IOWA CITY — Fort Dodge’s Luke Vaughan and Micah Flaherty didn’t want to settle for just being state qualifiers.

After losing their first match here on Tuesday, Vaughan and Flaherty fought back with two wins to earn a spot in the medal round instead of bowing out.

Vaughan and Flaherty are guaranteed at least eighth place, and could climb to as high as fifth in the bracket.

Vaughan, a senior, and Flaherty, a freshman, were playing in the Class 2A state doubles tournament for first-year head coach Scott Messerly.

The Dodger duo lost their opening match to Marion Linn-Mar’s Jake Wallrichs Zach Mersch, 6-4, 6-2.

“The first set of the opening match, they played decently,” Messerly said. “They were a little tight — more than they have been recently — but they played a lot better in the second set.

“The team they played was solid and they had to work to get the win.”

In the first round of consolation action, Vaughan and Flaherty played Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s Logan Miller and Logan Augustine. The pair fought through to earn a tight 6-4 decision in the opening set before closing out with a 6-2 win to advance to the consolation quarterfinals.

In a do-or-die clash, the Dodgers were pitted against Waukee Northwest’s Sean Sonoiki and Drew Fenton.

“It says a lot about them, showing they are fighters,” Messerly said. “They did the same things in districts, having to beat everyone to earn a spot.

“They got their heads together and figured out a good strategy, and decided they weren’t done yet.”

The Dodgers fought back and forth for a pair of 6-4 victories over their CIML Iowa Conference opponent.

Vaughan and Flaherty will now face Pleasant Valley’s Mazen Alsheikha and Gavin Pangan on Wednesday.

“It’s crazy, because before districts, they were sitting at 4-2 (overall record) because of Luke’s (mid-season) injury,” Messerly said. “They didn’t play a lot together during the season, but they do away from (varsity dual and tournament action).

“It’s great for them both to be in the state tournament. It’s every kid’s dream to be at state. Now they get to bring back a medal.”

Alsheikha and Pangan won their first match before losing to second-seed Jayden Shin and Samir Singh of Iowa City West, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4).

The Pleasant Valley pair bounced back with a 6-2, 6-1 triumph over Cedar Rapids Prairie’s JT McCrea and Anthony Schulte.

Consolation semifinal action begins at 9:30 a.m.