NEWS CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO – Meskwaki freshman Bree Scabbyrobe (left) and sophomore Dayeci Davenport (right) box out STC sophomore Stella Zmolek on January 19, 2026.

Last week we introduced a list of some of my ‘favorite things’ from the 2025-2026 school year in local high school sports. Having looked at #10–#6 on the list, let’s pick things up with my top five favorite moments:

5. Monday, January 19, 2026: Meskwaki Settlement School’s girls basketball team travels to STC

I have to be honest: I was late to the party on the MSS girls basketball team this past season. But my wake-up call came on January 19, when they came to the STC to face the Trojans. The first thing I noticed was their fan-support–the Warrior fans packed the visitor’s section to overflow that night. Already entering the contest with a stellar record of 10-1, the Warriors received 14 points from freshman Martha Blackcloud and 11 from junior Dorothy Bear. In an entertaining, highly competitive game, MSS slipped past STC–themselves much improved this past season–38-33. After their victory at STC, the Warriors went on to finish the season with a record of 18-4. They were Iowa Star South Conference champions. After gaining victories in the first two rounds of the class 1A playoffs, MSS’s season eventually ended two games short of the state tournament when they lost to North Union on February 20. Blackcloud (1st team), Bear (1st team), freshman Bree Scabbyrobe (2nd team), and junior Eva Roberts (honorable mention) all earned all-conference honors. It was a special season for head coach Heath Brown and the MSS girls basketball team.

4. Sunday afternoon, March 29, 2026: STC’s performance at the State Archery tournament

If you ever get a chance to attend the Iowa Archery state tournament at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, do yourself a favor and go. It is one of those eye-opening, unique events that makes you realize how wildly popular something is in our state. And among the throngs of people that pack the Jacobson Exhibition Center, STC has some of the top performers–not only in our state–but in the entire country. This season, senior Timm Chandonia ended his highly successful STC archery career by placing 7th in the 3D portion of the high school competition. He was also named to the all-state boys team. Over his time competing for the Trojans, Chandonia has consistently been one of the top male competitors in Iowa. In addition, STC seventh grader Conner Bradley finished in 3rd place in the middle school boys 3D competition, and 9th in the Bullseye portion of the state tournament. But, among STC’s strong overall team performance, it was once again sophomore Ava Boldt who stood out. Boldt was crowned the state champion on March 29th in both the female 3D and Bullseye competitions. She earned high honors and a place on the all-state team in both skills. Going on to compete at the National Championships in Utah, she was the 3D national champion at the NASP Western Nationals, and the Bullseye national champion at the Centershot Western Nationals. Simply put, we have one of the best archers in the entire country right here in our Tama/Toledo community.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTH TAMA ARCHERY CLUB FACEBOOK PAGE – STC sophomore Ava Boldt stands with her awards at the NASP Western Nationals in Sandy, Utah this spring.

3.Thursday afternoon, May 21, 2026, approximately 3:59 p.m. STC’s Conner, Jesina cross the finish line in the top-10 of the 3200 at state

This single moment had several layers to it. It was the final high school competition in the careers of both seniors Cadel Conner and Barrett Jesina; it was a record-breaking performance by Conner; it was a top-10 finish for both in a loaded class 3A field; and it was the culmination of a special pairing all season long of two of the finest distance runners in STC history. Conner and Jesina joined forces this track and field season after

Conner transferred to STC from Grinnell for his final season. The two traded the school record in the 3200 all season long. Jesina broke it first on April 23 by running 9:52.36 at the Newton Invite to best Tommy Tyynismaa’s 2023 mark of 9:52.79. But in the end, Conner’s time of 9:22.17 at the state meet on May 21 set the new standard. Conner’s effort gave him 7th place at state, while Jesina finished in 10th place with a new personal-best time of 9:41.18. Placing two runners in the top-ten of the event is a significant achievement in any season, but this year especially so. This year’s 3A field at state featured two of the best distance runners in our state’s history–Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman (1st place, 8:54.00) and Pella’s Canaan Dunham (2nd place; 8:59.18). For Conner, the state meet concluded a brief but memorable career as a Trojan. He leaves as the school-record holder in both the 3200 and 1600 races. For Jesina, the 3200 was his last race in a very accomplished, memorable career at STC. This past school year he also qualified for the state meet in cross country. He leaves as a two-time state qualifier in track and a three-time state qualifier in cross country. Jesina will run for Central College in Pella starting this fall.

2.Friday night, October 10, 2025, approximately 9:02 p.m.: junior Kyle Youngbear’s goal-line stand lifts STC football over Pella Christian, 28-27

STC’s football season was the hardest sport to pick a single moment from. It was a season full of special games, plays, and victories. Beating Vinton-Shellsburg in the opening game to snap a 25-game losing streak. Junior Eric Medina’s four touchdown performance in a homecoming victory against Albia. Senior Marcus Bear’s 58-yard fake punt scamper to seize momentum on the way to victory against Davis County. But Youngbear’s play stands out to me against Pella Christian. Here’s why. It was one of the best games of the season, with the two teams trading punches all night long. The Trojans took a 28-21 lead in the 4th quarter but the Eagles marched down the field to score a touchdown to cut the lead to 28-27. Pella Christian faced the decision to kick the point-after and tie the game, or to go for the two-point conversion and take the late lead. They opted for two. Handing off the ball to their star running back Landon Nunnikhoven (17 carries, 126 yards, 2 touchdowns on the night), Pella Christian sought to pound it in from a mere two yards out. But Youngbear shot through the Eagle’s offensive line untouched and stuffed Nunnikhoven for little to no gain. The Trojans got the ball back and pounded the ball with Medina’s rushing to wind out the clock and seal the victory. The game was both the most thrilling victory of the season but also, perhaps, the most consequential. The win secured a playoff spot for STC for the first time since 2020. But here’s one more added dimension as to why I chose this as the best moment from the football season: I had heard after the game that sophomore Lakyr Peska had joined Youngbear in the key tackle. Finding Peska in the parking lot after the game, he was quick to deflect all the credit–making it clear that Youngbear had made the tackle and that he just helped secure Nunnikhoven to the ground. It was an example of the unselfish, team-first mindset that marked the 2025 STC football squad all season long. Head Coach Nate Doran captured the sentiment at the conclusion of the season: ‘The greatest highlight for me was the unity we displayed as a team,’ Doran said. ‘We played together and we fought together.’

NEWS CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO – STC seniors Barrett Jesina (left) and Cadel Conner (right) both finished in the top ten of the 3200 meter run at the state track and field meet on May 21, 2026.

1.Friday, January 30, 2026, approximately 8:28 p.m.: STC’s Rucker takes down opponent to clinch a state berth

The best single sporting event I witnessed this past school-year was the girls state wrestling tournament in Iowa City on February 5-6, 2026. STC sent eight wrestlers to state this season, and it was my first trip to the event. I enjoyed every minute of it. From watching junior Livia Smith’s intense pre-match pacing, to the two ‘Avas’, to finishing with four girls on the podium (Smith, senior Autumn Elsbury, sophomore Maylee Rucker, junior Kinley Jimenez), head coach Jason Arp and all of the girls brought a lot of pride, excitement, and joy to our community during the long winter months. The crowning moment, of course, was senior Autumn Elsbury’s second straight state championship at 170 lbs. Elsbury victoriously worked her way through the toughest single bracket and weight class in the entire tournament. Herself ranked #11 in the nation, Elsbury beat two top-ten nationally ranked opponents, including Waverly-Shell Rock’s Amalia Djoumessi in the championship match. Elsbury was down 3-0 early, but came back and methodically turned Djoumessi on her back in the second period to pin her opponent. Elbury jumped off the mat and leapt into her father’s arms (assistant coach Danny Elsbury) to celebrate her second state title. When all was said and done, there is little debate that Elsbury drove back to Tama/Toledo that night as the most accomplished wrestler–male or femaile–in the history of STC. What an honor it was to be there to witness it all. It might seem a bit strange, therefore, that I’m listing a different moment from the girls wrestling season. But allow me to explain. Six days before the state tournament, STC hosted the state qualifying meet in our home gym for the second year in a row. The match of the night was turned in by Rucker, who wrestled Iowa City Liberty’s Evelyn Eggleston in the championship at 140 lbs. Tied 9-9 late in the third period, Rucker scored a take-down with a mere six seconds to go in the match. And, now, here is why the moment tops my list: My family and I have had the privilege of living in the Tama/Toledo community for ten years. We have been to many athletic events on the STC high school campus during that time. I have never heard the STC home crowd as loud as they were on that night. And Rucker’s takedown was the peak of their frenzy. The crowd was electric all night long–but Rucker’s win was maybe just a notch or two louder than other special moments. It showed me what our home crowd can sound like at a wrestling meet, volleyball match, or basketball game. Here’s to hoping for many more crowds and moments like that in the years to come…

To all the STC and MSS athletes, coaches, athletic directors, volunteers and parents: thanks for a great and memorable 2025-2026. Until next time, these have been just a few of my favorite things.

NEWS CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO – STC junior Eric Medina carries the ball against Pella Christian on October 10, 2025.

NEWS CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO – STC senior Autumn Elsbury moments before her state championship victory over Waverly-Shell Rock's Amalia Djoumessi.

NEWS CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO