Following a remarkable finish to a special 2024 spring season, the Pella girls are looking ahead to the new campaign with optimism, even as the majority of the championship winning team has since graduated.

The Dutch girls will defend their Class 1A team title with one returning player — Claire Smock, who is in the preseason Iowa High School Tennis singles rankings at No. 3 and was a key reason as to why the Pella volleyball team found themselves playing for a state championship this past fall. Smock will split springtime duties again this year, also aiming to push the soccer program back to the final four of Class 2A.

Head Coach David Bouska has confidence in a crop of new-to-varsity players and a handful of other returners who had to wait their turn to lead the program following the Class of 2024 to add to their lineup.

Full interview with Bouska:

Among those players to watch are Abby Hietbrink and Sydney Namminga, who were the two alternates for Pella’s championship team and varsity doubles regulars last spring.

Pella opens the competitive season on April 7th at Ballard.