Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge's Tristin Doster signed with the University of Iowa’s softball program on Wednesday. Doster is pictured here with her parents, Dave and Theresa (front); her sister, Ellie (back left), her grandmother, Jackie Surles (back center); and Dodger head coach Andi Adams (back right).

Tristin Doster had plenty of options.

In the end, the dream of becoming a Div. I softball player won the heart of Fort Dodge’s all-state catcher.

Doster committed to the University of Iowa on Wednesday, accepting a partial scholarship offer to join the Hawkeye program over a number of Div. II, III, NAIA and junior college looks.

“I chose Iowa to represent the state and continually challenge myself every day with the best of the best in the game I love,” said Doster, a Dodger senior. “It will allow me a chance to see what Div. I softball is all about. And I’m in it for all of it.”

Doster officially picked head coach Renee Gillispie’s Hawkeyes over Minnesota State and DMACC. She will join her current battery mate — FDSH junior ace Jalen Adams — on the roster when Adams arrives in the fall of 2022.

“Jalen committing did help me make the decision easier, but I looked at it (in a bigger picture) as just playing with the best of the best,” Doster said. “The coaching staff (at Iowa) supported me and my decision since I told them I was going to commit. Even before I committed, they made sure to contact me after almost every game they could watch ‘live’ (on video).

“That really made a huge difference. It’s hard with COVID to actually see the coaches and schools right now, so texting allowed me to have contact with them.”

Doster has been a first team all-state selection twice as a four-year starter. She’s a career .415 hitter for Fort Dodge, with 25 home runs, 56 doubles, 153 RBI and 151 runs scored in 145 starts.

Last summer, Doster batted .535 with eight homers and 44 RBI in just 32 games. The Dodgers were the Class 5A state runner-up, advancing to the championship round for the first time in school history before losing to Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Fort Dodge has reached state in three consecutive seasons with Doster behind the plate, accumulating a record of 99-19 in the process.

“I do plan on catching in college, but I love to play other positions and adjust to any role that needs to fit,” Doster said. “I want to thank my parents and others, the coaches, my teammates and the community for having my back and always supporting us.”

Doster is the eighth Dodger athlete to commit to Iowa since 2015, joining Mallory Kilian (softball), Sam Cook (football and wrestling), Kole Kampen (baseball), Taylor Hartley (swimming), Andrew Fierke (swimming), Drake Ayala (wrestling) and Adams. Southeast Valley’s brother-sister combo of Kyler Fisher (football) and Kiersten Fisher (track) are also current Hawkeye recruits from Webster County, as well as current Jaguar junior Aaron Graves (football).