South Tama’s Brady Fritz accepts a congratulatory balloon from the STC cheerleaders after earning his milestone 100th win following a match with North Polk’s Logan Enbreston. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

By Allison Graham

Sports Editor

agraham@

tamatoledonews.com

Even with four open weight classes, South Tama managed to dominate on the mats last Tuesday night. Some of that was due to opponents having open weight classes and some of it was just the sheer talent of the STC wrestling lineup.

Former teammates Brady Fritz of STC and Nick Meling of East Marshall/GMG shake hands following their match on Tuesday, December 20. Fritz won by decision 5-3. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

South Tama hosted Vinton-Shellsburg, East Marshall/GMG and North Polk for a quad dual meet on Tuesday, December 20.

First to take the mats were South Tama and Vinton. It was the third meeting for the Trojans and Vikings this season. Their first encounter was at a home conference dual in which the Trojans won 51-24. Vinton was also at the STC Dual Invitational on Saturday, December 10. South Tama won that dual 51-18. Their third meet up was last Tuesday and South Tama dominated by winning each wrestled match by fall. South Tama racked up their highest score of the season, 60-18, over the Vikings.

It was a great night for Trojan wrestling. Out of the 21 matches STC wrestled, they lost just three. It’s always an exciting dual between South Tama and East Marshall as well. The two schools are close in proximity and have had plenty of cross-over between wrestling personnel in recent years. 2016 State placewinners Brady Fritz and Isaac Judge were both transfer students from East Marshall and 2007 STC placewinner Eric Wilkerson has served on the East Marshall coaching staff in previous years. East Marshall 160 pound senior Lansin Lacina wrestled his freshman and sophomore seasons for the Trojans and East Marshall/GMG head coach Todd Hinegardner has spent time coaching for both STC and EM/GMG.

One of the more notable matches of the night came in South Tama’s second dual. Fritz faced former teammate Nick Meling. Both wrestlers are State Qualifiers and ranked this season by both iawrestle.com and the predicament.com. Fritz is ranked 3rd at 126 by iawrestle.com with Meling at 8th. Also thepredicmant.com has Fritz at 5th and Meling at 8th. Regardless of rankings, it was the highest profile bout of the night and a great match to watch. Fritz gained an edge over Meling and ended up winning 5-3. When all was said and done, while they are opponents on the mat, they remain friends and had a nice exchange following the match.

“It just goes to show that wrestling is a competitive sport and it doesn’t matter if you are friends or not, you go out and wrestle your heart out and at the end you’re friends again,” said Fritz.

STC’s Isaac Judge pulls in Vinton’s Dylan Staker during the 160 pound bout on Tuesday, December 20. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

Meling couldn’t be too sour over the loss as he earned his 150th career win in his first match of the night. Fritz also had a career milestone earning his 100th win over North Polk’s Logan Enbretson.

“It feels great. Hard work does pay off and anyone can achieve what they set their mind to,” Fritz said.

STC vs. Vinton (60-18)

126 – Payton Haefner (Vinton) received forfeit

132 – Brady Fritz (STC) over Brock Radeke (Fall :52)

STC’s Ed Hemby is congratulated by teammates and coaches after pinning his opponent during a JV match on Tuesday, December 20. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

138 – Tanner Probasco (STC) over Christian Lovell (Fall 1:37)

145 – Colton Vest (STC) over Scott Betterton (Fall 1:03)

152 – Pedro Rodriguez (STC) received a forfeit

160 – Isaac Judge (STC) over Dylan Staker (Fall 1:26)

170 – Tanner Walz (STC) over Dylan Wagner (Fall 1:31)

STC’s Pedro Rodriguez fends off East Marshall/GMG’s Lansin Lacina on Tuesday, December 20. Rodriguez narrowly defeated Lacina 1-0. Chronicle Photo/Allison Graham

182 – Dalton Rosenburg (STC) over Kort Johnson (Fall 3:23)

195 – Cael Kellogg received a forfeit

220 – Mario Moncada (STC) received a forfeit

285 – Daniel Ochoa (STC) over Grant Ries (Fall 1:06)

106 – double forfeit

113 – Carter Weeks (Vinton) received a forfeit

120 – Luke Radeke (Vinton) received a forfeit

STC vs. East Marshall (40-15)

132 – Brady Fritz (STC) over Nick Meling (Dec 5-3)

138 – Tanner Probasco (STC) over Dawson Riemenschneider (Fall 3:35)

145 – Colton Vest (STC) over Blake Wright (Fall 1:49)

152 – Pedro Rodriguez (STC) over Lansin Lacina (Dec 1-0)

160 – Isaac Judge (STC) over Noah Bandstra (MD 13-4)

170 – Cole Nauman (East Marshall/GMG) over Tanner Walz (Dec 9-5)

182 – Dalton Rosenberg (STC) over Kameran Hoskins (Fall 1:32)

195 – Cael Kellogg (STC) received forfeit

220 – Mario Moncada (STC) over Devon Smith (Fall :53)

285 – Bryce Anderson (East Marshall/GMG) over Daniel Ochoa (Fall :47)

106 – double forfeit

113 – Carson Burchland (East Marshall/GMG) received forfeit

120 – double forfeit

126 – double forfeit

STC vs. North Polk (54-21)

138 – Tanner Probasco (STC) over Sully Hartlook (Fall 1:50)

145 – Colton Vest (STC) received forfeit

152 – Pedro Rodriguez (STC) over Justin Horness (Fall 1:50)

160 – Isaac Judge (STC) over Josiah Devalois (Fall 1:00)

170 – Tanner Walz (STC) received forfeit

182 – Dalton Rosenburg received forfeit

195 – Josh Krehbiel (North Polk) over Cael Kellogg (Dec 7-2)

220 – Mario Moncada (STC) received forfeit

285 – Daniel Ochoa (STC received forfeit

106 – double forfeit

113 – Parker Frey (North Polk) received a forfeit

120 – Broc Davidson (North Polk) received a forfeit

126 – Grant Cory (North Polk) received a forfeit

132 – Brady Fritz (STC) over Logan Enbretson (Fall 1:39)