After another remarkable year for Pella athletics, a loaded list of moments get left off of the top ten countdown each academic calendar, and 2021-22 was no exception. Before the countdown resumes with #5 on Monday, here are some of the “best of the rest” stories from the Dutch over the past year:

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Early Blue Standard Sets Tone for Pella Girls 4×100 Relay

While the honorable mentions are listed in no particular order, this is the unofficial “No. 11” in this broadcaster’s picks. At most other schools in Iowa, a Drake Relays blue standard would qualify as a top ten moment. But at Pella High, it’s a high bar to clear — but that doesn’t make it any less special. The 4×100 relay of Delanie Reynolds, Calla Kerndt, Marissa Hackman, and Emily McMartin smashed the Drake Relays Blue Standard mark at the Iowa Track and Field Coaches Association Indoor State Meet in Ames, before spring break had officially arrived. The group of four placed 4th at the state meet in their final race together. A sprinting group that also included Jacie Trine had a 4×200 Drake Relays blue standard that placed 7th among Iowa’s best in April and May at both the Relays and 3A state meet.
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Miller, Allen Get to 1,000 Career Points

While the Pella basketball team didn’t quite soar to the heights of its 2020-21 campaign, there were plenty of special moments to go around. Two big milestones were achieved — with 1,000 career points each by four-year varsity player Karl Miller and Newton transfer Noah Allen. The duo both earned Class 3A All-State honors for their senior seasons, leading Pella to the substate final vs. Winterset.
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Pella Wrestlers with Four Conference Winners; Van Kley to State

The growning strength of the Pella wrestling program was evident again in 2021-22, with four wrestlers winning Little Hawkeye Conference championships: Damion Clark (120) — now a two-time league champion, Peyton Ritzert (138), Logan Bruxvoort (160), and Kieran Van Voorst (182). Pella placed 4th, just four points away from 3rd as a team. Later in the postseason, Pella 152-pound wrestler Jackson Van Kley had to battle back after a semifinals loss to earn a state tournament bid at Carlisle on February 12th. All four conference title winners and Van Kley are expected to return this winter for the up-and-coming Dutch boys wrestling team.
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Karsyn Lyons Qualifies for Girls State

At a school were state spring qualifiers are often the norm, there were some special surprises among the teams as well. Freshman Karsyn Lyons finished in a tie for 28th out of 76 individual golfers at the two-day 3A state tournament in Adel.
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Jayden Divelbiss Qualifies for State Bowling

Pella High School Senior Jayden Divelbiss finished his high school bowling career among Iowa’s best on February 23rd. Divelbiss placed 24th at the Class 2A individual tournament at Waterloo, scoring a 562 in the preliminary round.
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Abby Warner Racks It Up on Soccer Pitch, Sets School Scoring Records

For the second straight year, Pella’s star striker on the girls soccer pitch just missed the top 10, but she was every bit as lethal as she was a freshman. Abby Warner scored 34 goals for the Dutch in 2022, following up a remarkable 26 in her freshman campaign. For the second consecutive season, Warner earned All-State recognition from both the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association.
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Pella Volleyball Knocks Off Oskaloosa, Earns Share of Conference Title

A senior-heavy Pella volleyball team couldn’t find the final bit of magic to get the program back to state, but they had their fair share of special moments. One was toppling the giant that was Oskaloosa and All-State star Faith DeRonde during the regular season, as the then-#11 Dutch were able to shake down the #4 Indians at home, which ultimately earned the team a share of the Little Hawkeye Conference regular season championship. Pella would fall to Oskaloosa in the 3A substate final.
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Pella Football – Long Field Goal and One Handed Catch vs. Indianola

It feels strange to not have the Pella football program and its rich tradition featured on the Top 10 countdown for a second consecutive season, but such is life at a school where just about everything is really, really good. And that’s not to take away from some fun for the Pella football team, who missed the playoffs for the first time in 15 years — against arguably the toughest schedule any Class 4A team had to face in the new realignment. And while the victories and record-breaking players were fewer for the green and white, Aidan Pollock had a catch to remember, making a one-handed grab against Indianola at home. Luke Hardman — who figures to be a huge part of the 2022 Dutch this fall, also hit his season long field goal of 52 yards in the game.
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Miller Dominates in Final Athletic Event

While they weren’t able to capture team gold, the Pella boys track and field team will be featured in a big way in the top five. But one member of the team worth highlighting is on this list of honorable mentions. Karl Miller turned in a strong end to his athletic career at the famous Blue Oval at Drake Stadium, earning a 2nd place finish in the 400 meters, 2nd in the 4×400 relay, 4th in the 4×800, and 5th in the sprint medley.
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Dunk City with Parker Elder

A special spring with dual state qualifying spots (and scoring) in the jumps was the follow, and that should come now as no surprise for one of the most explosive Pella basketball players in program history. This is less “material” and more “shout out,” but the big dunks of Parker Elder will be missed after another winter of assaulting rims for the now Morningside basketball player.