The South Tama County wrestling team does some warm up laps at their intersquad meet on Monday, November 23. The Trojans season begins on Tuesday, December 1 with a double dual at East Marshall. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

The South Tama wrestling team held their first competitive matches of the season with an inter-squad meet on Monday, November 23.

This seasons roster includes freshmen Drake Crawford, Austin Elsbury, Aiden Waseskuk, Dallas Horne, Tanner Walz, Cael Kellogg, Jose Ochoa, Ed Hemby, and Jacob Hess; sophomores Rian Simpson, Brady Fritz, Tanner Probasco, Colton Vest, Josh Thiessen, Isaac Judge, Taylor Boldt, Dalton Rosenburg, Kadyn Doyle and Slade St. John; juniors Dillon Graves, Louis Armas and Kyle Kucera; and seniors Dylan Cronk, Bryce Ellenbecker, Bailey Chyma, Jaret Probasco and Justin Suchanek.

Each wrestler got the chance to grapple with their fellow teammates in front of family and friends to help shake off any first meet jitters. Two STC coaches even took to the mats, volunteer coach Baron Davis faced two team members and two-time state qualifier Scott Bolen broke out his singlet for a match against Bailey Chyma.

Likely to return to the varsity lineup is Tanner Probasco, Colton Vest, Isaac Judge, Kyle Kucera, Bailey Chyma and Jaret Probasco.

Two new additions to the Trojan roster that will be ones to keep an eye on include sophomore Brady Fritz who moved into the district at the start of the school year after becoming a district qualifier last season at 106 pounds. Also senior Justin Suchanek hopes to follow in the footsteps of last year’s district qualifying heavyweight Ian Slagle. Like Slagle, Suchanek was a standout on the Trojan football team and is taking on the sport of wrestling for the first time with aspirations of continuing his football career after graduation. The senior, listed at 230 pounds on the football roster, hopes to help shore up the heavier weight classes where the Trojans are not as deep.

Sophomore Isaac Judge looks for the escape while wrestling volunteer coach Baron Davis in an intersquad meet on Monday, November 23. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

After a fairly strong season last year the Trojans finished in a rather disappointing day at Districts in Solon. Six individuals including Tanner Probasco, Jaret Probasco, Isaac Judge, Brandyn Jensen, Bailey Chyma, and Ian Slagle came home empty handed after tough district competition. The positive takeaway in a loss like that is that the drive and desire to make it to the Well will only intensify, particularly for seniors like Chyma and Jaret Probasco who have only one season left to get it done.

The Trojans are coached by a former State Champion Nate Van Dyke and are assisted by Brett Karkosh, Scott Bolen, and Baron Davis. The Trojans also added volunteer coach Todd Hinegardner who steps in following the departure of long time coach Dale Cruikshank.

Their season officially begins on Tuesday, December 1 with a varsity double dual at East Marshall against the Mustangs and North Polk starting at 6 p.m.

Seniors Bryce Ellenbecker and Dylan Cronk battle with one another during an intersquad meet on Monday, November 23. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham