Submitted photo 2018 Henry W. Schultz winner Brody Teske with his parents, Wendy and Dan. The Schultz Award is given annually to the top male athlete at Fort Dodge Senior High.

No one in the history of Fort Dodge Senior High athletics won quite like Brody Teske.

Yet the 2018 Henry W. Schultz Award recipient never prioritized trophies or titles over the sweat equity it took to get there.

The Dodgers’ first-ever four-time state wrestling champion experienced very little adversity in the public eye, losing only once in his entire prep career while collecting individual honors in unprecedented fashion. On the surface, the Schultz Award — given annually for the last 93 years to FDSH’s top male senior athlete — was simply the latest and last accomplishment for Teske as a high schooler.

The Penn State University recruit didn’t focus on the payoff before the process, though.

”It wasn’t expected,” said Teske, who posted a 177-1 overall record. ”But I never ‘expected’ anything. It was all a part of the journey. I had a list of goals, and by the end, this just happened to fall into place for me. If you do the right things, good things will happen.

”It’s not just about having talent or being (physical capable). That only takes you so far. You can’t get caught up in winning or protecting (a reputation) that it makes you look better or feel better than you actually are. There are no shortcuts to being the best version of yourself that you can be, and that’s a never-ending struggle. It takes time, commitment and patience.”

Teske burst onto the scene as a freshman in the final month of 2014 and never looked back. Not only was his personal resume impeccable — culminating in spectacular state-title performances at 106, 113, 120 and 126 pounds at the end of each respective season — but the Fort Dodge wrestling program also went from a state heavyweight, to a true contender, and finally, an undisputed champion this past February.

Spearheaded by the gold-medal performances of Teske and classmate Drew Bennett, the Dodgers climbed back to the top of Iowa’s large-class mountain for the first time since 1985. FDSH placed third in Teske’s freshman year, second during his sophomore and junior campaigns, and won it all in 2018.

”It was a really special time in my life,” Teske said of this four-year journey. ”I’ll cherish it forever. At the end of the day, we can always say we earned everything we got. And we did it the right way.”

The Class of 2018 had plenty of Schultz Award contenders. Teske was one of four Div. I recruits, joining wrestling teammates Bennett (University of Northern Iowa) and Cayd Lara (UNI). Andrew Fierke is headed to the University of Iowa to swim.

Lara and Fierke were both state runner-ups this past winter.

All-state standouts Trey Mosley (Grand View University) and Malcolm Clayton (Iowa Lakes Community College) starred in football and basketball, respectively, while Tyrnan Lara (Iowa Central Community College) was an all-conference football and baseball player.

”Our class had so many deserving candidates,” Teske said. ”Great athletes and great people. We grew up doing everything together. They’re my best friends for life. Just like I’m honored to be among all the great names a part of the history of the Schultz Award, I’m also blessed to always be remembered alongside my classmates.”

Teske is in Happy Valley now after enrolling for the summer semester to get an early start on his time as a Nittany Lion.

”Basically all of the freshman athletes are here, getting adjusted and acclimated to college life,” said Teske, the son of Dan and Wendy Teske. ”I’ve met people from all over the world. I love it here.”

As for his initial impression of the PSU mat room, Teske said, ”I’ll have to fight tooth and nail to earn every inch I gain.”

”I’m a student of the sport. I love to learn,” Teske said. ”What better place than (that of the program that has won seven of the last eight national championships)? I’ll be honest: I have a long way to go. This is a whole new ballgame. I’m super frustrated right now, but I’m basically starting over, so it’s all a matter of keeping my (development and improvement) in perspective.

”I wrestled (head coach and Iowa State legend) Cael (Sanderson on Tuesday). I’m getting whipped right now, but that’s all a part of the process. Tyrnan FaceTimed me the other day and asked me if I ever get star struck. I guess I don’t really think about that; I’m just going to keep working until I prove that I belong here, which is no different than it’s ever been. To truly be successful, I feel like you have to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations until you find your comfort zone.”

Though Teske now lives nearly 1,000 miles away, his motivation is always a quick thought or memory away.

”Every time I need (to find inspiration), I just think of my friends and family and everyone who supported me there through the years,” Teske said. ”That gets me up and keeps me going. I’m doing this not just for me, but for them. (The Fort Dodge area) will always be home.”

SCHULTZ AWARD WINNERS

2018, Brody Teske

2017, Triston Lara

2016, Sam Cook

2015, Austin Halligan

2014, Andrew Stover

2013, Tyler Vaughn

2012, Ben Schnurr

2011, Levi Peters

2010, Jay Johnson

2009, Tyler Wingerson

2008, Sam Wiss

2007, Reid Branderhorst

2006, Mitch Eslick

2005, Zach Mason and Spencer Cady

2004, Chase Holmgaard

2003, Kurtis Taylor

2002, Seth Zehr and Dan Taylor

2001, Nik Moser

2000, Brad Klein

1999, Josh Porter

1998, Matt Salvatore

1997, Terry Reiners

1996, Mark Rial

1995, Randy Reiners

1994, Nick Lara

1993, Alonzo Clayton

1992, Darin Astor

1991, Rick Pederson

1990, Don Stahl

1989, Joe Bennett

1988, Brad Bruhl

1987, Bob Edwards

1986, Rob Rhodes

1985, Brian Lomica

1984, Randy Reitsma

1983, Mark Huffman

1982, Jon Crouch and Ted Camamo

1981, Bill Reed

1980, Brad Huseman and Steve Harder

1979, Mike Jorgensen

1978, Keith Yoder

1977, Dave Wilson

1976, Bart Warren

1975, Pat Lynch and Randy Kolbe

1974, David Hanson

1973, Craig Michehl

1972, Joel Suhr

1971, Tim Sweeney

1970, Tom Walters

1969, Bruce Edmundson

1968, Kent Magnusson

1967, Bruce Presley

1966, James Egge

1965, Tom Goodman

1964, Kent Osboe

1963, Tom Chapman, Jr.

1962, John Shierholz

1961, Mike Stitt

1960, Jack Allen

1959, Dennis Hobbs

1958, Sherwyn Thorson

1957, Ronald Fitzgerald

1956, James Rohden

1955, Thomas Schwieger

1954, Joseph Camamo

1953, Frank Johnston

1952, John Groff

1951, Connie Gerdes

1950, John Tarr

1949, Harry Kiliper

1948, James Fitch

1947, Richard Fevold

1946, George Constantine

1945, George Knack

1944, Richard Woodward

1943, Richard Muhl

1942, John Wold

1941, Bruce Lefler

1940, Richard Johnson

1939, Arthur Johnson

1938, Donald Tepfer

1937, Roger Isaacson

1936, Robert Wasem

1935, Thomas L. Hill and John Rhodes

1934, Richard Wasem

1933, Chuck Heileman

1932, Robert Larson

1931, Fordyce Crouch

1930, George Harless

1929, Willard Minkel

1928, Samuel Etzel

1927, Andrew Pontius

1926, Rupert Fitzgerald

1925, David Brown