Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Damarion Ross of Fort Dodge handles Noah Beavers of Des Moines East on Thursday night in the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

It didn’t take long for the Fort Dodge wrestling team’s focus to turn to Saturday’s Don Miller Invitational, as the Dodgers made quick work of Des Moines East on Thursday in the FDSH gym.

Fort Dodge picked up a 54-30 victory, winning five matches on the mat and nine in all.

“It’s nice to get back into our home gym,” said Dodger head coach Bobby Thompson. “There were a few open weights, but we got some big wins.

“Kane (Butrick) and Koy (Davidson) had solid matches, where they went out and got quick falls.”

FDSH racked up four wins by fall, and the Dodgers were only in action during their victories a combined 12 minutes and 45 seconds. East picked up five wins, including four pins.

The CIML cross-conference foes were only on the mat for a total of 23 minutes and 31 seconds, combining for 10 pins and four forfeits.

After forfeit wins for Dodger standouts Dru Ayala (106) and Max Bishop (113), Butrick started the action for the Dodgers. Butrick (120) made quick work of Derek Shannon, recording a fall in 24 seconds.

Gavin Doebel (126) added a forfeit win before Davidson pinned Dorian Hilson in 1:16 at 132 pounds. Damarion Ross added a fall at 138 pounds over Noah Beavers in 2:21.

Cal Hartman (160), Orion Larson-Trott (170) and Ben Egli (182) gave the Dodgers three straight victories.

Hartman won by forfeit. Larson-Trott picked up a fall in 3:14 over Demetrious Hilson, and Egli pinned Brady Gordon in 5:29.

“It’s early, so it’s nice every time we can go out and compete and have something to work on in the locker room,” Thompson said. “We are about to wrap up the first part of our schedule and head into the holiday break with some valuable experience.”

Fort Dodge will wrap up the 2021 portion of its schedule with a strong field in the Dodger gym on Saturday. Joining FDSH will be area schools Humboldt, Webster City and Emmetsburg.

Also in attendance will be Ankeny Centennial, Creston, Decorah, Council Bluffs Lewis Central, Mason City, Sioux City East, Spirit Lake Park and Storm Lake.

The Don Miller Invitational will begin at 10 a.m.

FORT DODGE 54, DES MOINES EAST 30

106 — Dru Ayala, FD won by forfeit; 113 — Max Bishop, FD won by forfeit; 120 — Kane Butrick, FD pinned Derek Shannon, :24; 126 — Gavin Doebel, FD won by forfeit; 132 — Koy Davidson, FD pinned Dorian Hilson, 1:16; 138 — Damarion Ross, FD pinned Noah Beavers, 2:21; 145 — Zack Niederklopfer, DME pinned Hunter Richardson, 3:29; 152 — Daniel Zeoh, DME pinned Mason Liska, 1:00; 160 — Cal Hartman, FD won by forfeit; 170 — Orion Larson-Trott, FD pinned Demetrious Hilson, 3:14; 182 — Ben Egli, FD pinned Brady Gordon, 5:29; 195 — Sean Shehan, DME pinned Kaden Lynch, 3:14; 220 — Nick Scott, DME won by forfeit; 285 — Nelson Castellanos, DME pinned Keaton Nichols, 3:04.