PHOTO VIA BRINTLEY ELSBURY — The STC girls wrestling team celebrates their 2026 WaMaC conference championship.

VINTON — For the second season in a row, head coach Jason Arp and the STC girls wrestlers are the WaMaC conference champions. After winning the WaMaC meet in 2025, the Trojans successfully defended their title when they traveled to Vinton-Shellsburg on Friday, Jan. 23. STC won this year’s meet by 76.5 points over second place Mount Vernon, nearly equaling their dominance in last season’s conference meet (an 87-point victory over Vinton-Shellsburg).

During the meet, the Trojans crowned four individual champions in their weight class. They were led by senior and defending state champion Autumn Elsbury, who took the title at 170 lbs. Elsbury won by fall over CPU’s Tara Crowley in the semifinal before winning by decision over Mount Vernon’s Gracie Pinkney, 5-1, in the championship match. With the win, Elsbury pushed her season record to 35-3.

Joining Elsbury at the top of the medal stand were three first-time conference champions: junior Livia Smith (100 lbs.), sophomore Maylee Rucker (140 lbs.), and junior Kinley Jimenez (235 lbs.). Smith won by fall in both of her matches, including a victory over Independence’s Alina Ajruloski in the title match. Smith’s season record now stands at 37-5. Rucker won by fall over all three of her opponents on the night to take her season record to 37-5. Jimenez pushed her season record to 26-4 after winning by fall over both of her opponents on her way to the 235 lb. championship.

STC also had five wrestlers who finished in the top three of their weight class. The Trojan’s lone runner-up was freshman Miyah Grabenbaur (120 lbs.). Grabenbaur won two matches before falling to Independence’s Morgan Krall in the 120 lb. championship. Third place finishers for STC included: freshman Gianna Boswell (125 lbs.), junior Brooklyn Mitchell (130 lbs.), junior Ava Perkins (135 lbs.), and junior Paisley Bro (140 lbs.).

Also scoring points for the Trojans on the night were: sophomore Isabela Saban Perez (6th place, 105 lbs.); sophomore Jayva Gomez (4th place, 110 lbs.); senior Ava Hendricks (4th place, 115 lbs.); and sophomore Decorah Walker (4th place, 155 lbs.).

During their march to first and third place respectively, Smith and Mitchell both won their 100th career victory for the Trojans. On Jan. 15, Elsbury was recognized for her 150th career win during the home double dual meet against Williamsburg and Independence.

STC won the team title with a total of 254 points. The top five was rounded out by: Mount Vernon (177.5), host Vinton-Shellsburg (153), Williamsburg (148.5), and Independence (134).

The STC program also found success on the junior varsity level at the WaMaC tournament. Freshman Abigail Hendricks, junior London Jaennette, and freshman Ericka Rivera were all crowned individual champions. Junior Alyssa Kriegel placed third for the Trojans.

STC will now turn their attention to the 2026 post-season. They will participate in the Class 2A, Region 6 state qualifying meet on Friday, Jan. 30. The meet will be hosted by the Trojans and will start at 4 p.m. at the STC High School. Some of the other participating teams will include Marshalltown, Ballard, Gilbert, Indianola, and Iowa City Liberty.