South Tama’s Bailey Chyma looks towards the ref for confirmation on a takedown during the third place match at the State Wrestling Tourney on Saturday, February 20. Chyma finished his high school career earning third place at 170 at the tourney. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

What a difference a year makes. The South Tama Trojan wrestling team went from sending not a single wrestler to State in 2015 to six qualifiers and five place winners when the 2016 tournament was all said and done.

On Thursday, Day one of the State Tournament, things kicked off for South Tama with No. 9 ranked Brady Fritz at 113. Fritz faced No. 4 ranked Drake Doolittle of Webster City. Fritz captured a huge upset victory over Doolittle to send him on into the quarterfinals. On day 2 Fritz faced No. 8 ranked Carter Cox of Atlanta. Fritz wrestled a close match until the second period where Cox caught Fritz and ended the match with a pin. Fritz made a strong comeback with a decision win over 3rd ranked Duncan McCain of Mid-Prairie. Fritz took 6th place after losses to Riley Wright of Denver-Tripoli and Noah Fye of New Hampton.

“I had a couple of good matches to start out with, I can’t dwell on the losses, you gotta keep going and stay strong and work hard in the off season but top 6 isn’t too bad.”

Tanner Probasco was next up for the Trojans at 126. Probasco defeated Trevor Marlin of Creston/Orient-Macksburg with a fall (5:27). Probasco set a goal earlier in the week to make the top 6. But after his win on day one he adjusted his goal to make the top three. On day 2 of the tourney Probasco faced third ranked Brayden Curry of Sergeant Bluff-Luton. Curry won by tech fall. Probasco faced Ben Carr of Solon in consolations. Carr is an opponent Probasco had previously beaten in the WaMaC tournament three weeks earlier. He won the consolation match by decision (6-0). On Saturday morning he faced No. 9 ranked Gisaveri Niyibizi of Perry. Niyibizi won the match by decision sending Probasco on to wrestle in the 5th place match. Probasco took fifth over Trevor Anderson of Glenwood by decision (7-0).

“Well yesterday (Friday) I changed my goal to top three because I thought it was a more conceivable goal but I didn’t quite reach it. But top 5 isn’t too bad for my first time down here.

Isaac Judge (South Tama) works to take down opponent Brock Jennings of Osage during the third place match at State Wrestling on Saturday, February 20. Judge (152) defeated Jennings by decision (9-6) to earn third. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

At 132 Colton Vest had arguably one of the toughest brackets. He started the tournament off strong facing Gavin Kramer of Spirit Lake in his first match of the tourney. Vest pinned Kramer (1:55). On Friday Vest faced No. 1 ranked Keaton Geerts of New Hampton. Geerts won the match with a pin (3:10). Geerts would go on to take the 132 championship Saturday night. Vest was then faced No. 7 ranked wrestler, Chase Lienhard of Crestwood. Lienhard won by major decision. Vest then faced another ranked wrestler No. 7 ranked Kade Van Kirk of Perry. Van Kirk won by decision in the 7th place match while Vest took 8th to bring home some hardware.

At 145 Jaret Probasco faced No. 7 ranked Cole Fritz of Solon. Fritz won with a takedown in overtime 3-1. The luck of the draw would be Probasco having to face No. 2 ranked Nick Hyland of Vinton-Shellsburg. Hyland won by decision and Probasco’s tournament ended on day 1.

Isaac Judge was up next for the Trojans at 152. No. 6 ranked Judge defeated Neil Clement of Crestwood. In the quarterfinals Judge pinned Tommy Bradshaw of Greene County. Judge then came up against his toughest competition of the tournament in the semifinals with Matt Malcolm of Glenwood. Malcolm is a No. 1 ranked senior and a University of Iowa wrestling recruit. He defeated Judge by fall and went on to win the championship match. In the consolation bracket Judge beat Nick Johnson of Davenport Assumption to advance. In the third place match Judge faced a familiar opponent in Brock Jennings of Osage. Judge defeated Jennings just the week before at districts to help punch his ticket to the state tournament. Judge really had Jennings’ number as he pushed the pace of the match. He gave up a couple of points in the first period that he wasn’t’ too happy about but pushed forward for a 9-6 decision win to secure his third place finish. “I was frustrated that I gave up two points. That was a cheap two I gave him but I was able to get it back,” said Judge on the match with Jennings.

Despite finishing third in his first appearance at the State Tournament he wasn’t quite content with his finish. “I wanted that finals match, I wanted to win it but I guess I did the next best thing coach said coming back. It was good to get here. When I got here I wrestled pretty good. I had an opportunity for finals but I didn’t get it. Other than that it was fun, it was good.”

Rounding out the Trojans’ lineup was senior Bailey Chyma. No. 4 ranked Chyma handily won his opening match over Dylan Henderson of Davis County by 10-0 major decision. Chyma then faced No. 1 ranked Chase Shiltz of Creston in the quarterfinals. Shiltz got the win and went on to win the championship at 170. Chyma faced No. 10 ranked Coy Roussell of West Delaware. Chyma defeated Roussell 4-3 to send himself to the third place match. To close out his career at South Tama Chyma defeated Anthony Sherry of Glenwood 3-0.

South Tama’s Brady Fritz (113) wins a big match over Mid-Prairie’s No. 3 ranked Duncan McCain by decision. Fritz went on to take 6th overall in the State Wrestling Tournament. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

For Chyma it was his last match in a Trojan singlet and he was satisfied with his finish. “It feels great, I’ve been waiting for it for a long time.”

“I think overall we hard a pretty darn good tournament. I think we surprised some people early in that first round, won 5 out of 6. Going from no qualifiers to 6, that’s a pretty good jump and I think we are getting things headed back in the right direction,” said coach Nate Van Dyke.

After a long season that included having to watch their diets carefully, the team had planned to celebrate with a meal at Buffalo Wild Wings. Judge was looking forward to a nice cold pop while Chyma said simply “I’m gonna eat as many wings as I can.” It was a well deserved reward after a strong State finish.

Tanner Probasco works to take down Creston/Orient-Macksburg’s Trevor Marlin in his opening match of the State Wrestling Tournament on Thursday, February 18. Probasco won the match by fall and went on to take 5th place overall. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

Colton Vest opened his first appearance at the State Tournament by wrestling Gavin Kramer of Spirit Lake. Vest won by fall and went on to take 8th in the tournament. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham