Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Colten Munter of Fort Dodge locks up Orlando Fuentes of Des Moines North/Hoover on Thursday inside the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Fort Dodge’s senior wrestling class has been a part of three state trophy teams, and on Thursday, the group of 12 wrestlers were honored in the Dodger gym.

The third-ranked Dodgers (2-0 overall) earned an 80-0 over Des Moines North/Hoover.

“This is one of the biggest and best senior groups we’ve had top to bottom,” said Fort Dodge head coach Bobby Thompson. “We’ve had strong classes in small increments, but this group is a big one.

“They came out and wrestled well and got big bonus wins.”

With a limited lineup, North/Hoover sent only seven wrestlers to the mat. Fort Dodge claimed five wins by fall, one by tech fall and another by decision.

Seniors Carson Taylor (126) and Colten Munter (285) both earned falls, while classmate Brandon Mills (145) picked up a tech fall. Seniors Savion Wheat (160), No. 9 Austin Lee (182) and fourth-ranked Levi Egli (195) all won by forfeit.

Taylor, ranked second, picked up a fall in 46 seconds over Parker Jones for 89th career victory.

Munter pinned Orlando Fuentes in 4:56, and Mills recorded a 16-0 technical fall in 2:11 over William Oldes.

Also earning pins for the Dodgers were junior Sawyer Springer (285), sophomore Caleb Caldwell (132), and junior Dylan Zimmermann (170).

Springer pinned Manny Wilson in 2:53, and Zimmermann beat Terrence Packer in 1:33.

Caldwell was competing in his first varsity match, taking the place of fourth-ranked senior regular Brooks Cowell, who is fighting through an injury.

“Caleb did a great job in his first varsity match,” Thompson said. “He competed well and picked up a fall.”

No. 5 junior Lane Cowell logged an 11-6 decision over Aime Mukiza in a fast-paced match.

Earning victories by forfeit were ninth-ranked freshman Max Bishop (106), top-rated Drake Ayala (120), No. 6 junior Dreyzon Phillips (138), and eighth-ranked junior Kody Cook (152).

Ayala’s victory was the 95th of his career.

The Dodgers will graduate a dozen seniors at season’s end: Taylor, Brooks Cowell, Whet, Munter, Lee, Egli, Mills, Jacob Laird, Lazaro Lerma, Jorge Blanco, Rilind Bllaca and Cooper Rossing. Managers Bree Campbell and Elle McClintock are also seniors.

The Dodgers head to Council Bluffs for a two-day tournament beginning Friday. The event includes 40 teams, 19 of which are ranked.

“This is a huge tournament for us,” Thompson said. “We are a little banged up, but I love the way our schedule tests us.

“We will be battle-tested (by February). I like the set up, because it forces our guys to keep their weight controlled and stay conditioned.”

Their are 30 different No. 1 wrestlers in the field. Four top-ranked individuals will compete at 145. Three No. 1s will compete at 132 pounds, 138, 152 and 160.

Action begins at 11 a.m.

FORT DODGE 80,

DES MOINES NORTH/HOOVER 0

220 — Sawyer Springer, FD pinned Manirakiza Wilson, 2:53; 285 — Colten Munter, FD pinned Orlando Fuentes, 4:56; 106 — Max Bishop, FD won by forfeit; 113 — Lane Cowell, FD dec. Aime Mukiza, 11-6; 120 — Drake Ayala, FD won by forfeit; 126 — Carson Taylor, FD pinned Parker Jones, :44; 132 — Caleb Caldwell, FD pinned Jake Rattray, 5:41; 138 — Dreyzon Phillips, FD won by forfeit; 145 — Brandon Mills, FD tech fall William Oldes, 2:11; 152 — Kody Cook, FD won by forfeit; 160 — Savion Wheat, FD won by forfeit; 170 — Dylan Zimmermann, FD pinned Terrance Packer, 1:33; 182 — Austin Lee, FD won by forfeit; 195 — Levi Egli, FD won by forfeit.