Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Senior Dreyzon Phillips wrestles for Fort Dodge against Ankeny on Thursday in the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Bobby Thompson likes what he has seen so far from his Dodgers on the mat, but what they have done away from it is what he loves most about the Fort Dodge wrestling program.

The fourth-ranked Dodgers earned a 37-31 victory over Ankeny in their first and only home dual of 2020.

The Dodgers won eight matches on the evening, but it wasn’t just about success on the scoreboard for Thompson’s squad in this CIML Iowa Conference dual.

“We’re better than last week,” Thompson said. “Each time out, it’s nice to see guys get better. Then we evaluate and continue to grow.

“We want to be the best we can be in February when it counts.”

First-year wrestler Pry’Shayn Mosley, a junior, was going toe-to-toe with Ankeny’s Jackson Penningroth at 195 pounds. The Fort Dodge rookie used his strength for two takedowns, which drew the attention and fire from the Fort Dodge faithful.

Mosley eventually lost the hard-fought match, but was surrounded by support from his teammates afterward. Mosley was all smiles, knowing how close he was to a victory and appreciating the strides he’d made.

“This is Pry’Shayn’s first year, so it’s nice to see him go out there and get after it,” Thompson said. “What I saw was our guys getting behind him on the bench and cheering for him. That just goes to show how much of a family we are. He comes out this year and everyone has accepted him, even though he’s never been out for wrestling. Once you’re on this team, you’re family.

“You have a Div. I recruit (Drake Ayala) cheering and coaching from the bench for one of his family members. It makes me proud. It’s exciting for Pry’Shayn to come out and compete. It just goes to show that anyone can come out try to find their niche and be a part of our program.”

The Dodgers got off to a huge head start, winning the first four matches for a 19-0 lead.

Sophomores Alex Read and Keaton Nichols wasted little time on the mat. Read, who finished third last week in Sioux City, earned a fall in 2:38 over Alex Schwiete at 220. Nichols followed that up with a first period pin in 1:30.

“We knew we were going to have some tough matches,” Thompson said. “We are actually younger at a lot of weights. Some of these guys are making the most out of their opportunity.

“We just have to work more on technique. But this team goes to show that you can’t coach heart. Our guys just naturally have it.”

Fifth-ranked freshman Dru Ayala scored a 17-3 major decision over No. 10 Ben Hansen at 106 pounds. Third-rated sophomore Max Bishop won a hard fought 3-0 decision over Fnu Maihan at 113 pounds.

In a showdown of Top-3 wrestlers, third-ranked FDSH senior Lane Cowell fell in a tight 3-1 decision to No. 2 Trever Anderson.

Following a forfeit victory for top-ranked Drake Ayala (132), freshman Damarion Ross (138) put the Dodgers up 29-7 with a 15-6 major decision over Lincoln Folkers.

Third-rated Dreyzon Phillips (145) earned a first-period fall over Cole Lansing in 1:39 at 152 pounds.

Sophomore Tucker Pederson (170) clinched the dual for the Dodgers with a hard fought 3-0 decision over No. 9 (182) Nate Nessa.

Ankeny’s top-ranked (152) Caleb Rathjen, a future Iowa Hawkeye, earned a fall over No. 4 Kody Cook at 160 pounds.

Fort Dodge’s last action before the Christmas break will be on Saturday when they host the Don Miller Invitational in the Dodger gym.

FORT DODGE 37, ANKENY 31

220 — Alex Read, FD pinned Alex Schwiete, 2:38; 285 — Keaton Nichols, FD pinned Zach Pelinski, 1:30; 106 — Dru Ayala, Fd major dec. Ben Hansen, 17-3; 113 — Max Bishop, FD dec. Fnu Maihan, 3-0; 120 — Trever Anderson, Ankeny dec. Lane Cowell, 3-1; 126 — Cael Cox, Ankeny major dec. Carter Forbes, 12-1; 132 — Drake Ayala, FD won by forfeit; 138 — Damarion Ross, FD major dec. Lincoln Folkers, 15-6; 145 — Ryan Allen, Ankeny pinned Cal Hartman, 5:09; 152 — Dreyzon Phillips, FD pinned Cole Lansing, 1:39; 160 — Caleb Rathjen, Ankeny pinned Kody Cook, 1:43; 170 — Tucker Pederson, FD dec. Nate Nessa, 3-0; 182 — Cade Bennethum, Ankeny pinned Ben Egli, 2:50; 195 — Jackson Penningroth, Ankeny pinned Pry’Shayn Mosley, 5:20.