-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Carter Forbes of Fort Dodge wrestles against St. Edmond Rick XU during St. Edmond Duals on Saturday

The Fort Dodge junior varsity wrestling team tested its strength against varsity competition, and the Dodgers didn’t disappoint.

Fort Dodge finished 4-1 in the St. Edmond Duals to placed second. The Dodgers defeated St. Edmond (75-6), AGWSR (49-29), Roland-Story (41-33) and Southeast Valley (41-27).

Carter Forbes (120) went 5-0 on the day and earned team MVP honors. Forbes picked up three falls and two decisions.

“Carter wrestled really well,” said Fort Dodge JV coach Tom McClimon. “Carter would be a starter on any other team, but we have a pretty good 120-pounder (in Drake Ayala). Carter is a really good wrestler and competed very well against varsity competition.

“As a team we wrestled hard and strong.”

Tucker Pederson (145) also won five matches: three by fall, a major decision and a forfeit victory.

Trey Kasperbauer (138), Scott Boro (106), Caleb Caldwell (126) and Jacob Laird (285) had three victories. Kasperbauer had a pin, decision and forfeit, while Caldwell had two falls and a decision. Boro had three forfeits.

Laird, a senior for the Dodgers, picked up three falls and his only loss (3-1) was to West Hancock’s second-ranked Chandler Redenius by a single point.

“Jacob really had a good day,” McClimon said. “He picked up three falls and competed well against a highly-ranked kid. Tucker had a good day as well.

“We had some guys step up for the team and suck down to fit in at some weights to get a full lineup.”

Southeast Valley, went 2-3 on the day, earning victories over Roland-Story (45-33) and St. Edmond (66-6).

Coltan Brant (152) had a big tournament for the Jaguars, earning three wins, all by fall.

Caelan Oakes (113) and Jonah Siebert (145) had three victories each. Oakes had a fall, major and decision. Siebert picked up a fall, decision and a forfeit.

Max Miller (138), Jaxon Carlson (182), Lathe Muench (160), Harley Bryson (182) and Wyatt Sprecher (126) had two victories each.

“Overall all we wrestled well,” said Southeast Valley had coach Jeff Miller. “AGWSR was a close dual where we got turned on the mat in a couple of matches and couldn’t get out of it.

“We are learning new things each time out.”