Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Cal Hartman of Fort Dodge takes on Cole Norris of Des Moines Roosevelt on Tuesday evening in the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Presented with an opportunity to impress from a different perspective here on Tuesday, the Fort Dodge wrestling squad took full advantage in a 71-9 victory over Des Moines Roosevelt.

The Dodgers recorded six pins and a technical fall to flank five forfeit victories over the Roughriders. Head coach Bobby Thompson’s lineup, loaded with underclassmen, took care of business to kickstart a busy week of action.

“We wrestled with an intensity and a purpose,” Thompson said. “Sometimes you just try to show up and kind of let your guard down when you know it’s (going to be a lopsided win either way). We didn’t do that (last night). It was good to see our guys fight and scrap without taking anything for granted.”

Sophomores Cal Hartman, Gavin Doebel and Kane Butrick earned wins that caught Thompson’s attention. Hartman (17-10) stuck seventh-ranked Cole Norris of Roosevelt, a senior, to end the second period at 160 pounds.

“Cal had a big fall,” Thompson said. “He was down 2-1 then got a tough ride on him and ended up getting him turned. He made some adjustments and got an important win for his confidence and to build some momentum (moving forward).”

Doebel (7-16) defeated Jaxson Holec by fall at 132 in 2:51. Butrick (7-7) worked over Ben Wiederaenders with a 16-0 technical fall in three minutes flat at 120.

“It’s great to see the underclassmen show aggressiveness and get in and out the way they did,” Thompson said. “It’s always difficult for a (ninth or 10th grader) to be ready night in and night out as a varsity wrestler; you tend to go through a lot of highs and lows. But they’re all getting there and showed some nice, positive gains. That’s what it’s all about.”

Second-ranked freshman Koy Davidson (20-6 at 126), junior Orion Larson-Trott (13-13 at 170), senior Ben Egli (17-10 at 182) and senior Kaden Lynch (6-7 at 195) all tallied pins as well. No. 2 Dru Ayala (23-2 at 106), Ty’shon Mikesell (1-0 at 113), eighth-ranked Damarion Ross (17-2 at 138), Connor Ely (2-5 at 220) and Keaton Nichols (14-10 at 285) all won by forfeit.

Fort Dodge returns to action on Thursday at Ankeny Centennial. Dodger junior Alexis Ross will compete beginning on Friday in the IWCOA girls state meet in Coralville.