STC junior Rudy Papakee faces off against Troy Kupka of Benton Community during the Bill Van Horn Invitational in Pella on Dec. 18. Papakee (195) was one of three tournament champions for STC as well as Amare Chavez (120) and Logan Arp (138). – Photo by Darvin Graham

South Tama revisited Little Hawkeye Conference territory on Saturday with the Trojans wrestling team competing in the annual Bill Van Horn Invitational tournament.

The event held at Pella High School featured seven teams including South Tama, Norwalk, Oskaloosa, Benton, Pella, North Mahaska and Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.

The Trojans were led by a trio of first place finishers. At the 120-pound class Amare Chavez earned two pins and a decision victory to claim his bracket championship.

Senior Logan Arp remained undefeated and met little resistance in his 138-pound bracket. Arp won his first two matches by fall within the opening minute of action and took the championship match by tech fall (17-2) over Michael DeJong of North Mahaska.

Rudy Papakee also turned in a solid performance with three wins by fall including the 195-pound championship match against Noah Parsons of Pella.

Senior Andres Lugo Jr. takes a wide stance to defend a takedown attempt from 12th-ranked Brenden Heying of Benton Community. Trailing 5-2 headed into the final period, Lugo rallied to score two takedowns and brought the score to 7-6 before Heying responded with a last second escape and takedown in the final 20 seconds to win the match 10-6. Lugo went on to take third in the 145-pound bracket. – Photo by Darvin Graham

South Tama also got good scoring from Boden Koehler and Gavin Bridgewater who both were runner-up in their divisions.

Koehler dispatched his first two opponents by fall within the opening period. However in the championship match he faced a rematch against Logan Bruxvoort of Pella who he suffered his second loss of the season to earlier this season.

Bruxvoort again got the better of the 170-pound pairing, pinning Koehler in 5:06.

At 220 Gavin Bridgewater earned first and second round wins against opponents from Oskaloosa and Pella but fell in the championship match to fourth-ranked senior Hunter Blomgren of Norwalk.

Following the holiday break South Tama will begin the march toward the post season with a double dual on Jan. 6 at Benton Community along with East Marshall/GMG.

MaCael Bear scores a takedown near the edge of the mat against Logan Schroeder of Pella during the Bill Van Horn Invite last Saturday in Pella. Bear came away with a fourth place finish but might have wrestled the toughest bracket at 126 facing 2A No. 2 Jaiden Moore of Benton Community in the semifinals and 1A No. 9 Paul DeJong of North Mahaska in the third-place match. – Photo by Darvin Graham

South Tama Placewinners from the Bill Van Horn Invite, Dec. 18