Photo by Nic Ryder/IAWrestle: Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Drake Ayala jumped to No. 1 in the nation at 125 pounds for Iowa, according to InterMat.

IOWA CITY — A seventh victory over a ranked opponent already this season elevated Iowa’s Drake Ayala to new heights on Tuesday.

The three-time Fort Dodge state champion is the nation’s new No. 1 wrestler at 125 pounds, according to the InterMat publication. Ayala, a Hawkeye redshirt sophomore, has only lost once to date in 2023-24.

Ayala defeated two-time NCAA All-American Patrick McKee of Minnesota on Monday inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, 8-5. It was Ayala’s second win over McKee in the last month.

“That is a quality opponent, and we don’t go to sleep on him,” Iowa head coach Tom Brands said of McKee after the match. “Drake Ayala doesn’t go to sleep. He put himself back in that match after giving up that first takedown. (He) didn’t let the clock tick down, and then there is a mad panic crisis flurry scramble at the end. He put himself right back in the match.”

Ayala was up 5-3 late before scoring a takedown to extend his advantage and ultimately close out McKee. Ayala lost to McKee twice as a true freshman in 2021-22.

“I just wanted to set the tone early,” Ayala said after Iowa defeated the Gophers, 22-9. “(The goal is to) keep doing my job each and every time out there.

“I honestly feel like this ranking is kind of irrelevant in my mind right now, though.”

Ayala is now 11-1 this year and 35-10 in his career with the Hawkeyes. The 2021 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate also topped No. 7 Caleb Smith of Nebraska last Friday, 7-3.

This sets up a huge matchup for Ayala at home this Friday. Purdue comes to town, and Boilermaker Matt Ramos is ranked 2nd at 125 with a 15-3 record this season.

Ramos, a junior, was a national runner-up a year ago after stunning three-time Hawkeye national champion Spencer Lee in the semifinals.

There are four other potential Top-20 matchups left on the docket for Ayala at 125 before the postseason, with No. 5 Michael DeAugustino of Michigan, 14th-rated Braeden Davis of Penn State, fourth-rated Eric Barnett of Wisconsin and No. 19 Troy Spratley of Oklahoma State potentially still to come.

No. 4 Iowa is 7-0 in duals, with a 2-0 mark in the Big Ten.

Ayala notices and appreciates the continued support from the local community as his career progresses.

“I’m always super grateful for the town of Fort Dodge,” Ayala said. “There’s no place I’d rather call home.”