Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Cayd Lara of Fort Dodge celebrates after defeating West Des Moines Valley's Joe Nicholson in CIML Invitational finals last season.

First, Cayd Lara stayed loyal to the sport of wrestling.

Then he fully committed himself to it.

Lara’s drive for personal growth paid off in a big way on Monday, as the Fort Dodge senior-to-be verbally accepted an offer from head coach Kevin Dresser’s Iowa State University program.

The Dodgers’ state runner-up at 152 pounds will join his brother — recently-graduated Triston Lara, a University of Northern Iowa recruit — at the Div. I level. Lara’s decision kicks off what will be a very busy period for the FDSH wrestling program, which also expects to send 2018 classmates Brody Teske and Drew Bennett to major universities in the months to come.

”I just felt great about Iowa State from the start,” said Lara, a three-time state placewinner. ”The energy and drive of that coaching staff is awesome. I never would’ve guessed a while back that I’d have the opportunity to compete for such big names in the sport, so I was obviously very honored by their offer.

”I’m really excited, but also relieved and proud.”

The road hasn’t always been smooth for Lara, who already ranks eighth in Dodger history with 128 career wins. Before a pivotal conversation with FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson in eighth grade, Lara’s future in wrestling was in relative doubt.

”I just wasn’t sure where I fit or how much I wanted to give to the sport from that point (moving forward),” Lara said. ”Coach Thompson pulled me in and had a heart-to-heart talk with me about it. I really started buying into the process from that point forward.”

Lara placed seventh as a freshman and eighth as a sophomore at state — both respectable showings — but realized he still wasn’t reaching his potential.

”I was working hard in the offseason, but not hard enough,” Lara said. ”And I wasn’t doing everything the right way. I realized there’s a big difference between the mindset of a contender and the mindset of a champion, so I reset myself again both physically and mentally. I got serious about wanting to become the best.”

Lara posted a 47-3 record a year ago, with all three losses coming to nationally-ranked University of Iowa recruit Nelson Brands — the son of former world champion and current Hawkeye associate coach Terry Brands. Lara led Brands 8-6 after two periods in the 152-pound finals last February before eventually suffering an 11-9 setback.

”It still hurts,” Lara said of the championship loss. ”It’s been a huge motivation for me, though. Just talking about it gets me fired up and gives me the chills.

”I want to win it all now. That’s the mentality.”

Lara plans on wrestling at either 152 or 160 pounds in the 2017-18 campaign for the Dodgers, who are also slated to welcome state placewinners Teske, Bennett, Damond Lockner and Drevon Ross back to the lineup, alongside qualifiers Triston Licht, Kaden Smith, Dorian Franklin and Brooks Cowell. Fort Dodge has been the state runner-up in each of the last two years after placing third in 2015.

”Having (so much support in the program) helps me out a ton. It helps us all,” Lara said. ”There are times when you’re tired and dragging a little, but someone like Sam (Cook) or my brother or Brody has always been there to encourage everyone to pick up the pace.

”We all push each other. We all need each other.”

In addition to wrestling, Lara is a returning co-captain for the Dodger football squad. He was an all-CIML linebacker a year ago.

Lara made an instant connection with Dresser’s staff. The new head coach, a Humboldt native who comes to Ames from Virginia Tech, is ”ready to build something big from the ground up, and I want to be a part of that.”

”That’s one of the main reasons I chose Iowa State,” said Lara, who is projected to compete at either 157 or 165 for the Cyclones. ”I’m looking forward to that process of turning the program into a serious contender again. It’s going to be more hard work, but it’s work I want to do.

”I chose wrestling because I love it, and if you love the sport and truly put in the time, you will succeed.”