INDEPENDENCE — The STC boys wrestling team made their season debut on Friday-Saturday, Dec. 5-6, at the Cliff Keen Independence Invitational in Independence. In a field of 33 teams, the Trojans came home with a 27th place team finish.

Leading the way for the Trojans was a trio of wrestlers who secured top-ten finishes. Senior Marcus Bear was the highest placing Trojan with a 3rd place finish at 175 lbs. Bear won with a 4-2 decision over Harrisburg’s Tayge Privett in the 3rd place match. STC’s next highest placer was sophomore Lakyr Peska, who finished in 8th place at 285 lbs. Junior Kyle Youngbear finished in 10th place for the Trojans at 190 lbs. and earned the team 16.5 points.

STC also earned top-15 finishes from junior Manny Cervantes (11th place at 215 lbs.) and senior Garrett Surman (15th place at 165 lbs.). Other scoring athletes for the Trojans included: sophomore Izak Schroeder (20th place at 132 lbs.); freshman Israel Zamarron-Acosta (23rd place at 126 lbs.); junior Eli Cruikshank (26th place at 138 lbs.); freshman Jet Chyma (27th place at 144 lbs.); and sophomore Henri Martinez-Alvarado (30th place at 120 lbs.).

STC finished with 109 team points in their 27th place team finish. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows won the invitational with 329.5 points. They were followed by: Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (309.5 points) and Independence (307 points).

Up next for the Trojan boys wrestlers is the home South Tama Invite on Saturday, Dec. 13. Action begins at the STC high school gym at 9:30 a.m., with participating teams that include: STC, East Marshall, Independence, and Oskaloosa.