South Tama County wrestling head coach Nate Van Dyke, left, and assistant Steve Chyma work from the corner during the state wrestling tournament in Des Moines. Photo by Noah Rohlfing.

Feb. 18 was a busy Saturday for South Tama County wrestling assistant coach Steve Chyma.

In the morning, he was on the mat coaching up and encouraging senior 220-pounder Rudy Papakee as he took seventh place in Class 2A at the state wrestling tournament in Des Moines.

That evening he was honored in front of a big crowd during the final session of the week, receiving the 2023 Junior High Coach of the Year award. He was presented the award by his nephew, Tyler Walz.

Voted on by Iowa junior high and high school wrestling coaches from all areas of the state, the magnitude of the honor did not get lost on Chyma, who has been connected to all ages of South Tama wrestling for 25 years. He said the connection goes even further back than that.

“To me, this is my norm, this is what I do,” Chyma said. “I never expected anything like this. I’m very honored, I’m very humbled. Just blessed to have the backing of all my coaches, my community and all the high school and junior high coaches out there that voted.

“This is my way of giving back. I want to give back and give opportunity to all these kids. I love ’em, so it’s just my way of giving back.”

Not only has Chyma — who works for South Tama as the Transportation Manager — gone through the STC youth club and wrestled for South Tama, but he’s since put two of his children through the clubs and through the varsity wrestling program as well. He’s coached at the elementary level and is involved at the middle school and high school level for both boys’ and girls’ wrestling.

Bailey Chyma went through STC, wrestled at Simpson College and is now an assistant coach with the Trojans alongside his father (as well as a teacher at the elementary school). Steve’s daughter Abigail is a sophomore at STC and was a member of the school’s first officially-sanctioned girls’ wrestling team — which Steve was an assistant for. She made the state tournament at 155 pounds and still has two more years to go.

STC boys’ wrestling head coach Nathan Van Dyke said he nominates Steve every year for the award, and added that Steve is a huge part of the fabric of the program at every level.

“It’s good that he got it this year,” Van Dyke said. “An Irreplaceable part of our wrestling staff, part of our community. He’s been the middle school boys’ coach for 23 years, has been involved at STC for 25. After the middle school season is over he comes up and is at every varsity event.

“He’s very passionate. He keeps kids out for wrestling. He does a good job of recruiting them and gives them a good experience, keeps them out.”

After 25 years of working in the sport and getting recognized by the state and his local community for his dedication, Steve said he doesn’t plan on slowing down.

“I always told my ADs, ‘When it feels like a job to me, that’s my cue to get out,'” Steve said. “I’m not at that point yet.”