Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Koy Davidson of Fort Dodge works toward a victory on Saturday during a Class 3A district meet inside the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Every Fort Dodge wrestler has a purpose.

These current Dodgers have a plan to continue the legacy of the program and put their own signature on it.

Third-ranked FDSH will take 11 wrestlers to the state tournament, seven who claimed district championships on Saturday in the Dodger gym.

Indianola (253 points) was the overall champion, while Fort Dodge (222) was second. The Indians advanced all 14 wrestlers to state.

Fort Dodge has qualified 11 wrestlers three times in the last 20 years now, as this team joins the 2017 and 2020 squads. The school record came during the championship season of 2018, when 13 qualified.

“We only have 27 guys in our room, so getting 11 of the 14 with our own guys from here says a lot about our tradition,” said FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson. “We need to focus on this as a team sport, and that will take care of the individual (results).

“Now it’s just one match at a time. These kids are still high school athletes. They need to enjoy the moment and have fun.”

Third-ranked senior Dru Ayala (120), seventh-ranked senior Kane Butrick (132), second-rated Koy Davidson (138), No. 2 senior Damarion Ross (175), sixth-ranked senior Cal Hartman (190), No. 1 sophomore Dreshaun Ross (215) and fifth-rated sophomore Luke Fierke (285) secured district gold.

Sophomore Sam Davidson (126) was a runner-up. Freshman Trace Rial (106), sophomores Rylee Brown (144) and Jesse Egli (157) all punched state tickets on the back side as well by taking third.

“Coming in, we thought we had eight for sure and the rest were on the bubble, so getting three bubble guys in was great,” Thompson said. “These guys had a plan and went out and executed it.”

Rial (25-22) and Fierke (33-9) will be making their first trips to Wells Fargo Arena. Between the 11 qualifiers, they have qualified 25 times in 30 career chances.

The four-pack of seniors went 9-0 on the day with five falls and two technical falls.

“It’s awesome to be bringing such a big number down (to state),” Hartman said. “Everyone is wrestling with a lot of confidence right now.”

Ayala (39-3) had a fall and two tech falls on his way to his fourth state trip in as many tries. He has been runner-up twice, and was fifth as a freshman.

“It feels good to get all these guys down there,” Ayala said. “This is the last time. I have to get it done.”

Butrick (34-7), who was a state qualifier a year ago, had a fall and a decision to advance to state.

“Dru wrestled with a sense of purpose,” Thompson said, “knowing full well this is a tune-up for when he gets in the deep waters on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday next week.

“Kane was there last year, but didn’t earn the medal. His mindset the second time is to make it count.”

Damarion Ross (38-4), now a four-time qualifier, had a fall and a decision. Ross has finished second and seventh at state previously.

Hartman (33-10), recorded two first period falls and will look to build on his seventh-place effort in 2023.

“Cal is what Fort Dodge athletics is all about,” Thompson said. “He his all for his teammates and community. He’s a leader and a captain.

“He will graduate and go on and be successful in life. I hope he remembers his quality time in Fort Dodge.”

Davidson (38-2) tallied a fall and a tech fall on his way to his third trip in as many years.

“It feels good to be back for another opportunity,” Davidson said. “It’s great that our team has 11 to take. Now it’s just time to do some damage at the Well.”

Davidson has previously placed second and fourth at state.

“Koy has a really deep, tough weight class,” Thompson said. “We’ll have to see how the seeding shakes out.

“Damarion wrestled well and was dominant. He’s ready to leave his mark.”

Dreshaun Ross (43-0), a state champion a year ago as a precocious freshman, picked up two pins and a tech fall. Ross overwhelmed Indianola’s fifth-ranked Carson Slorah, 25-10.

“It means a lot. I’m blessed to have an opportunity to be able to compete again and keep building on what I’ve built,” Dreshaun Ross said. “I’m glad we could get the guys we got to go down there, but I think as a whole, we left some on the table. We have unfinished business (this week).”

Fierke (33-9) earned his bid with a fall over No. 6 Jaxson Boyd of Indianola, 1:46.

“Dreshaun has the right mindset,” Thompson said. “These veterans used this (districts) to get ready for the state tournament. They’ll be ready for the hot seat.

“Luke is only a sophomore, so he will get a chance to test it out and have two more years still to come.”

Sam Davidson (18-10) lost in the championship match, 6-5. He advanced as a true state runner-up. He had a major decision and a decision in the first two rounds.

Rial (25-22) lost in the semifinals, but bounced back with a 5-3 decision and 13-4 major for third place.

“Sam is a little undersized, but he is now a two-time state qualifier as just a sophomore,” Thompson said. “Trace’s technique has been good. He’s getting better and better.”

Brown (27-21) lost a tight 11-8 decision in the semifinals. He earned a fall and decision in the third place match to move on for the second time.

“It means a lot to get another chance to come back,” Brown said. “Try again to make it to the podium. That’s the goal.”

Egli (29-21) bounced back from a loss with a fall and 12-0 major in the third-place match for his second state trip.

“Rylee had influenza A on Monday and had a gut-check moment,” Thompson said. “He didn’t feel the best, but he gutted it out.

“Jesse had two solid opponents and finished third. He’s another guy who is undersized, but can do some things at state.”

Senior Bo Cowell (165) lost his third-place match to David Santos of Storm Lake. Cowell had a decision and a fall on the day, but lost in the semifinals.

Hunter Kasperbauer (113) and Caiden Fraher (150) both lost in the quarterfinals.

“You always want to try to get all 14 in, but that doesn’t happen,” Thompson said. “We left three at home and Bo, being a senior, really hurts. He has been with the program for four years and was the third brother going through for us.

“It’s always a bittersweet day.”

State wrestling begins on Wednesday and runs through Saturday in Des Moines. Class 3A will be the afternoon session every day starting at 1:30 p.m.