The brothers — two years apart — grew up in a wrestling family. Now those childhood hopes of winning side-by-side again have a chance to become a reality.

For the second straight year, the Ross brothers will chase state gold on the same night. As a senior, this will be Damarion’s last chance in high school.

“When we were little, we always talked about winning state championships together,” Damarion said. “Titles have always been our goal.”

Damarion and Dreshaun were both in the state finals in 2023, when Damarion finished second and Dreshaun became the biggest freshman to win a state championship in history.

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Dreshaun Ross of Fort Dodge wrestles against Iowa City Liberty Vincenzo Lima on Friday inside Wells Fargo Arena during a Class 3A semifinal match.

“It means even more than it has before,” Dreshaun said. “I know it may sound weird, but I’d rather have him win than me because I’ve experienced it and know the feeling — and he hasn’t yet.

“It’s my last time wrestling with Damarion, so I want him to end up on top.”

On Friday inside Wells Fargo Arena, Damarion (175 pounds) and Dreshaun (215) both punched their state finals berths.

Damarion knocked off 14th-seed Dax Clatt (33-14) of Indianola, 6-1, in a match he clearly dominated.

Damarion is now 3-0 against Clatt. He owns a 5-1 decision from state duals and a 10-4 win in the district championship.

Submitted photo: Damarion and Dreshaun Ross as youth wrestlers.

“There was no doubt that Damarion was the better wrestler,” said FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson. “Damarion did what he had to do to get the ‘W’ and control the match.”

Awaiting Damarion in the finals is fourth-seeded junior Asa Hemsted (41-3) of Carlisle. Hemsted pulled off the upset of the tournament, stunning Maximus Magayna of Waterloo East, who was attempting to become a four-time state champion, 7-5.

Damarion Ross, who is now a four-time state qualifier and three-time medalist, is 139-34 in his career.

Dreshaun’s path to the finals was a quick one, as he pinned fourth-seed Vincenzo Lima (31-3) of Iowa City Liberty in 1:32 to improve to 46-0 on the year and 90-2 in his career.

“It’s hard to put into words how to describe Dreshaun,” Thompson said. “The best I can say is this: every other match, when I go to the corner as a coach, I have a knot in my stomach. With Dreshaun, I don’t.

Submitted photo: Damarion and Dreshaun Ross as youth wrestlers.

“He’s one of a kind. Dreshaun has the growth mindset, and is a very coachable kid to boot.”

Next up for Dreshaun is second-seeded Holden Hansen (31-3) of Southeast Polk. Hansen edged No. 6 Andrew Price (5-1) of Valley 1-0 in the semifinals.

Hansen was fifth a season ago for the Rams.

The Ross brothers have continued their close relationship from the living room to the high school wrestling room.

“We just have always wrestled anywhere we were: the living room, outside — wherever,” Damarion said. “It just became our life over the years, and it definitely has meant more that we share the love of wrestling as a family.”

The Ross siblings as younger wrestlers (left to right): Dreshaun, Damarion, Drevon and Alexis.

Damarion realizes there is one more step, but the process has been worth it.

“I’m not to my goal yet, but it means a lot to have the opportunity to be (in the finals) again,” Damarion said. “I get to do it with my brother again. I know how hard we both work and what our plan is. Now we just have to get it done.”

Des Moines has always been the final destination, and with two more years for Dreshaun and this being Damarion’s last go-round, Saturday night is it: win or lose.

“We always kind of knew from being little that this is where we wanted to be,” Dreshaun said. “We always wrestled together growing up and practiced together, so those matches in the living room and downstairs really paid off.”

Finals will start at 5:15 p.m. with the grand march inside Wells Fargo Arena.