×

8 Dodgers ranked by The Predicament

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Carson Taylor of Fort Dodge wrestles in a district meet at Sioux City last season. Taylor is ranked third at 120 pounds to open his junior season.

Eight Fort Dodge wrestlers will start the season ranked at their respective weights, according to The Predicament.

The defending state champion Dodgers are fourth as a team, behind Southeast Polk, Waverly-Shell Rock and Waukee.

Sophomore Drake Ayala is the No. 1 contender at 113 pounds. Ayala was a state runner-up at 106 a year ago, going 44-2 overall.

Returning FDSH placewinners Carson Taylor (rated 3rd at 120 pounds), Drevon Ross (5th at 145), Kaden Smith (5th at 170) and Triston Licht (8th at 195) are also in the Top-10, along with Brooks Cowell (10th at 126), Kody Cook (8th at 138), and Austin Lee (9th at 182). Ross, Smith and Licht are seniors; Taylor, Cowell and Lee are juniors; and Cook is a sophomore.

Junior Levi Egli, another placewinner back from last year, will miss the season with a knee injury.

The Rams have nine rated individuals, with the Dodgers and W-SR right behind at eight.

Five of the state’s top six programs hail from the CIML’s Iowa Conference: Southeast Polk, Waukee, Fort Dodge, Valley and Mason City (sixth).

A number of area athletes also appear in the preseason Top-10 at their weights.

Spencer Trenary of Clarion-Goldfield/Dows is the No. 1 285-pounder in 2A. Justin Jones of Humboldt is seventh at that weight.

Kyler Fisher, a two-time state runner-up, is second at 195 for Southeast Valley.

The 106-pound bracket has three Messengerland competitors: Jacob Mielke of Pocahontas Area (No. 2), Cole Nelson of Humboldt (No. 7) and Camron Phetxoumphone of Webster City (No. 10).

Webster City’s Drake Doolittle is second at 120. Remington Hanson of Clarion-Goldfield/Dows is sixth at 132, Algona’s Carson Devine is eighth at 170, Bulldog teammate Cole Lewis is 10th at 195, and Xavier Nichols of Southeast Valley is eighth at 220.

At 145, Humboldt’s Joey Busse is fifth, while Reed Abbas of Clarion-Goldfield/Dows is eighth.

In Class 1A, Donovan Hanson of Manson Northwest Webster debuts at No. 2 (106 pounds). Teammate Daltin Roest is sixth at 126.

Emmetsburg has Spencer Griffin (No. 2 at 138), Mason Griffin (No. 7 at 152) and Bret Hoyman (No. 8 at 160) in the Top-10.

Chase McAlister of South Central Calhoun starts at No. 6 at 152. Joel Mendoza of Eagle Grove is fifth at 220.

East Sac County’s Garret Bruce is sixth at 160.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today