The Pella boys’ tennis team has had a season full of success so far. After the district meet, Pella had four qualifiers. Seniors Jack Edwards and Vaughn Thompson qualified for doubles, as well as senior Lucas Heap and junior Caleb Briggs both qualifying individually. 

The team has spent a tremendous amount of time preparing this season, to make the state tournament. According to Coach Josiah Brandt, “We’ve {the team} been focusing a little more and have begun preparing with more intensity and with a little more enthusiasm.” Qualifying for state was simply the first challenge for the boys.

“It feels great to go to state, there’s a feeling of achievement, but we’re mostly focused on the challenges ahead. It’s just the beginning,” said Heap. 

Heap placed first in the individual district competition, which qualified him for state. The entire team is very optimistic about the upcoming tournament. 

District individual runner-up, Caleb Briggs, has been preparing for this season for a very long time. Briggs said, “This is just part of the journey that we’ve been working for since the season ended my freshman year.” This season has been particularly rewarding, after the 2020 season was cancelled. 

Edwards and Thompson both finished their senior year of school and are now wrapping up their senior season. They’ve had a very impressive season so far, and are expected to do very well at the tournament. 

Brandt says, “I think we have a very good chance of winning some championships.”

 The Pella team will participate in the state tournament which is being held in Waterloo. The tournament this year will be on May 28th and 29th.