Photo by Tyler Anderson, for The Messenger: Junior Damarion Ross is ranked third at 160 pounds for Fort Dodge heading Saturday’s district tournament.

This week is exactly what the Fort Dodge wrestling team has trained for all year long.

The tough two-day tournaments, ranked opponents, national powerhouses and everything in between have built the framework for the postseason.

On Saturday, the Dodgers host a Class 3A district meet in the FDSH gym. Action begins at 10 a.m., with the finals at approximately 3 p.m.

“This is what we’ve been preparing for. Everyone is 0-0 now,” said long-time Dodger head coach Bobby Thompson. “We want to go out and wrestle and get as many qualifiers as we can get through. They just have to take care of themselves and earn a spot.

“We will show up in our home gym and hopefully get on a roll.”

Fort Dodger enters the meet as the the third-ranked squad in 3A. Joining the Dodgers in the field in the FDSH gym are West Des Moines Dowling, Le Mars, Sioux City East, Sioux CIty North, Sioux City West, Spencer, Storm Lake and West Des Moines Valley.

The top three wrestlers from each weight in all eight districts will advance to next week’s state meet in Des Moines. The tournament will run from Wednesday through Saturday.

The Dodgers enter with seven rated wrestlers. Junior Dru Ayala (No. 2 at 113), senior Max Bishop (11th at 120), junior Kane Butrick (7th at 126), sophomore Koy Davidson (No. 5 at 138), Junior Damarion Ross (No. 3 at 160), junior Cal Hartman (fifth at 170) and freshman Dreshaun Ross (No. 1 at 195) are the anchors.

Bishop (25-11) is looking to finish his career as a four-time state qualifier. The senior, who reached 100 career wins this season, finished fourth a year ago in Des Moines and eighth as a sophomore.

Junior Damarion Ross (38-3) is a two-time qualifier and was a seventh-place medalist at 138 pounds a year ago.

Ayala (31-2), a silver medalist last season, was also a fifth-place performer as a freshman. Davidson (26-5) took the mat by storm a year ago, reaching the finals and placing second as a freshman.

“The state veteran guys have to bring us along,” Thompson said. “They will be focused and ready, and through their excitement, it will hopefully catapult some of the younger guys and wrestle better than their seeds.”

The Dodgers enter the district tournament with four freshmen in the varsity lineup, led by Dreshaun Ross (37-2). Classmates Rylee Brown (25-19 at 132), Jesse Egli (21-21 at 152) and Sam Davidson (18-16 at 106) all have .500 or better records.

“This is a prime opportunity for our young guys. They have nothing to lose,” Thompson said. “Take care of your business and do your job. Take care of you.”

Valley has four ranked wrestlers in the field. Nate Bierma (126) and Chase Hutchinson (182) are both fourth. Cinsere Clark (160) is fifth and Nick Vanrkel (145) is 10th.

Dowling has three ranked grapplers. Carson Hagan (285) is rated second. Ralston Rumley (220) is fifth and Evan Pollard (182) is ninth for the Maroons.

Along with Bishop, FDSH seniors Collin Munter (19-23) and Keaton Nichols (25-13) — also a state qualifier last season — are looking to finish their careers strong.

“For our three seniors, this is the home stretch of their high school careers,” Thompson said. “They want to extend it another week. For a lot of kids, high school wrestling is as good as it gets.

“They have to wrestle to the best of their ability.”

DODGER LINEUP

106 — Sam Davidson, fr., (18-16); 113 — Dru Ayala, jr., (31-2); 120 — Max Bishop, sr., (25-11); 126 — Kane Butrick, jr., (26-14); 132 — Rylee Brown, fr., (25-19); 138 — Koy Davidson, so., (26-5); 145 — Bo Cowell, jr., (13-25); 152 — Jesse Egli, fr., (21-21); 160 — Damarion Ross, jr., (38-3); 170 — Cal Hartman, jr., (33-10); 182 — Open; 195 — Dreshaun Ross, fr., (37-2); 220 — Collin Munter, sr., (19-23); 285 — Keaton Nichols, sr., (25-13).