The summer season is right around the corner, but first, Van Meter looks for some spring championships. (Note: Events covered May 7-13)
Girls Track
The defending Class 2A champion, Van Meter walks back into Drake Stadium with a crew looking to add another trophy to the case. With 19 qualifiers to its name, the Bulldogs have plenty of depth to make some noise again. Last year’s team was led by three championship events and a state record time. This year will take some heavy lifting to get those big chunks again, but not outside of the possibilities.
Eden Moore checks in at No. 2 in the 100-meter dash with a seed time of 12.42 seconds. She placed third in last year’s championship and neither finish above her is back, but she has a freshman from Pella Christian to get through at the top. An individual qualifier in the 400-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash, Moore also gives a boost to the sprint medley crew with Makenze Dubbin, Kennedy Wideman and Bella Bruins.
Laura Streck brings another element to this year’s team as she qualified in the 3,000-meter run in the second position and seventh in the 1,500-meter. With Brooklyn Fryar seeded third in 800, the Bulldogs have all the distance events covered unlike last year.
Boys Track
Van Meter doubled its representation on the boys side at the state meet this season, on the schedule six times. And it’s almost all about the team. Aside from Ben Gordon making the cut as the 13th seed in the long jump, the rest of the bus on Thursday will be filled by relay crews. Last year was entirely made up of solo qualifiers.
Sitting at the seventh slot of the 4x200 are Caleb Moore, Porter Doggett, Cael Trudo and Gordon. That same group with Cason Peterson subbing for Trudo also sit in seventh in the sprint medley.
Girls Soccer (7-7)
Over the last two games of the regular season, the Bulldogs outscored Grand View Christian (6-7) and Pella Christian (8-8) by a combined score of 14-2 to bring the team back to .500 for the year.
Wednesday’s regional matchup against Lamoni (0-4) was played after this week’s printing deadline.
Boys Soccer (12-5)
The Bulldogs’ path back to the state tournament begins on Monday as Des Moines Christian (8-7) comes into town.
While DMC has had Van Meter’s number the past four years including the state qualifying game last year, the tables have turned after the Bulldogs won a 1-0 game to kick off the season. A win on Monday puts the team one win away from a return trip to the state tournament.
Baseball (1-0)
Van Meter made a nice jog to perennial 30-win Newman Catholic on Monday and left with a 2-1 victory, avenging the 5-2 loss last season at home.
Coming off the program’s first season missing the state tournament in multiple years, the Bulldogs bring back a load of talent with three players — Austin Baumhover, Rhrett Pleggenkuhle and Cole Moore — all collecting 40+ total bases and a batting average over .300 last year. And apart from two starts, the entire pitching staff is also due back on the bump, led by Pleggenkuhle’s 74 strikeouts, Jay Haley’s 6-0 record and Cason Peterson’s 1.07 ERA.
Softball
The 2024 season begins Tuesday with Interstate 35 coming through. Last season saw the Bulldogs collect their third-straight 30-win season, the WCAC crown and a state runner-up prize.
Looking to keep up that momentum, Van Meter has a host of star players back in the saddle led by Maddie Waldorf’s .496 batting average. Finley Netten and Lauren Wallace joined her in the .400 club as well, but the team will be looking for some extra pop now with 10-home run hitter Macy Blomgren gone.
Girls Golf
Winners of all six meets this season, the Bulldogs are set to compete on Wednesday during the regional tournament in Lamoni.
Boys Golf
Van Meter’s season came to a close this after placing fifth at the May 8 sectional at Panorama.
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