Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Cal Hartman of Fort Dodge controls Waukee’s Gavin Steger on Tuesday in a regional final inside the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Earning a state dual berth turned out to be a little easier than Fort Dodge thought.

The fourth-ranked Dodgers (10-2 overall) dismantled No. 22 Waukee, 61-4 on Tuesday, to move into the Class 3A state duals field for a second straight season and seventh time in the last eight years.

“It was a good team effort,” said FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson. “This is a great thing for our team to be able to compete at state all together. For those that don’t make the traditional tournament, this gives them a chance to be able to compete together.

“This is a reflection of our guys’ focus, and what they want to achieve.”

The Warriors pulled off a huge come-from-behind victory over No. 14 Carlisle to advance to the finals earlier in the evening.

Waukee was trailing 33-23 heading into the 190-pound match. Waukee’s Beckett Bakker was trailing 11-3. Bakker turned Noah Noland for the fall, making it 33-29.

Gavin Steger and Andrew Hine followed for two straight falls, closing out the upset.

The Warriors rode the momentum against the Dodger in the first match, earning a major decision and a 4-0 lead.

That was it, though. Fort Dodge reeled off 61 unanswered points, winning 13 straight matches.

“We wrestled aggressively and with a purpose,” said Thompson, who picked up his 291st career victory. “They knew what they wanted to do, came out and took care of business.”

The Dodgers earned bonus points in nine matches, recording five falls, one tech fall, two majors and a forfeit.

Second-ranked (138) junior Koy Davidson picked up his 100th career victory, pinning Ethan Fitch in 51 seconds. Davidson is now 100-16 in his career.

Three-time state qualifier and last year’s state runner up, No. 2 (175) Damarion Ross (33-4), pinned Grant Gammell in 45 seconds for his 131st career victory. Ross is currently tied for 10th on the all-time wins chart at FDSH.

Eighth-ranked Kane Butrick (30-6) earned a fall in 1:47 over Carson Grigger. Sophomore Caiden Fraher picked up a quick fall in 58 seconds versus Kayden Crispin at 150.

“It’s great to take the team down to duals,” Butrick said. “We’ve all gotten really close this year and have a good group.

“We’re all excited to show everyone what we’re capable of Saturday.”

Sixth-rated senior Cal Hartman (29-9) notched a fall in 53 seconds over Gavin Steger at 190 pounds.

“It’s great to be going as a team. We all looked really good, and super excited and ready to go compete down at state duals,” Hartman said. “It’s fun to bring everyone down to a state event where they can have a chance to compete.

“We are looking solid, so hopefully, everyone will get to be a part of bringing home some hardware this weekend.”

Third-rated (120) Dru Ayala (34-2) earned his 144th career victory with a technical fall over Nick McCallister for Fort Dodge’s first triumph. Ayala is in sixth on Fort Dodge’s career wins chart.

“It means a lot for us to bring the team to duals,” Ayala said. “We are all excited to wrestle.

“We have a tough team…we just have to wrestle to our full potential.”

Rylee Brown (144) blanked Kaden Witzenburg (13-0) for a major decision. Jesse Egli (157) notched a 13-3 major over Sam Diener.

No. 11 Sam Davidson (126), senior Bo Cowell (165), seventh-rated Luke Fierke (285) and freshman Trace Rial (106) all earned decisions.

No. 1 sophomore Dreshaun Ross (37-0) remained unbeaten at 215 with a win by forfeit.

It has been a strong four-day run for the Dodgers, who won the Iowa Alliance Conference tournament on Saturday.

“This is a great stretch after winning the conference,” Thompson said. “I give a lot of credit to all 14 guys.”

The state dual tournament will be held this Saturday inside Xtream Arena in Coralville.

“This will be a great bonding experience for the team,” Thompson said. “They will be together for the weekend and create those bonds that make Fort Dodge wrestling what it is.”

FORT DODGE 61, WAUKEE 4

113 — Mahdi Fadel, W major dec. Hunter Kasperbauer, 11-3; 120 — Dru Ayala, FD tech fall Nick McCallister, 24-9; 126 — Sam Davidson, FD dec. Lincoln Miller, 13-6; 132 — Kane Butrick, FD pinned Carson Grigger, 1:47; 138 — Koy Davidson, FD pinned Ethan Fitch, :51; 144 — Rylee Brown, FD major dec. Kaden Witzenburg, 13-0; 150 — Caiden Fraher, FD pinned Kayden Crispin, :58; 157 — Jesse Egli, FD major dec. Sam Diener, 13-3; 165 — Bo Cowell, FD dec. Beau Andrews, 6-1; 175 — Damarion Ross, FD pinned Grant Gammell, :45; 215 — Dreshaun Ross, FD won by forfeit; 285 — Luke Fierke, FD dec. Andrew Hine, 5-2; 106 — Trace Rial, FD dec. Drake Pelton, 6-2.