—Submitted photo Fort Dodge’s Alexis Ross has her hand raised after qualifying for the first IGHSAU state sanctioned girls wrestling state tournament.

SIOUX CITY — This wrestling season has been full of new adventures and stops at Fort Dodge, but for Alexis Ross, it was business as usual.

The Dodger senior has enjoyed the first full year of sanctioned girls wrestling and having a team by her side, but now, the defending IWCOA state champion and three-time medalist has tunnel vision for the final chapter of her career.

“Alexis knows what she wants and she is going to go get it,” said Fort Dodge head coach Jon Koenig. “She is just laser focused. During the season, it’s about getting work in and perfecting things.

“Now it’s tunnel vision. Going out and competing and getting the win to move forward.”

On Friday, Ross claimed a Super Regional 135-pound championship, advancing her to the state meet for the chance at a repeat.

“It feels great to go back for one last year and aim to bring back another state title,” Ross said. “I’m also really excited for my teammates and excited that they get to have this experience, and I can show them the ropes of everything for their first year and my last.”

Ross (32-2) took care of business, winning all three of her matches by fall in the first period. In the quarterfinals, she pinned Pocahontas Area’s Nataley Ferk in 44 seconds, before knocking off Humboldt’s Claire Weydert in 1:41.

“I feel her early losses this year have helped her a lot,” Koenig said. “Did she want to go undefeated? Sure, but those losses made her not want to feel that way again and you saw that on Friday.

“She went out and handled business. It will make her better next week.”

In the finals, Ross recorded a fall in 1:05 over Denison-Scheleswig’s Angie Rivera to claim the 135-pound crown.

“This whole year has been a great experience and lots of fun to have a team and many new things like regionals and a dual,” Ross said. “I’m happy I ended my last season in high school with all of these great new things for Iowa women’s wrestling.”

Ross will now compete in the state meet this Thursday and Friday in Coralville inside the Xtream Arena.