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FD’s Ayala digs deep to earn CB Classic title

No. 1 sophomore rallies past Minnesota state champ in finals

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Drake Ayala of Fort Dodge repeated as a Council Bluffs Classic champion on Saturday.

COUNCIL BLUFFS — Drake Ayala’s run to a second Council Bluffs Classic title was met with some adversity here Saturday evening.

Ayala showed a flair for the dramatic, though, overcoming two third period deficits to defeat Totino-Grace’s Joey Thompson in the 113-pound championship, 5-4, and remain unbeaten on the season.

The Fort Dodge sophomore, who is ranked No. 1, added to his four victories on Friday that included three pins and a technical fall by recording a technical fall in the quarters over Nebraska City’s Reid Stracke in 5:30 and a fall in 3:42 vs. Waukee’s Thurman Christensen in the semis.

Ayala, a state runner-up a season ago, handed Thompson his first loss of the year. Thompson won a state title in Minnesota last season.

“I thought I wrestled pretty well, but I still have things I need to work on,” said Ayala, who has scored bonus points in 10 of his 12 matches at this event. “I’m confident in my ability to come back, and I knew I could do it.

“All in all, (the finals) was a great match.”

Ayala’s 68 team points and 21 single match points were the seventh-most of anyone competing in the event. He also finished with 67 total match points scored.

Liberty from Missouri was crowned the overall team champion, almost 100 points ahead of Waukee. Apple Valley of Minnesota was third, Millard South from Nebraska finished fourth and Fort Dodge was 11th.

Carson Taylor reeled off three consecutive wins after a loss to Iowa City West’s Hunter Garvin in the quarters to place fifth at 120 pounds. That included a 5-2 decision over Waukee’s second-ranked Nick Miller.

Kaden Smith advanced to the 170-pound semifinals before falling ot Liberty’s Greyden Penner and Lincoln East’s Grant Lyman, concluding his tournament in fourth.

Brooks Cowell placed seventh, Lane Cowell was eighth, Brandon Mills finished 14th, Logan Finowski placed 16th, Dreyzon Phillips was 18th, Kody Cook and Savion Wheat were 19th, Dylan Zimmermann 24th and Sawyer Springer 32nd for the Dodgers.

Mills had the best seed-to-place difference, entering Friday seeded 38th overall and improving 24 positions. Cook improved 14 positions in his seed-to-finish placing.

Next action for Fort Dodge will be on Saturday when they host the Don Miller Invitational inside the FDSH gym beginning at 10 a.m.

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