PHOTO BY BRINTLEY ELSBURY – The STC girls wrestling team celebrates their team victory at the Raider Invite.

WILLIAMSBURG — The STC girls wrestling team won their second invitational of the year on Monday, December 8, when they traveled to Williamsburg for the Raider Girls Invite. Winning by 35 points over second place finisher Iowa City Liberty, and placing nine wrestlers in the top five of their weight class, the Trojans continued their strong start to the early season.

STC was led by their lone champion on the day, junior Livia Smith at 100 lbs. Smith defeated East Buchanan’s Lyla Stiefel by fall at the 4:53 mark in the championship match. With the win, Smith ran her season record to 13-2.

The Trojans also secured three runner-up finishes on the day: senior and returning state champion Autumn Elsbury 170 lbs.; junior Kinley Jimenez at 235 lbs.; and sophomore Maylee Rucker at 140 lbs. Elsbury (13-3), Jimenez (12-3), and Rucker (14-3) all start the season with impressive records of double digit wins and only three losses each.

Five additional STC wrestlers finished in the top-5 of their weight class. These included: junior Ioleta Kingbird (3rd, 190 lbs.); sophomore Jayva Gomez (3rd, 110 lbs.); freshman Abigail Hendricks (4th, 105 lbs.); junior Brooklyn Mitchell (5th, 130 lbs.); and junior Ava Perkins (5th, 135 lbs.). Rounding out the scoring for the Trojans was a pair of top-10 finishes from senior Ava Hendricks (7th, 115 lbs.) and junior Paisley Bro (8th, 145 lbs.).

As a team, STC finished with a total of 200.5 points for the victory. Iowa City Liberty (165.5), Williamsburg (133.5), East Buchanan (130), and Mount Vernon (112.5) rounded out the top five team finishers.

PHOTO BY BRINTLEY ELSBURY – STC junior Livia Smith stands atop the podium after finishing in first place at 100 lbs. at the Raider Invite.

Following the Raider Invite, winter weather canceled the Trojan’s next two competitions (the home Double Dual with Benton & Marshalltown, and the Vinton-Shellsburg Invite). Up next on their schedule for the girls is the Prairie Girls Invite in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, December 20. STC’s next regularly scheduled home competition is Thursday, Jan. 8 (a Double Dual against Marion and West Delaware).