On Jan. 12-14 SCHS Pirate wrestlers took on 56 other schools at the annual St. Charles High wrestling meet. The five-mat meet was two days long starting after school on Friday and ending in the early afternoon on Saturday. 

“No matter what weekend we end up having this tournament it always brings weather, and we’re always looking to see if we’re actually gonna wrestle it,” said Head Coach Kevin Dill. 

Even the negative temperatures couldn’t stop the wrestlers this year. Dill has been the Head Coach for 11 years, in that time the wrestling program has only been able to fully wrestle the meet five times. 

“I go into every tournament ready to win. I’m ready to see what I can do,” said Varsity captain junior Charlie Reid. 

While some of the wrestlers this year are new to the program, they are all expected to do well.

“They’ve been wrestling really strong this year and practicing hard… we practice hard, we’re ready,” said Reid. 

The entire wrestling team participated in the meet, even if they were not a Varsity wrestler or injured. 

“JV helps… they’ll help run it, they help the concession stand, the mats, and everything else… occasionally we’ll  throw a couple of the JV kids in if there’s open spots…They can compete,” said Dill. 

The tournament was very successful with nine wrestlers placing and six medaled including five wrestlers from the boys and four from the girls. 

Freshman Shavon Kyem took 6th at the tournament in the 110 lbs. weight class. 

Senior Evan Murphy took fifth at the tournament in the 165 lbs. weight class. 

Sophomore D’monta Bagby took 5th at the tournament in the138  lbs. weight class. 

Senior Kara Schemkes took 4th at the tournament in the 190 lbs. weight class. 

Sophomore Derek Plaza-smither medaled 3rd at the tournament in the 126 lbs. weight class. 

Sophomore Syria Bell medaled 3rd at the tournament in the 120 lbs. weight class. 

Junior Charlie Reid medaled 3rd at the tournament in the 132 lbs. weight class. 

Sophomore Cecile Puati medaled 2nd at the tournament in the 100 lbs. weight class.

Sophomore Taylor Souders medaled 2nd at the tournament in the 120 lbs. weight class.