Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Dreyzon Phillips of Fort Dodge celebrates after defeating Burlington Notre Dame's Grifen Molle on Friday in Des Moines. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — Dreyzon Phillips has quickly and quietly become one of the best wrestlers in the state.

On Friday afternoon, Phillips was anything but quiet.

After pinning third-ranked Grifen Molle (44-5) of Burlington-Notre Dame to advance to the 138 pound state championship, the emotions flooded out of the ascending Dodger junior.

“It was very emotional. I started crying once I hugged Thomps (head coach Bobby Thompson),” Phillips said. “I couldn’t help but cry, pointing to my parents, grandma and grandpa and uncle in the stands.”

The match didn’t necessarily follow the gameplan from the start, as Phillips fell into a 4-0 hole after a takedown and two nearfall points. Phillips (41-7) cut into the deficit with an escape and a takedown late in the second period.

Phillips quickly turned the tide of the match with a fall 10 seconds (4:10) into the final frame.

“At first I got a little worried (being down 4-0), but I looked at my coaches and they told me to stay calm and do what I do best,” Phillips said. “I had a tilt on him and was getting back points off the tilt. I kept scooting my feet and got the fall.”

In the quarterfinal, is was business as usual for the second-ranked Dodger as he earned a 15-3 major decision over Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Ashtin Falck. Through his three matches at state, Phillips has two falls and a major decision. He also picked up a fall and major at state duals on Friday.

“I’ve said it before: Dreyzon just keeps getting better and better. He’s bought into the lifestyle,” Thompson said. “Trailing 4-0, he got more focused and put him in a tilt and earned the fall.

“That kid he faced (Molle) is tough.”

Now Phillips, classmate Drake Ayala, and senior Carson Taylor will make it three Dodgers in the state finals.

“I’m really excited to be (in the championship round) with Drake and Carson,” Phillips said. “They’ve been guiding me through it, and I can’t wait to experience that moment.”

Standing in front of Phillips is nationally-ranked Ankeny’s Caleb Rathjen (42-1), who is 10th in the nation. Rathjen is a junior defending state champion and was a runner up as a freshman.

Rathjen earned a 10-4 win over Phillips earlier this season.

“Against Rathjen, Dreyzon has to try to control the tempo and the ties,” Thompson said. “He is the underdog, but on the big stage — under the lights — anything can happen.”

Finals start at 6 p.m. inside Wells Fargo Arena.