Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge junior Damarion Ross works his way toward a victory in the 160-pound quarterfinals on Thursday night at the state wrestling meet inside Wells Fargo Arena. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — Dru Ayala is on a mission.

Ayala has been a one-man wrecking crew in the 113-pound bracket to reach his third straight semifinal at the state wrestling tournament.

The Fort Dodge junior will be joined by classmate Damarion Ross and freshman Dreshaun Ross in the semis.

In his Thursday night quarterfinal, the top-seeded Ayala (27-6) ran through Linn-Mar’s eighth-seed Malik DeBow (32-6) by a 24-9 technical fall in 5:33. In his opening-round match on Wednesday, Ayala earned a fall.

Ayala, a state runner-up last year, will now face No. 5 Ryker Graff (33-7) of Waverly-Shell Rock.

“Dru just goes out there and gets the job done,” said FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson. “He’s just very focused. He is wrestling at an elite, relentless pace right now.”

The Dodgers enter the blood round with three semifinalists and three more on the backside, one win from the medal round.

Fourth-seed Koy Davidson (138), freshman Sam Davidson (106) and junior Cal Hartman (170) are closing in on the podium.

The Dodgers (58.5) are currently in 10th place in the Class 3A team race. Waverly-Shell Rock (101) is out in front, followed by Southeast Polk (86.5) and Bettendorf (77.5).

Damarion Ross (42-3), who is in his third state trip after a seventh-place finish a year ago, will compete in the semis for the first time in his career.

“It’s an awesome feeling making the semis for the first time, but I definitely am approaching this match the same way as any other match,” Damarion said. “I know everyone is at this tournament with the same goal. We all want to make the finals and get the top spot.”

The top-seed at 160 pounds opened up his offense and earned a 10-1 major decision over ninth-seed Gerald Norton (31-13) of Cedar Falls on Thursday.

“Damarion wrestled well and opened up his style,” Thompson said. “He got a major decision by getting points and keeping the pace up.

“He is very focused and has looked good. He is dangerous when he wrestles his pace.”

Ross, who now has 97 career wins, will face a familiar opponent in West Des Moines Valley’s fifth-seed Cinsere Clark (35-7). Ross is 5-0 this season against Clark, and recently beat him in TB-1 of the district championship.

“I’ve had a good amount of matches with Cinsere and I’m going to go out there with the same mindset as the previous meetings,” Ross said.

As a junior and with his brother by his side, Damarion is enjoying the time.

“The fact that I have my brother (Dreshaun) by my side definitely helps out,” Damarion said. “Everyone loves winning but doing it with him by my side with the same results makes it all that much better.”

In his inaugural prep season, Dreshaun Ross (42-2) reached the semis after an 11-4 decision over sixth-seed Isaac Thacher (40-8) of Fort Madison.

“Making the semis is definitely a relief. One step closer,” Ross said. “I’ve been on some big stages in the past, but there’s not much that beats the atmosphere in this arena.

“I know that my support system is huge and there are not many fans better than the Dodgers.”

Wrestling with his brother has been an added bonus.

“My biggest fan is definitely my brother. He’s in the same position as me,” Dreshaun siad. “I know he’s just as excited for me as I am for him, and that helps a lot.

“He’s been there since day one, and I can’t wait for us to try and reach the top together.”

Ross, the third seed, will meet second-seed Harrison Gibson (21-6) of Southeast Polk. Gibson has a fall and a major decision in the tourney.

“Dreshaun wrestled well, but he was disappointed in his own performance,” Thompson said. “The kid was kind of stalling throughout the match and threw the pace off.”

Koy Davidson (29-6), a state runner-up a year ago lost a tight 10-6 match to Bondurant-Farrar’s fifth-seed Nolan Fellers (34-2) — the son of 2001 FDSH graduate and former state bronze medalist Adam Fellers.

It was a back-and-forth match between the two in the 138 pound quarterfinal. Fellers held an 8-6 lead as Davidson tried a move late that Fellers turned into another takedown.

“Koy’s match was tight all the way around in what was a little bit of a clash of styles,” Thompson said. “(Fellers) tried to upper body and tie up with a Russian tie. He got us in a throw position and we had to bail.

“Fellers is a tough opponent.”

Davidson will head to the backside where he’ll need one win for a medal. He will face No. 8 Donovan Card (32-13) of Norwalk next on Friday.

Sam Davidson (106) — the younger brother of Koy — and Hartman (170) are both now one win away from a state medal. The state newcomers rebounded and won two matches each on the backside.

Davidson (24-16) picked up a 13-6 decision over Bettendorf’s No. 11 Jayden Luna (26-18). He then pinned West Des Moines Dowling’s No. 13 Wyatt Heffron (19-8) in 3:22.

Next up for the freshman is No. 8 junior Reid Foster (40-6) of Bondurant-Farrar.

“Sam had two good wins and a decision over a kid that pinned us at state duals and had a fall over the Dowling kid who was the No. 1 seed we beat at districts,” Thompson said. “In a typical year, Sammy would already be on the podium.”

Hartman (38-12) earned a 9-0 major decision over Urbandale’s 24th-seed Cain Tigges (20-22) and then beat Bettendorf’s 16th-seed Armon Williams (13-7) by a 5-2 count. Up next in the blood round for Hartman is 14th seed Asa Hemsted (41-6) of Carlisle.

“It’s going to be a big first round (on Friday),” Thompson said. “Everyone is tough at this point.”

After winning one match on the consolation side, FDSH senior Max Bishop (120) and junior Kane Butrick (126) were eliminated from the tournament. Bishop (30-13), a four-time state qualifier and two-time medalist, pinned No. 23 Jose Mendieta (18-29) of Clear Creek-Amana in 15 seconds. Bishop lost by fall in 3:27 to Ankeny Centennial’s 17th-seed Payton Bright (34-18).

“Max obviously wanted to get on the podium,” Thompson said. “He has given a lot to this program. He was winning the match and just caught.

“It wasn’t his week and it’s a match he would want back.”

Butrick (29-17) won his first match by medical forfeit before losing 6-4 in SV-1 to Dowling’s 13th-seeded Sevastian Soto (24-11).

Freshman Rylee Brown (132) and Jesse Egli (152) lost their consolation matches. Brown (28-22) fell to Spencer’s No. 14 Wyatt Heying (27-15), 8-0. Egli (24-25) dropped an 11-2 major decision to Bondurant-Farrar’s seventh-seed Jack Lewis (41-7).

“To make it here as a freshman means something,” Thompson said. “To get down here and get your feet wet will make you hungry for next year. They are disappointed in not getting on the podium. That’s the program’s expectations.

“Kane has one more year to come down here and get the medal he wants.”

Class 3A semifinals and two consolation rounds will begin at 6 p.m. inside Wells Fargo Arena.

“It’s a little disappointing in that we thought we could have had more guys in the blood round,” Thompson said. “But we have three on the front and three on the back that are still climbing.”