STC Class of 2024 Members to Compete in College Athletics | News, Sports, Jobs

Three wrestlers, two distance runners and a football player will continue their STC athletic success at the collegiate level. The STC Class of 2024 proved to be one for the history books, with a state title, multiple podium finishes and the first-ever state cross country qualifier. This elite group of small-town athletes will take their talents to the next level starting this fall.

Chelsea Ahrens, high school activities director, was very pleased with the group of talented young athletes.

“We absolutely have to celebrate these talented athletes and how hard they have worked to get to this point. It didn’t just happen overnight, these young athletes put in so much extra time in their respective sports during the off-season and outside of training hours,” she said. “I see them all the time training all over town — whether they’re on the golf course hitting at dusk, training early in the morning in the wrestling room, or running on the track when it’s below 100 degrees. These kids are setting the bar for the next generation of Trojan athletes.”

Below is a brief overview of the athletes and where to find them in the coming years.

Wrestling

MaCael Beer completed an impressive wrestling career at South Tama with over 100 wins and two state tournament appearances. Bear will wrestle at Hawkeye Community College.

Amare Chavez ended his STC wrestling career with three podium finishes at the state wrestling tournament, most recently placing sixth. He will compete at Grand View University in the fall.

Maeley Elsbury will forever be a trailblazer for the Trojans as the first-ever 135-pound Girls State Wrestling Champion in 2023. Following her state championship, Elsbury became the first female wrestler in school history to reach 100 victories. In the fall, Elsbury will make her way to William Penn University in Oskaloosa.

Distance running

James Brantwho will take his talents to Central College in Pella this fall and finish his high school career with many honors. He is a four-time state qualifier in track and field and a three-time state qualifier in cross country. Brant finishes with multiple state medals, school record performances and is a member of the first-ever STC state qualifier cross country team.

Tommy Tyynismaa completed the quadruple-double in his high school career, qualifying for the state cross country meet four times and the state track meet four more times. Tyynismaa has twice finished second in the 3A 800 meter run and will take his talent to Iowa State in August.

Football

Kyan McBride will play football for Simpson College in the fall. McBride was recognized as a 2nd team All Class 3A District 5 defensive lineman for the 2023 season. McBride was also the Trojans’ 2nd leading tackler last season with 56 tackles.

The Tama-Toledo News Chronicle would also like to acknowledge Gavin Bridgewater as he spent nearly his entire high school athletic career as a Trojan before transferring out of the district in the final weeks of his senior year. Bridgewater’s contributions to STC Athletics have not gone unnoticed. In order to stay in the blue and black, Bridgewater plans to play football at Upper Iowa in the fall.