Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Jon Koenig of Fort Dodge celebrates with Alexis Ross and her father, Andre, after Ross won a girls state championship this past season.

Jon Koenig has officially been named the first head coach for the Fort Dodge Senior High girls wrestling team.

The hire was formally announced on Monday at the Fort Dodge Community School District board meeting.

“I’m super excited to take on an official role and be a part of growing the sport,” Koenig said. “I think we can do big things here.

“I sat down with Josh Porter (activities director) and coach (Bobby) Thompson (FDSH boys coach) to make a plan. It’s going to be tough at first, but we’ll build some momentum.”

Koenig has been coaching the high school girls program in an unofficial capacity for the past three seasons, which has included the development of Iowa Coaches Official Association state champion Alexis Ross — currently a junior.

“I’m excited to get things going and watch Jon work in his first head coaching job,” Porter said. “It’s a step up and it’s a tough road, with a lot of long days. We need to appreciate those types of commitments in our community, and support that to be successful.

“He will represent us well.”

After the IGHSAU announced it will sanction girls wrestling in the 2022-2023 school year during the IWCOA state finals, Koenig expressed immediate interest in the position.

Koenig, who has also been the middle school wrestling coach, was selected based on his relationship with student-athletes, knowledge of the sport and dedication to the FDCSD.

“He has a high level of care for student athletes,” Porter said. “Jon coaches multiple things and is a Dodger through and through. He’s been a great leader during this transition.”

Koenig, a Health/PE teacher at the FDMS, will focus on increasing participation numbers first and foremost.

“After the season last year, Josh approached me and said let’s look at having a girls club,” said Koenig, a 2005 St. Edmond graduate. “We had about 20 girls each night, and we hope to keep that running through the Iowa Elite (Wrestling Club).”

Porter understands the immediate challenges Koenig will face.

“We just don’t know what numbers will be like out of the gate,” Porter said. “We do know Jon will hold his student-athletes accountable.

“We have from now until November to get more girls interested. There have been some (at the high school level) who have asked questions, so I think we’ll be OK.”

During the summer months, Koenig hopes to spark more interest by offering offseason camps.

“We will have some camps and open gyms,” Koenig said. “After the school board approval, hopefully people will start to take some more interest.

“The biggest hurdle right now (in general) is a lot of schools haven’t added it as a new sport. There are a lot of things that still need to be ironed out. It’s a growing experience and we will have to take small steps.”

With Porter having a strong background in wrestling and a commitment to sports and activities at FDSH, Koenig knows he has a great ally to promote the sport.

“(Porter) is always going; he never stops,” Koenig said. “That takes a special commitment. He looks not only at athletics, but speech, choir and everything else, wanting to get the most out of every activity.

“He is putting himself out there in the community and helping make sure everything is growing. There is a lot of pride in Dodger wrestling, but he’s a huge supporter of all things FDSH.”