-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge boys state Wrestlers qualifiers are, left to right, Front Row: Trace Rial, Rylee Brown, Sam Davidson, Kane Butrick, Koy Davidson Back Row: Cal Hartman, Luke Fierke, Dreshaun Ross, Jesse Egli, Damarion Ross

The Fort Dodge wrestling team has a few stories they want to finish.

The third-ranked Dodgers want to add their chapter to historic classes of FDSH wrestling.

In the Dodger room, it’s about carrying on the tradition and putting personal stamps on the tradition.

“It’s (success) a traditional thing and stems from our community,” said Fort Dodge head coach Bobby Thompson. “They embrace us as a wrestling community through their support.

“The years in the past have tradition and all Fort Dodge wrestlers build that bond.

“I’d love to take credit for it, but it started back when Fred Cooper and Don Miller brought it back and was here with Ed (Birnbaum).”

With tradition comes expectations, whether deserved or warranted, but this group is ready to finish what they started.

“This senior bunch is tremendous,” Thompson said. “We’re probably not taking 11 guys if not for the senior bunch. Dru, Kane, Damarion, Cal and Bo Cowell will now pass down the torch to Koy and Dreshaun and these sophomores.”

The postseason started with a bronze medal at state duals, a trophy that was not expected to come back to Fort Dodge, but the Dodgers have fed off of each other and built a unity that is contagious.

“I think we have good kids and I’ve been blessed all along with good kids,” Thompson said. “They are motivated and have one thing on their mind — to win matches and bring back trophies.

“That makes my job easy, but it makes it gut wrenching as well when they get disappointed, because of their dedication to win.”

On Saturday the Dodgers qualified their second most state participants in school history, taking 11 wrestlers to Des Moines inside Wells Fargo Arena.

“It’s great to get the experience of the Arena and the atmosphere,” Thompson said. “We can’t be satisfied with just getting down here. We have to win matches and take it one match at a time and climb the ladder.”

A four-pack of state veteran seniors — along with a junior stalwart — are mixed with four wrestlers with state experience and two newcomers.

“We had high expectations with this senior bunch,” said Thompson, who is in his 19th season at FDSH. “The goal is to get as many as we can through and as much on the podium to bring back a team trophy.”

Third-rated senior Dru Ayala (120), second-rated junior Koy Davidson (138), No. 2 senior Damarion Ross (175) and top-ranked and defending state champion Dreshaun Ross (215) are bidding for return trips to the state finals. Ayala (39-3), a University of Iowa recruit who is 149-15 in his career, has reached the finals in consecutive trips, after a fifth place showing as a freshman is the three seed at 120.

“Dru just needs to take it as four matches, 24 minutes, one match at a time,” Thompson said. “He was so close as a freshman to reaching the finals. He could easily be in the hunt right now to becoming a four-time state champion.”

Davidson (38-2), who is 104-16, was fourth last season after being a state runner-up in 2022. He is the second seed this week at 138.

“Koy, without a doubt, has been clutch in an incredibly deep weight class,” Thompson said. “We’ve seen all of (the top contenders) a lot. He’ll be ready.”

Damarion Ross (38-4), another 100-match winner (136-34) in his career, is the second seed at 175. Ross is a four-time qualifier with a silver and seventh place medal to his credit already.

“Damarion just needs to go out and take care of business,” Thompson said. “Wrestle the same match and trust his technique and his physical and mental ability.”

Dreshaun Ross (43-0) took the Iowa prep scene by storm as a freshman, becoming the biggest ninth-grader to win a state crown in 3A. Ross, who already has 87 career wins without a single setback, is the top seed at 215.

“Dreshaun is focused and competing at a high level, like always,” Thompson said. “But he also wants to help his teammates. What gets him moving is being a part of the program.

“When Cal wins a match, for instance, that gets him fired up and ready to follow him. He takes his mindset to a new level.”

Ross, who has already received eight high-level Div. I football offers, is excited for the days to come.

“I think as a team, we could do some damage and hopefully get a lot of people on the podium on Saturday,” Ross said. “Especially with how close this year’s team is and how much we all have worked in the room this year…I feel everyone deserves it for how hard they work day in and day out.”

The No. 6 Hartman (33-10) is also a 100-match winner (113-57). The senior finished seventh last season and is the No. 5 seed this week.

“Cal loves this team and is a great leader,” Thompson said. “He is in the same boat as a lot of these guys — especially Dreshaun, where they are all about their teammates. Once they’re done, they quickly run to find out how their teammates are doing.”

Hartman, who has been a leader on the football field and wrestling mat at FDSH, shares a passion for and with all Dodgers.

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

Butrick (34-7) is looking for a state medal after qualifying a year ago. He is rated seventh and seeded ninth.

“Kane unfortunately didn’t get a great seed, but he has been wrestling strong and will be tough to beat,” Thompson said. “He’s not satisfied with just being down here. He wants to medal.”

The sophomore trio of Sam Davidson (18-10 at 126), Rylee Brown (27-21 at 144) and Jesse Egli (29-21 at 157) were all state qualifiers a year ago and are back again.

“Sam, Rylee and Jesse are hungry to take that next step,” Thompson said. “It should be just another day for them, and they should be motivated to improve on (2023).

“Everyone down here can win. They just have to be prepared to go.”

Fifth-ranked sophomore Luke Fierke (33-9) is also the No. 5 seed at 285 pounds. Freshman Trace Rial, the son of two-time Fort Dodge state champion Mark Rial, will compete at 106 pounds. Rial has a record of 25-22.

“Trace has been wrestling really solid and has a chance to make some noise,” Thompson said. “Luke has had big wins this year and needs to stay confident and go out and compete.”

“The fact that all four grades are represented will lead to success down the line. We have a great mix of ages. A lot of our guys are undersized, but determined.”

Ayala, Koy Davidson, the Ross brothers, Hartman and Fierke will all have byes in the first round.

The Dodgers will wrestle the middle sessions on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, starting at 1:30 p.m.

Saturday’s medal round will be 9 a.m. The finals will be held at 5:15 p.m. inside Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday evening.