Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Dru Ayala of Fort Dodge took fifth place at 106 pounds last season.

The Fort Dodge wrestling team will dive right into the deep end against one of the state’s best on Thursday, facing No. 3 Southeast Polk in their season opener.

The Rams, who are 16th in the nation, will bring eight rated wrestlers into the Dodger gym.

Junior varsity action will begin at 6:30 p.m., with varsity to follow.

“We’ve been going on a long stretch of facing each other and are ready to go out and compete,” said FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson. “Southeast Polk is very competitive, which is no different than usual.”

The Dodgers enter the season with four returning state qualifiers along with No. 1 sophomore Dru Ayala (106) and fourth-ranked junior Max Bishop (113) who placed fifth and eighth, respectively, in the state meet.

Ayala reached the semifinals as a rookie and compiled a 31-6 record. Bishop picked up 21 wins and is 53-13 in his career.

Also returning is state qualifier Ben Egli (182), who is currently rated fourth. Egli was 19-12 a year ago.

For the first time in school history, the Dodgers will have a female wrestler in their lineup as well. Junior Alexis Ross is filling in for her brother, ninth-rated Damarion Ross, who is out sick.

Alexis Ross, who is 28-2 in her career, was a state runner-up in Coralville last season for the Dodgers in the girls meet.

Filling out the Dodger lineup will be sophomore Kane Butrick (120), freshman Koy Davidson (126), sophomore Gavin Doebel (132), senior Tyler Kasperbauer (145), freshman Mason Liska (152), sophomore Cal Hartman (160), junior Orion Larson-Trott (170) and junior Keaton Nichols (285). The Dodgers will be open at 195 and 220.

“We are pretty green and I hope we bring the fight and compete,” Thompson said. “We are looking to see where we are at and what we need to do.”

Southeast Polk enters with eight ranked wrestlers, six in the top-three of their respective weights.

Nate Jesuroga (120) is No. 1 at 120 pounds for Southeast Polk. Ranked second are Joel Jesuroga (145), Carson Martinson (160) and Brent Slade (170).

Carter Martinson (152) and Andrew Reed (195) are both third at their respective weights. Cooper Hanson is seventh at 132, and Jack Lewis is No. 8 at 138.

PROBABLE DODGER LINEUP

106 — Dru Ayala, so., (0-0); 113 — Max Bishop, jr., (0-0); 120 — Kane Butrick, so., (0-0); 126 — Koy Davidson, fr., (0-0); 132 — Gavin Doebel, so., (0-0); 138 — Alexis Ross, jr., (0-0); 145 — Tyler Kasperbauer, sr., (0-0); 152 — Mason Liska, fr., (0-0); 160 — Cal Hartman, so., (0-0); 170 — Orion Larson-Trott, sr., (0-0); 182 — Ben Egli, sr., (0-0); 195 — Open; 220 — Open; 285 — Keaton Nichols, jr., (0-0).