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STC fall sports begin

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC head football coach Nathan Doran gives directions during the teams annual football camp on Aug. 4.
NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC head cross country coach Edgar Tapia (far right, gray shirt) addresses his team on the first day of their cross country camp. Tapia is in his first year as head coach.
NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC head volleyball coach Emily Chyma (center, yellow shirt) meets with some of her athletes during their open gym on Aug. 4. Chyma is entering her first year as head coach.
NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC head girls tennis coach Steve Bearden coaches one of his athletes on the opening day of their season. Bearden is entering his 19th season as head coach.
NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior Michael Henry pulls in a pass during the Trojans opening night of football camp on Aug. 4.
NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior Manny Cervantes participates in drills during the Trojan's football camp on Aug. 4.
NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – Playing quarterback, STC sophomore Ryan Brant hands the ball off to junior Eric Medina, playing running back. Leading the way with a block is senior Marcus Bear, playing fullback. The Trojans held their annual football camp this past week.
NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore Scout Ridout practices drills during the volleyball open gym on Aug. 4.
NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC freshman Catherine Hardon participates in the opening day of girls tennis practice.

Monday, Aug. 4 was a busy day around the South Tama high school campus. On a bright morning with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees, four STC teams began their fall seasons with team camps and practices.

At 7 a.m. this year’s version of STC cross country gathered at the track to begin their week of team camp. New head coach Edgar Tapia met with his new team, along with assistant coach Amanda Husak and new middle school coach John Loos. Around eight runners participated on the first day of a week-long camp for 6th-12th grade students. Official practices for cross country begin on Monday, Aug. 11. Their first meet will be the Bobcat Early Bird in Marshalltown on Thursday, Aug. 28.

Also meeting early at 7 a.m. was the girls tennis team. Participating in the fall for the first time, a group of around ten girls held a team meeting with head coach Steve Bearden to begin the practice. Bearden spoke to the girls about the changes of being in the fall season before the team began to practice by participating in some drills. The girls tennis team was the only team that officially began their practices this week. Their first meet is scheduled for next Tuesday, Aug. 12. Mount Vernon will travel to the STC Tennis Complex to take on the Trojans in their first action of the season.

The STC girls volleyball team had a full morning, with athletes participating in weight lifting followed by an open-gym. A large group of girls participated with first-year head coach Emily Chyma. After a morning of drills, the volleyball players turned their attention to the start of their camp, which was held on Wednesday, Aug. 6, for all 5th-8th grade students. Official practice for the team begins on Monday, Aug. 11. Their season will open with a match at home against AGWSR on Thursday, Aug. 28.

Under head coach Nathan Doran, the 2025 Trojan football team also had a full day. After weight lifting in the early morning hours, the program held the first day of their week-long camp in the evening. Around seventy athletes gathered to kick off a week of drills, coaching, and competition for 7th-12th grade students. The football program also offered a day of camp this week focused on younger football players in 1st-6th grades. The STC football team begins their official practice with a special midnight practice on Monday, Aug. 11. The first game for the Trojans will be on Friday, Aug. 29 against Vinton-Shellsburg. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the STC football field.