The 2024 STC boys wrestling team made their home debut on Thursday night, Dec. 19. After an earlier home Invite had been canceled due to weather, the Trojans took on Clear Creek Amana and Vinton-Shellsburg at the annual ‘Pin the Gym Night’ at the STC High School.

STC’s first dual was against the CCA Clippers. Trojan senior Clayton Babinat (138 lbs.) began the action with a tech fall win, 15-0, in the second period. But after that, the Clippers rattled off four straight victories–all by pin–and CCA was off to a commanding team lead. Trojan junior Marcus Bear (175 lbs.) got STC back on the board when he won a 9-1 major decision. But once again the Clippers won the next four matches to extend their team-lead. The only other STC win came at 113-pounds when junior Ramiro Saquic-Xirum secured a pin over his opponent midway through the third period. But CCA once again strung together victories in the next three matches, and took the dual victory by a score of 56-15.

In the second dual of the night, STC matched up against the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings. Junior Garrett Surman (150 lbs.) led things off for the Trojans and showed that the team was determined to bounce back. Surman took a mere 43 seconds to pin his opponent and give STC the early lead. This was followed by six more Trojan victories, including pins by senior Kinzer Jaennette (157 lbs.), Bear (175 lbs.), sophomore Kyle Youngbear (190 lbs.), sophomore Manuel Cervantes (215 lbs.), and freshman Lakyr Peska (285 lbs.). Junior Rayden Hill (165 lbs.) also won a 16-6 major decision for the Trojans. After the opening string of victories, STC had jumped out to an impressive 40-0 team lead.

Also securing victories against Vinton were Saquic-Xirum (113 lbs.) and Babinat (138 lbs.), who both earned their second victories of the evening. To finish off the dual, senior Cody Blocker (144 lbs.) pinned his opponent in the first period to secure the big team-win for the Trojans, 55-23.

Following the holiday break, next up for the STC boys wrestling team is a trip to the BGM Dual Tournament on Jan. 4. This is followed by matches with Solon and Marion at the Marion High School on Jan. 9.