NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTOS BY STEVE BRANT - The STC girls wrestling team celebrates a team championship at the state qualifying meet and sending eight athletes to the state meet.

In an electric atmosphere at the STC high school gym on Friday, Jan. 30, the Trojan girls wrestling team won the state-qualifying meet team title and qualified eight athletes for this week’s state tournament. STC had the privilege of hosting the Class 2A, Region 6 meet for the second year in a row and the home team brought the majority-Trojan crowd to its feet throughout the night.

In a meet where the top two finishers in each weight class qualify for state, STC finished with three champions: junior Ava Perkins (135 lbs.), sophomore Maylee Rucker (140 lbs.), and junior Kinley Jimenez (235 lbs.). The Trojans also finished with five runner-ups: junior Livia Smith (100 lbs.), senior Ava Hendricks (115 lbs.), junior Brooklyn Mitchell (130 lbs.), junior Paisley Bro (145 lbs.), and senior Autumn Elsbury (170 lbs.).

The match of the night came courtesy of Rucker, who, after a 9-9 tie late in the third period, scored an escape and take-down to beat Evelyn Eggleston of Iowa City Liberty, 13-9. The late scramble brought the crowd to a roar and secured Rucker’s first trip to state.

“I wanted to finish the match out and push as hard as I could,” Rucker said after the meet. “I didn’t want to wrestle in the wrestle-backs to get my spot at state.”

Perkins cruised on her way to the championship at 135 lbs., pining all of her opponents. Her first two victories came under one minute in the match, while she pinned Central DeWitt’s Delaney Kueter at the 3:32 mark of the championship. Likewise, Jimenez won in dominating fashion, winning both of her matches by fall on her way to the 235 lb. title.

STC junior Paisley Bro is all smiles after her semifinal win over North Metro's Miya Smith at 145 lbs.

Three of STC’s second place finishers had to secure their spot at state through a wrestle-back second place contest. Elsbury and Hendricks avoided the extra match, having dropped the championship but still securing their spot at state with the runner-up finish. However, Smith, Mitchell, and Bro all had to win via the wrestle-backs.

Smith secured her spot by beating Central DeWitt’s Zoey Rooks by tech fall to finish second at 100 lbs.

“The wrestle-back was scary because I lost in that same place my freshman year,” Smith said. “But I worked really hard and it feels great to finally achieve the trip to state.”

Mitchell pinned Iowa City Liberty’s Elyse Caviel at the 1:15 mark to finish second at 130 lbs.

Bro pinned Gilbert’s Michaela Nissen in 44 seconds in the wrestle-backs to punch her ticket to state.

STC junior Ava Perkins celebrates her championship and state qualification at 135 lbs.

“The wrestle-back was nerve-racking for sure,” Bro said. “But I was confident going into it and it feels great to go to state and help make the coaches proud.”

Other competitors for STC on the night included: sophomore Isabela Saban Perez (105 lbs.), sophomore Jayva Gomez (3rd place, 110 lbs.), freshman Miyah Grabenbauer (120 lbs.), freshman Gianna Boswell (3rd place, 125 lbs.), sophomore Decorah Walker (4th place, 155 lbs.), and junior Ioleta Kingbird (3rd place, 190 lbs.).

The Trojans won the state qualifying meet as a team by scoring 243 points. They finished 19 points ahead of second place Iowa City Liberty (224 points). The rest of the top-five included: Central DeWitt (171), Gilbert (164.5), and North Metro (91).

The Trojans will now get to hang a new banner in the STC gym for the meet victory. And eight athletes will prepare for this week’s girls state wrestling tournament. First time qualifiers include: Hendricks, Perkins, Rucker, Bro, and Smith. Some of the first time participants reflected on their goals for the upcoming week:

“It feels really good to get to go to state,” Rucker said. “I want to try to win at least a couple matches and try to place.”

STC sophomore Maylee Rucker celebrates her championship and state qualification at 140 lbs.

“My goal is to at least place at state. I know I can; I just need to keep working hard and pushing,” Smith added.

Bro summed up her thoughts.

“My goal at state is to go out and have fun. Get the good experience and make good memories,” she said. “Placing at state is accomplished by earning a top-eight spot in each weight class.”

Mitchell is returning to state for the second year in a row, while it will be trip number three for Jimenez and trip number four for Elsbury. Elsbury will be defending her state championship at 170 lbs. from last season. She finished second at state in the 2024 season.

Head coach Jason Arp and his assistants Danny Elsbury, Logan Arp, and Steve Chyma will lead the girls to the state wrestling tournament on Thursday-Friday, Feb. 5-6, at Coralville’s Xtream Arena.

STC junior Paisley Bro celebrates her wrestle-back victory, second place finish, and state qualification at 145 lbs.

STC junior Brooklyn Mitchell celebrates her wrestle-back victory, second place finish, and state qualification at 130 lbs.

STC junior Kinley Jimenez celebrates her championship and state qualification at 235 lbs.

STC sophomore Isabela Saban Perez wrestles Gilbert's Aubrey Shannon at 105 lbs.

STC senior Ava Hendricks defeats Gilbert's Aspen Heaberlin (115 lbs.) on her way to qualifying for state.

STC freshman Miyah Grabenbauer competes at 120 lbs. against Ballard's Evelyn Faubus.

STC freshman Gianna Boswell takes on North Metro's Kenniasty Carstensen at 125 lbs.

STC junior Brooklyn Mitchell sets to square off against North Metro's Lily Harms at 130 lbs.

STC junior Paisley Bro pins North Metro's Miya Smith in the semifinals at 145 lbs.

STC senior Autumn Elsbury pins Central DeWitt's Ashlie Oronzio on her way to qualifying for her fourth trip to the state wrestling meet.

STC junior Ioleta Kingbird takes on North Metro's Marli Badgley at 190 lbs.

STC junior Kinley Jimenez wrestles Central DeWitt's Joellynn Dwinal in the semifinal at 235 lbs.

STC junior Livia Smith wrestles Indianola's Nora Ohnemus in the championship of 100 lbs.

STC sophomore Jayva Gomez looks to reverse position against Central DeWitt's Greenley Grell in the championship match at 110 lbs.

STC junior Ava Perkins pins Central DeWitt's Delaney Kueter in the championship match at 135 lbs.

STC sophomore Maylee Rucker brings Trojan fans to their feet scoring a late takedown in the championship at 140 lbs.

STC junior Livia Smith celebrates her wrestle-back victory, second place finish, and state qualification at 100 lbs.