The Dodgers have brought home 11 team trophies since 2015, including both the traditional state title and state dual championship in 2018. Fort Dodge had runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2017, with third place showings in 2015, 2019 and 2020.

On the dual side, head coach Bobby Thompson and the Dodgers had runner-up trophies in 2016 and 2017, with a fourth-place effort in 2019 and this year’s bronze medal.

Fort Dodge has racked up 12 individual state titles and added seven more silver medals. The Dodgers earned 51 medals in all this decade.

With a barrage of Dodger talent to choose from, picking an all-decade team was a tough task. So many candidates were deserving.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Drake Ayala of Fort Dodge celebrates after defeating Cedar Rapids Prairie Austin Kegley during class 3A Championship on Saturday inside Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines

FIRST TEAM

Brody Teske, 2018

Teske led the charge during Fort Dodge’s resurgence on the mat in 2015, starting a string of individual titles for the Dodgers that has now reached six consecutive seasons.

Throughout his career, Teske took care of nearly opponent in his path. He finished as Fort Dodge’s all-time wins leader with 177 career victories and only one defeat, holding a .994 win percentage. He became the school’s first-ever four-time state champion.

The Dodger star is one of only 28 wrestlers in the state of Iowa to win four state titles. Teske won titles at 106, 113, 120 and 126 pounds.

For his accomplishments on the mat, Teske was named the 2018 Schultz Award winner at FDSH, given annually to the school’s top athlete.

As a junior, he was named the 2017 Dan Gable Mr. Wrestler of the Year in Class 3A.

Teske continued his wrestling career at Penn State before transferring to Northern Iowa this past season, where he has joined former teammates Triston Lara, Cayd Lara and Drew Bennett.

Drake Ayala, current

Drake Ayala still has more to accomplish in his high school career, but as one of the nation’s top Div. I college recruits, the junior’s story as a prominent figure in the sport is well under way.

In his first three seasons as a Dodger, Ayala has competed in three state championship matches. As a freshman he finished second only to University of Iowa recruit Cullan Schirever of Mason City. Ayala then claimed the 113-pound title as a sophomore, and gold at 120 this year.

Through three seasons, Ayala boasts a 135-2 overall record and is already seventh on the FDSH all-time win list. He has reeled off 93 straight victories, compiling perfect seasons of 45 and 48 wins in the last two years.

Heading into his senior campaign, the nation’s top-rated 120-pounder has already announced he will continue his wrestling career as an Iowa Hawkeye in college.

Triston Lara, 2017

Triston Lara finished his storied Dodger career with two state crowns and four medals in as many seasons.

The current University of Northern Iowa wrestler competed in three straight state finals, starting at the end of his sophomore year. He finished as a runner-up in his first run, but claimed the 126-pound title and the 138 pound championship in his final two campaigns.

As a freshman, Lara placed fourth. His career mark was 170-12 — currently third best all-time for overall victories at FDSH behind Teske and his brother, Cayd.

Lara earned the Schultz Award in 2017.

Sam Cook, 2016

Sam Cook was a standout for the Dodgers in the wrestling room and on the football field.

On the mat, Cook won two state championships — both at 195 pounds — while compiling a career mark of 162-19. The wins are the fourth-most in school history.

In his sophomore season, Cook placed third. He followed that up with championships in 2015 and 2016.

Cook, an elite all-state running back, was named Fort Dodge’s Schultz Award winner for his class as the top senior in 2016.

After high school, Cook walked on with the University of Iowa football team to play for coach Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes.

Cook then finished up his college career with Iowa head coach Tom Brands on the mat.

Drew Bennett, 2018

Drew Bennett was constantly climbing for Fort Dodge, finishing fifth on the all-time wins list with a career mark of 153-8.

Bennett capped his career with a state championship at 132 pounds. The current University of Northern Iowa Panther broke into the Dodger lineup as a sophomore and placed third in back-to-back seasons. FDSH captured the 2018 team and dual state crowns with Bennett leading the way as a senior.

Carson Taylor, 2020

Carson Taylor made a name for himself as part of the state championship team in 2018 as a sophomore. He grabbed a fifth-place showing, then reached his goal of winning a state title at the end of his junior year at 120 pounds.

Taylor finished his career as a state runner-up at 126 pounds this year. He is tied for 13th on Fort Dodge’s all-time win charts with 121 victories.

Taylor will continue his wrestling career at Grand View University.

Cayd Lara, 2018

Cayd Lara finished his career as a two-time finalist and four-time medalist for the Dodgers.

Lara compiled a record of 175-25 — second to only Teske on the all-time charts for prep victories at FDSH.

Lara reached the state finals as both a junior and senior.

In his freshman and sophomore seasons, Lara was seventh and eighth, respectively. The Dodgers were state champions in both traditional and duals during Lara’s senior campaign.

Lara is currently wrestling at the University of Northern Iowa.

Damond Lockner, 2018

Damond Lockner was a three-time state medalist for the Dodgers, finishing his Dodger career with an overall record of 132-33. His win total is the ninth-most ever at FDSH.

Lockner had two eighth-place state showings — as a sophomore and a senior — and a fourth place medal as a junior. The Dodgers were state champs during his senior campaign.

Lockner continued his career at Iowa Central.

Erik Birnbaum, 2015

Erik Birnbaum was a two-time medalist and a three-time state qualifier for the Dodgers.

Birnbaum was the school’s all-time wins leader by the end of his career, compiling a career mark of 137-38. The son of Hall of Fame Dodger head coach Ed Birnbaum was fifth in both 2013 and 2015. He was a state qualifier in 2014 as well.

Fort Dodge was third at state during Birnbaum’s senior campaign, where he served as the team capatin.

Drevon Ross, 2019

Drevon Ross was a three-time state medalist for the Dodgers, winning 100 matches in his career.

As a freshman, Ross placed eighth. He followed that up with a sixth- and fourth-place showing as an upperclassman.

Ross continued his career at Iowa Central.

Levi Egli, 2020

Egli’s junior season ended before it began after a knee injury took away the entire year, but he bounced back in his final campaign with a bronze medal.

As a sophomore, Egli took fifth as a key component of the Dodgers’ dual and traditional state championship teams.

SECOND TEAM

Duke Egli, 2013

Duke Egli was a three-time state qualifier. He finished third as a senior and also took eighth, while winning 111 career matches.

Egli continued his career as a walk-on with the Iowa State University wrestling program.

Jonah Egli, 2016

Egli was a two-time state medalist for the Dodgers, finishing fifth and sixth. He is eighth on the all-time win list with a career mark of 133-42 at FDSH.

Egli wrestled at Iowa Central, and is now at Morningside.

Brooks Cowell, 2020

Brooks Cowell was a 100-match winner and three-time state qualifier. He earned fifth- and eighth-place medals at state.

Lane Cowell

, current

Lane Cowell has one year left as a Dodger, and he has already claimed two state medals. In 2020, Cowell placed seventh. He took fourth as a junior.

A DECADE OF FORT DODGE MEDALISTS

2010-2011

Matt Birnbaum, 5th; Levi Peters 2nd.

2011-2012

Brayton Taylor, 7th; Duke Egli, 8th.

2012-2013

Erik Birnbaum, 5th; Duke Egli, 3rd; Riley Prescott, 8th.

2013-2014

Triston Lara, 4th; Sam Cook, 3rd.

2014-2015

Brody Teske, 1st; Sam Cook, 1st; Triston Lara, 2nd; Erik Birnbaum, 5th; Jonah Egli, 6th; Cayd Lara, 7th; Keenan Cook, 8th.

2015-2016

Triston Lara, 1st; Sam Cook, 1st; Brody Teske, 1st; Drew Bennett, 3rd; Jonah Egli, 5th; Damond Lockner, 8th; Cayd Lara, 8th.

2016-2017

Brody Teske, 1st; Triston Lara, 1st; Cayd Lara, 2nd; Drew Bennett, 3rd; Damond Lockner, 4th; Drevon Ross, 8th.

2017-2018

Drake Ayala, 2nd; Carson Taylor, 5th; Brody Teske, 1st; Drew Bennett, 1st; Drevon Ross, 6th; Damond Lockner, 8th; Cayd Lara, 2nd; Levi Egli, 5th; Triston Licht, 8th.

2018-2019

Lane Cowell, 4th; Drake Ayala, 1st; Carson Taylor, 1st; Brooks Cowell, 5th; Drevon Ross, 4th.

2019-2020

Lane Cowell, 7th; Drake Ayala,1st; Carson Taylor, 2nd; Brooks Cowell, 8th; Dreyzon Phillips, 2nd; Brandon Mills, 6th; Kody Cook, 6th; Levi Egli, 3rd.

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