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Ross earns third medal

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Drevon Ross of Fort Dodge wrestles against North Scot Deven Strief during Class 3A consolation Semi-Finals on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena

DES MOINES — Drevon Ross started at the bottom of the podium, but worked his way up the ladder.

The fourth-ranked senior finished his Dodger career with a fourth-place medal, the third of his career.

“It wasn’t what I wanted, but to be on a team with kids as tough as these guys was super fun,” Ross said. “Being a three-time medalist and climbing the podium every year … I’m proud to be a Dodger.”

Ross was joined by sophomore Lane Cowell (fourth) and junior Brooks Cowell (fifth) on the stand.

“We didn’t get good draws, but we fought our way out of them,” said Fort Dodge head coach Bobby Thompson. “These guys worked their way up to the medal stand.”

As a sophomore Ross was eighth and continued to work his way up with a sixth place showing as a junior.

“Drevon kept getting better,” Thompson said. “He’s a three-time medalist. Not a lot of guys can say that.

“He earned us a lot of points (with four falls).”

In his final day of wrestling, Ross went 1-1 at 138 pounds, winning his consolation semifinal by fall over North Scott’s seventh-ranked Deven Strief (:56). In the third-place match, he lost to Waukee’s second-ranked Cody Anderson (45-9) by a final of 6-1.

He earned four victories in the state tournament, all by fall, including a string of three in a row.

Ross ends his career with a mark of 112-38, which puts him 15th on Fort Dodge’s all-time win list. He was 31-8 this season.

Eighth-ranked Lane Cowell earned a 7-5 SV-1 victory over Bettendorf’s ninth-ranked Dustin Bohren in the 106-pound consolation semifinal.

“Lane had a great tournament as a non-seeded wrestler,” Thompson said. “He lost to the No. 2 seed, but won some big matches.”

He lost by fall to Waverly-Shell Rock’s second-ranked Aiden Riggins (48-2), who beat him in the quarterfinals.

Cowell had four victories, including three straight after his quarterfinal loss.

“Finishing fourth wasn’t the goal, but coming down here getting a medal feels pretty good,” said Lane Cowell.

Lane’s ninth-ranked brother, Brooks Cowell (126), lost his consolation semifinal contest to Des Moines East’s seventh-ranked Matthew Jordan (32-6), 11-4. He then knocked off North Scott’s fourth-ranked Caleb McCabe (17-11) to finish fifth.

“Brooks battled through and had a great state tournament,” Thompson said. “He wanted it. His knees were bruised, his face and nose was bloody — he was all beat up.

“He just battled, and that’s what it takes.”

In the tournament, Cowell had four victories — including two by fall.

“I’m extremely happy with my performance this week, but I’m not satisfied with finishing fifth,” said Brooks Cowell. “I’m already excited to get back in the room next year and continue to improve.”

Of the nine state qualifiers, seven will return for the Dodgers. Ross and classmate Logan Finowski (285) will graduate.

Fellow qualifiers, junior Savion Wheat (160) and sophomores Dreyzon Phillips (132) and Kody Cook (145) will be back after a taste of the state tournament atmosphere.

Junior Carson Taylor (120) and sophomore Drake Ayala (113) reached the championship round.

“Kody and Dreyzon lost to high place finishers, or they’re probably on the podium,” Thompson said. “We’ll be better next year with guys coming back, incoming eighth graders and Levi (Egli).”

Egli a fifth-place finisher in 2018, tore knee ligaments during the football season and missed this year.

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