VAN HORNE — The STC boys wrestling team placed fifth as a team and had five individual wrestlers finish in third place in their District Wrestling Meet at Benton High School on Saturday, Feb. 15.

In a meet that determines the wrestlers who will compete in the IHSAA State Wrestling Meet, STC just missed out on sending those five wrestlers, as the top two finishers in each weight class go on to compete in Des Moines.

Leading the way for the Trojans was Ramiro Saquic Xirum (120 lbs.) and junior Marcus Bear (175 lbs.). Saquic Xirum won three matches on the day, including his third place match by a decision over Benton’s Garrett Kuch. But Saquic Xirum fell to Davenport Assumption’s Gabreil Schnerre by a major decision for the trip to Des Moines. Bear fell to Grinnell’s Josh Ringler in the semifinal round but fought back to once again find himself taking on Ringler for second place. Ringler won their rematch by a no-contest and Bear took the bronze for STC.

A pair of sophomores, Kyle Youngbear (199 lbs.) and Manuel Cervantes (215), also fished third for the Trojans. Youngbear pinned Abel Dlouhy of Tipton and Kazmir Senneff of Central DeWitt to find himself in the second-place match. But Youngbear ultimately lost by no contest to Dru Diaz of Davenport Assumption. Cervantes pinned both of his opponents leading up to his second-place match against Troy Kupka of Benton. Kupka won by fall over Cervantes late in the second period.

Rounding out the third place finishers on the day was freshman Lakyr Peska (285 lbs.). Peska collected two pins on the day before dropping his second-place match to Will Clausen of Benton.

The Trojans also received three fourth-place finishes from freshman Henri Martinez-Alvarado (113 lbs.) senior Clayton Babinat (144 lbs.), and junior Rayden Hill (165 lbs.).

Also competing on the day for the Trojans were: freshman Izak Schroeder (126 lbs.), sophomore Eli Cruikshank (132 lbs.), senior Cody Blocker (138 lbs.), junior Garrett Surman (150 lbs.), and senior Kinzer Jaennette (157 lbs.).

STC’s 5th place finish as a team came behind team champion Davenport Assumption and fellow WaMaC rival Benton, who finished second.