SIOUX CITY — Jon Koenig has prepared the Fort Dodge girls wrestling team for meets like this.

The Dodgers will compete in a super regional tournament for the right to advance to the state.

Action will begin at 10 a.m. inside Tyson Events Center on Friday. The top four individuals at each weight will advance.

The Dodgers will be joined by area schools Algona, East Sac County, Emmetsburg, and Manson Northwest Webster in Region 2.

Koenig believes last week’s challenging tournament in Mason City and other similar events, such as the Dan Gable Donnybrook, have prepared his athletes for a meet like this.

“We get to these arenas with huge tournaments and they see what the crowd is like,” Koenig said. “It takes away the ‘shook’ effect and they are more comfortable competing the next time they’re in that environment.

“We are looking for big things out of these girls. They all have a legit shot of advancing to state.”

It has already been a historic season for Fort Dodge, which won its first dual of the season against Riverside and captured their first tournament title at the West Central Valley Invitational.

Seniors Maddie Pulis and Macy Brown, along with ninth-ranked sophomore Mariaha Benedict, are attempting to get back to state.

Last year, in the first ever girls sanctioned state tournament, both Pulis and Benedict finished 2-2, nearly reaching the medal round. Pulis (170), who was a super regional champion last year, is 33-10 on the season.

“All three of them have lofty goals,” Koenig said. “This is the meet where we have to take it one step at a time. Everyone is 0-0 and starting from scratch.

“If you lose, you have to wrestle back through the back side and realize that you have to show your mettle and resilience.”

Benedict (40-6 at 135) has a career record of 69-22. Brown has 41 wins and Pulis is sitting at 51 career victories in two seasons.

Joining the state qualifiers with over 25 wins are sophomores Alejandra Manzanilla (26-17 at 105) and Gracie Harvey (28-13 at 110), along with junior Delaney O’Connor (26-21).

Area squads Humboldt, Pocahontas Area, and South Central Calhoun will wrestle in Mason City in Region 7. Eagle Grove, and West Bend-Mallard will be in Mason City as part of Region 8.

PROBABLE DODGER LINEUP

105 — Alejandra Manzanilla, so., (25-17); 110 — Gracie Harvey, so., (28-13); 115 — Kaitlynn VanDemark, fr., (13-19); 120 — Andee Barwin, sr., (9-14); 130 — Macy Brown, sr., (22-23); 135 — Mariaha Benedict, so., (40-6); 140 — Delaney O’Connor, jr., (26-21); 145 — Lucy Porter, jr., (14-17); 170 — Maddie Pulis, sr., (33-10).