-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge girls wrestling State qualifiers are, left to right, Maddie Pulis, Mariaha Benedict, Macy Brown

CORALVILLE — Jon Koenig made it clear after last year’s state tournament: his Fort Dodge girls team wasn’t satisfied with just making it.

In their inaugural year of sanctioned wrestling in the state of Iowa, the Dodgers qualified four individuals and came away with one medal.

Three of those qualifiers are back after leaving Xtream Arena with a bad taste in their mouth.

Seniors Macy Brown and Maddie Pulis, along with sophomore Mariaha Benedict, are determined to reach the medal stand in 2024.

“Their goal, and mine, ever since state last year was to get them back first and foremost,” Koenig said. “They fought through some adversity and got beat up over a tough schedule to get to this point.”

Both Pulis and Benedict won two matches each here last season, while Brown was shut out. After qualifying again, the driving force was to improve on the initial performance in their state encore.

Pulis left last year’s tournament after getting beat in the 2023 consolation round — something that didn’t sit well with her.

“Last year motivated me, knowing I was coming back (as a senior) with the same group,” Pulis said. “I plan to just wrestle my matches and go from there (at state). I’m not looking at the bracket or how good the other girl is — I’m just doing what I came to do.”

Ironically, Pulis (32-8) enters the 170-pound bracket against an opponent from the school that defeated her last winter. Pulis, the 11 seed, will face No. 22 senior Camryn Cothrell (21-4) — a student from Cedar Rapids Prairie.

“Maddie has been great for our program,” Koenig said. “She has an outstanding personality, and when it’s time to wrestle, she’s ready to go.”

In her two seasons in the Dodger camp, Pulis — a student at Webster City High School — is 50-16.

Benedict (135), who is ranked ninth, has been a force for the Dodgers this season. She currently stands at 41-4 overall with 37 falls — including 28 coming in the first period.

“Mariaha is a very determined wrestler,” Koenig said. “She is only a sophomore and has a big future ahead of her to build on.

“After this tournament, she will continue to compete and work on improving.”

In her first two seasons, Benedict has a combined record of 70-20. Benedict, the 13th seed, will first meet Eunice Reyna-Yoc (26-6), a freshman from MOC-Floyd Valley.

“After state last year, I decided I would never let myself feel that feeling of defeat again,” Benedict said. “I went right into AAU (in the 2023 offseason), trying to get in as much wrestling as possible.

“I worked hard with the mentality that I want to be the best.”

Both Pulis and Benedict enter state as super regional runner-ups.

Macy Brown, in only her second year of competitve wrestling, has become attached to the sport and has experienced significant growth — especially when her back was against the wall.

Brown showed her competitive nature at the super regional tournament after losing in the quarterfinals to Lea Gute of Missouri Valley.

“Macy should hold her head high after qualifying,” Koenig said. “I don’t think people realize how hard it is to qualify, especially the way she did. She loses in the quarterfinals and flights back to win four matches to advance.

“The level of difficulty to qualify for state has increased, and the talent in girls wrestling has taken off like a rocket ship.”

After that loss, Brown (25-22) won two matches by fall before losing in the consolation semifinals. She then needed a win for a chance to advance. In the fifth-place match, Gute stood in front of her with a chance for a state bid.

Brown, who lost a tight 3-2 decision to Gute in the quarters, put her on her back for a fall in 3:01.

Brown had to wait for the call to see if she could wrestle back, and when she did, she punched a state ticket with a pin in 4:20 over Lilly Henry of Central Lyon.

Brown enters as the 30th seed. She will face No. 3 Tatum Shepherd (32-2) of Riverside at 130 pounds.

“I’m in the position I’m in because of the support of my coaches, my family — especially my teammates,” Brown said. “The feeling of making it to state will never get old. I will remember the blood, sweat, and tears that finally paid off forever.”

The state tournament will run Thursday and Friday. Session 1 will begin at 10 a.m. and run until 3 p.m.

Friday’s action begins at 10 a.m. The finals will be at 6 p.m.