Submitted photo: Dreshaun Ross of Fort Dodge stands with his state AAU gold medal in Des Moines.

Dreshaun Ross of Fort Dodge recently completed a rare feat to end his in-state youth career where it began: at the top of the podium.

Ross, an eighth-grader at Fort Dodge Middle School, captured his his sixth consecutive Iowa AAU kids championship after pinning his way to the 189-pound title in Des Moines. Four of his five falls came in under two minutes.

The 14-year-old Ross, who currently weighs 180 pounds, stuck Jackson Kounkel of Hinton for gold in 2:13. He is just the eighth wrestler in state AAU history to secure six titles, joining an elite list of Ryan Morningstar (1996-2001), Trent Paulson (1993-98), Jimmy Waters (1998-2003), Brandon Sorensen (2004-09), Nolan Hellickson (2006-11), Cullan Schriever (2010-16) and Max Magayna (2015-20).

“Winning AAU has always been one of my goals, so I’m glad to accomplish that,” Ross said. “Now that I’m done with the youth part of my wrestling career, I have set new goals, like making a World team this summer and being a Fargo All-American.

“I’m excited to move on to high school wrestling next year with my brother (junior-to-be Damarion) and sister (senior-to-be state champion Alexis).”

Last summer, Ross took both the Freestyle and Greco-Roman national championships in his 165-pound 14U bracket at Wisconsin Dells.

In 2021, Ross secured his fifth Reno Worlds crown, which also locked up his fifth Trinity Award — a prestigious honor which goes to a wrestler who wins gold at the distinguished Kickoff Classic, Tulsa Nationals and Reno World events. Ross became the first Iowan ever to accrue six titles at Tulsa Nationals, and also has six Kickoff Classic trophies to his credit.

Ross was an eight-time finalist and six-time champ at Tulsa Nationals.

Fort Dodge’s Hudson Burns and Makayla Liska both clinched AAU titles as well in Des Moines. Burns topped fellow Fort Dodger Lane McClintock in overtime to prevail in the 3rd-4th grade 50-pound bracket. Liska earned gold in her 5th-6th grade division.

Four other Fort Dodge athletes brought home bronze medals: Jesse Egli (7th-8th grade), Luke Fierke (7th-8th), Knox Ayala (5th-6th) and Damien Yeoman (5th-6th).

At the Super Pee-Wee state tournament in Waterloo, Louis Taylor of Fort Dodge won the 2nd grade 46-pound championship. It’s the third title at the event for Taylor.

Urijah Ayala (2nd grade, 56) was a runner-up. Clete Stucky (kindergarten, 55) was seventh.

Emmett Van Waes of Manson (kindergarten, 50) was third.