The STC tennis programs both competed in the 2025 conference tennis meets last week. The boys and girls teams both finished in fourth place as a team in the challenging WaMaC conference.

On Monday, May 5, the boys team had the privilege of hosting this year’s conference meet at the STC Tennis Complex. In #1 singles play, Trojan junior Tanner Large finished in a solid third place. Large also teamed up with senior Ian Vore to finish in third place in #1 doubles play.

In their remaining singles action, STC received fourth place finishes by senior Marten Langen (#2 play), Vore (#3 play), junior Marcus Bear (#4 play), junior Jayce McCollister (#5 play), and junior Hunter DeFore (#6 play).

In other doubles competition, the teams of Langen and Bear finished fourth in #2 play. In #3 play, the team of McCollister and DeFoe also finished fourth.

At the end of the evening, the Marion Wolves took first place with a total of 34 points. Grinnell finished in second (27), followed by Independence (18) and STC (11). This week the Trojans and head coach Ander Rutledge turned their attention to post-season play. They participated in their District meet on Wednesday, May 14.

The STC girls tennis team also competed in their WaMaC meet when they traveled to Grinnell on Tuesday, May 6. Finishing fourth with 22 points, the Trojans finished behind Grinnell (36), Mount Vernon (32), and Independence (29). Marion (16) finished behind the Trojans.

For the first time since the 2019 season, the STC girls earned medals at the conference meet. Their first medal on the evening came in singles action, when senior Brooklyn Hitchcock earned a silver medal by finishing as runner-up in #2 play. Their second medal also involved Hitchcock, when she teamed up with senior Hannah Houghton to earn the silver medal in #1 doubles action.

In remaining singles competition, sophomore Madison Boriskey finished in third place in #5 play. Houghton (#1 play), senior Nevaeh Mathes (#3 play), and senior Kylie Husak (#4 play) all finished in fourth place. Sophomore Grace Gomez (#6 play) finished in fifth place for the Trojans.

In doubles action, the #2 team of Mathes and Husak finished in fourth place. Joining them in finishing fourth was the #3 team of Boriskey and senior Mikayla Large.

After the meet, STC Head Coach Steve Bearden commented on the team’s performance. “Today was a full day of tennis. We competed for nearly eight hours against some of the best players in the state,” Bearden said. “Having two medalists today is exciting. These players have worked hard and I’m thrilled to see them get rewarded.”

The girls tennis team now turns its attention to postseason play. The team will host Dike-New Hartford for their Team Regional on Friday, May 16. Action will begin at 1 p.m. at the STC Tennis Complex.