Maeley Elsbury.

1. Maeley Elsbury wins 135 pound state championship

While we now know the Electric Elsbury sisters, after their time at STC concludes, perhaps we’ll call them the Everlasting Elsburys. With a knack for making history this number one entry comes with plenty to back it up. In the first year of Girls Wrestling being sanctioned by the IHSGAU, Maeley Elsbury went on an absolute tear through the state meet.

The junior Elsbury entered as the No. 3 seed at 135 pounds, took down No. 1 seed and top-ranked Alexis Ross of Fort Dodge with a 2-0 decision in the finals. Being Crowned the first ever IHSGAU 135 pound State Champion. Even with another high school season in front of Maeley Elsbury, the history books have been written with more yet to come.

2. Tommy Tyynismaa excels at state track

Coming off a superb cross country season and a 3rd place state track medal, Tommy Tyynismaa arrived to the 2023 track season with newfound confidence. During the regular season Tyynismaa ran school records in the 800,1600, 3200, and Distance Medley Relay along with two 5th place finishes at the drake relays. Tyynismaa ended up qualifying in all four events for the state track meet.

In his signature event, the 800, Tyynismaa brought the fight to his track rival, Chase Laughman of Pella, both athletes pushed each other to newfound limits.The pair ran under the 3A 800 meter state meet record. Tyynismaa took second in a time of 1:52.8 behind Laughman’s 1:52.61. In a postseason 800 race Tyynismaa lowered his personal best to 1:51.32. Tyynismaa made history while redefining what is possible for an STC Trojan.

3. STC football legend Jon Lazar inducted into IHSAA Hall of Fame

More than 45 years after he graduated from STC in 1975, Jon Lazar was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Hall of Fame. During halftime of the 5A State Championship game in Cedar Falls, Lazar was honored with the prestigious award for his storied career in high school football. Soon after, Lazar donated his plaque to the school district in hopes of inspiring the next generation of Trojan football players.

4. Girls wrestling state qualifiers

Maeley Elsbury was far from the only successful girls wrestler. With the newly sanctioned team, two other Trojan athletes qualified for the first ever Girls State Wrestling Tournament. Abigail Chyma entered as the No. 31 seed at 155 pounds. In a tough situation, Chyma was pinned in both matches ending her season with a 28-16 record.

Autumn Elsbury qualified for the tournament as a Freshman, coming in the No. 8 seed at 170 pounds. After a hardfought way through the bracket, the younger Elsbury sister finished fourth ending her season with a 38-6 record.

With the inclusion of Maeley Elsbury, all three wrestlers will return next season to hopefully wind up in Coralville again.

5. Esports takes 4th

The Trojan ESports team formed during the 2021-2022 school year by joining the Iowa High School Esports Association (IAHSEA). In the team’s second ever season of playing MarioKart 8 Deluxe, the group posted a winning regular season. With a growing field of Iowa schools participating, STC improved on their 7th place state finish in 2022 with a 4th place run. Multiple Trojans signed to continue on with Esports at the collegiate level throughout the season.

6. Boys state wrestling trio makes podium

Excellence is a theme of Trojan Wrestling, with the 2023 boys team being no different. In a long continued history of multiple wrestlers making state three STC athletes went beyond just that. Amare Chavez, Gavin Bridgewater, and Rudy Papakee, came to the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines with experience and confidence. All three competitors being previous qualifiers paid dividends with podium placing for all three boys.

In 2022 Bridgewater made a shock run to the finals, earning a surprise second place finish. In his second appearance Bridgewater wrestled back to earn third place. Following a sixth-place finish in 2022 in his first year at state, junior 126-pounder Amare Chavez had his eyes on a bigger prize. With ambition along with a year of preparation Chavez improved to fifth place in his state bid.

Senior Rudy Papakee entered the state tournament Wednesday, having not won a single match in his two previous trips to state. Coming in as the No. 7 seed at 220 pounds, he set out to make sure that wasn’t his legacy at STC. With a win in his final high school wrestling match Papakee secured seventh place.

7. Chyma named junior high coach of year

Voted on by Iowa junior high and high school wrestling coaches from all areas of the state, Steve Chyma was recognized as Junior High Coach of the Year. Chyma, who has been involved in South Tama wrestling for 25 years, works for South Tama as the Transportation Director. Steve Chyma has not only gone through the STC youth club and wrestled for South Tama, but has 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. On Feb. 18, he was presented the award by his nephew, Tyler Walz.

8. Boys cross country raises the bar

STC’s existence never has a cross country team qualified for state. In the past years several individuals have ascended to run at state in Fort Dodge, however a team qualification still alludes the program. With participation in the boys program being up in recent years, results are trending upwards for the group. In 2022 the STC 5k School record was smashed by Junior Tommy Tyynismaa on multiple occasions.

Along with records, Tyynismaa alongside teammate James Brant both qualified for state as individuals after a heartbreaking district meet. Coming in, the Trojan boys had a real shot at making state as a team, only requiring a top three team finish. In what the Iowa High School Association of Track and Field Coaches called the “Biggest upset of state qualifying week” Fort Madison shocked the Trojan Boys and the whole state by narrowly bumping the team out of qualifying by two points. Coming into 2023 all members of the varsity lineup return to attempt to go even further.

9. What the Heck: STC tops Marshalltown girls basketball

Opening basketball season for the lady Trojans was an absolute nail biter of a game against close competition, the Marshalltown Bobcats. What makes this game an absolute gem and one to remember is the dramatic fourth quarter. Kayla Heck scored all eight of South Tama’s fourth-quarter points before fouling out to help the Trojans knock off Marshalltown 37-35. With basketball wins coming few and far between in an ultra competitive landscape, this opening season game paired with the explosion of momentum from Kayla Heck one for the ages.

10. Trojans Outlast Mustangs in OT boys basketball

Basketball wins have become an anomaly for the Trojans, with winless seasons being a real possibility. After a slow start the boys basketball team found a groove against East Marshall, playing a competitive game despite illness and low team numbers. With starter Ivan Alvarado out of action, the Trojans played only seven with the five starters playing a majority of the time. At halftime, the Trojans were up 27-22, before East Marshall countered back in the third leaving little room for error in the fourth. Making up a five point deficit the Trojans forced the Mustangs into a four minute overtime. Edging the Mustangs at the freethrow line, the game concluded with celebration from players, coaches, and spectators alike. Spirits ran high in the round house as the Trojan boys picked up their first win in quite some time.