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Teske wins, Lara fares well in Ames event

AMES – Brody Teske wasn’t quite sure what to expect from his first competitive match in over three months at the ”Agony in Ames” wrestling event here on Saturday night.

The Fort Dodge junior shook off the rust in a hurry against nationally-ranked Travis Ford-Melton of Illinois.

Teske dominated Ford-Melton, rated as high as No. 2 in the country at 113 pounds, with a 12-4 major decision victory inside the SportsIowa Complex.

The Dodgers’ undefeated two-time state champion hadn’t seen live action since a national runner-up appearance at Fargo, N.D. during the summer. After that performance, Teske had surgery to repair a slight LCL tear in July and a sports hernia in August.

”I just wanted to break in my lungs (yesterday) and see what my shape was like,” said Teske, who is 86-0 in his prep career at FDSH. ”It was a good night and another fun experience.

”I really didn’t care about his ranking or anything else. I wanted to do my own thing and see what it felt like to be back (in action). I had my eye on a win and wanted to put points on the board.”

Teske, who has moved into the Top-10 nationally at 120 pounds, shook off a slow start and began to dominate Ford-Melton as the match progressed. Ford-Melton is a Lynwood (Ill.) standout who hasn’t lost in his Illinois prep career.

”I felt loose and comfortable,” Teske said. ”The environment was really cool. We were up on a stage, and they had smoke and read off our accomplishments before the match.

”I’m glad I did it. These experiences only make us better.”

Teske wasn’t the only Dodger state champion in action on Saturday. Senior Triston Lara was edged by national No. 3 Jason Renteria of Oak Park (River Forest, Ill.), 7-6.

”I know I lost, but I actually feel like I wrestled really well,” said Lara, a University of Northern Iowa recruit. ”My scrambling was on point. I didn’t come out quite like I wanted, and he held me off (at the end, when Lara was looking for a last-ditch takedown).

”He was tough, but the match could’ve gone either way.”

Renteria, also a senior who has committed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska, won an Illinois state championship at 120 pounds last winter. He is a two-time state runner-up.

Lara is not currently in the national rankings, though that could change soon. Two weeks ago, he beat No. 17 Niko Chavez of Illinois at ”Night of Conflict 2” inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

”I just can’t wait for the (high school) season to start now,” Lara said. ”After all of the off-season work and exposure, I’m really looking forward to it.

”We have our sights set on both individual and team championships this year.”

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