Iowa State assistant coach Derek St John was in Perry last week helping out with the Bluejay Camp.
Iowa State assistant coach Derek St John was in Perry last week helping out with the Bluejay Camp.

The Perry Bluejay wrestling team recently held their annual summer camp and head coach Mark Weber was able to bring in two big names in the sport of wrestling. Derek St. John and Pablo Ubasa partnered with Weber in bringing some of the top technique and mental approach to over 30 Perry and area athletes. St John wrestled for Ubasa at Iowa City West before going on to star for the Hawkeyes and now serves on Kevin Dresser’s staff at Iowa State. Weber explains how he was able to bring two big names to Perry last week.
“Jay (Nelson) really helped out a lot with getting Ubasa here. I knew Ubasa did some traveling and likes to help out at various camps and Jay’s son Cole goes down to the Ubasa club in Des Moines. Ubasa has always been an Iowa City guy but I know he has started to come down to Des Moines once a week. Jay asked if he wanted to come to Perry and he was excited for the chance to help out.”
St John was also willing to pay it forward for his former coach at Iowa City West.
“Ubasa reached out to Derek and those two have stayed in touch through the years. St John was willing to pay it forward and help his former coach out and that’s how we ended up with two big names in the sport.”
Weber said close to 40 youth from across the area attended the three day camp.