Senior MaCael Bear at 138 faces off against Independence wrestler Kaden Kremer. The Trojans would lose this team dual as a team 60-15. PHOTO BY JAMES BRANT

The South Tama boys wrestlers competed in their home duals tournament at the Roundhouse on Saturday. The Trojans finished 4-1 as a team on the day with victories over Des Moines East, Oskaloosa, Pella, and East Marshall/GMG. Independence was the only team to take down the Trojans.

To start off the tournament, the Trojans defeated Des Moines East in dominant fashion with a 58-24 victory. Seniors Gavin Bridgewater at 215 and Kyan McBride at 285 both won on falls that were accomplished in under a minute. Those are just two of the eight pins South Tama was able to achieve in this dual.

South Tama continued their success with a decisive victory in round 2 against Oskaloosa 51-12. Once again the Trojans put on a show, recording several pins by Anthony Thompson at 157, Marcus Bear at 175, Bridgewater, Cale Graff at 113, and MaCael Bear at 138. Senior Amare Chavez also added a technical fall to the score for the Trojans with a 16-0 win.

Unfortunately for the Trojans, their dominant run would come to a stop for now against the Independence Mustangs. Trojan seniors Bridgewater, Elijah Branan, and Chavez were the only wrestlers that came out on top in this dual. Bridgewater and Branan had a pair of pins both in under a minute, while Chavez who was down 5-0 to Tanner Wilson of Independence had a massive comeback to win 9-7. In the end it wasn’t enough as Independence defeated South Tama 60-15.

Looking to bounce back in round four against the Pella Dutch, the Trojans started off with two victories by Mathes and Bear. Later in the round Bridgewater, Branan, and McBride continued their winning ways, but Pella was still hanging around with wins at 113, 132, 144, and 150. It all came down to the 157 matchup as Anthony Thompson faced off against Hunter Haynes, thankfully for the Trojans Thompson came up big with a pin to give South Tama the 39-33 win over Pella.

Junior Cody Blocker wrestles Matthew Phillips of Oskaloosa in the 144 match. South Tama defeated Oskaloosa as a team 51-12. PHOTO BY JAMES BRANT

In the fifth and final round South Tama once again put on a dominant display defeating East Marshall/GMG 60-17. Bridgewater, Chavez, and Branan were the only Trojans to finish undefeated on the day posting very impressive performances as they continue to climb up the Iowa wrestling rankings.

Independence won the meet with a perfect 5-0 performance in duals, followed by South Tama who placed second with a 4-1 final record. The Trojans boys will be back in action on Thursday at Clear Creek Amana, as they look to continue their early success.