach Doug Cutler says the 3A field is loaded with quality teams and returning All-State and All-District runners as well, but he’s confident this boys’ group has a chance at a special season if they can push each other throughout practice and a limited schedule of meets.

“The body of work that happened this summer was enormous–I would relate it very closely to our 2012 group in terms of total mileage and the amount of time I know they were out on the roads,” he says. “It’s funny, you finish 10th at state in a season and you would think ‘hey that’s fantastic’ and it is, they did a great job last year, but they were kind of disappointed with that 10th place finish and they don’t want to be 10th again. We talked about returning letter winners and returning varsity experience, and we are more than seven deep already.”

A group led by two-time All-State runner Josiah Wittenberg, a junior, 2019 All-District Senior Tony Schmitz, No. 2 runner in the regular season Cutler Turner, and Middle School state champion and returning letterwinner Chase Lauman, a sophomore, the Little Dutch will look to outpace their preseason No. 9 ranking and find themselves in the hunt for a state title in Fort Dodge.

Pella boys and girls cross country teams will open the season on August 29th in a quad meet with Pella Christian, Grinnell, and Oskaloosa, currently scheduled at Central College.