Drake Ayala, a three-time Fort Dodge state champion, wrestles for Iowa during the regular season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There’s a lot of talk about a wide-open race for the NCAA 125-pound wrestling championship this week.

Drake Ayala isn’t listening to any of the outside noise. The Iowa sophomore and three-time Fort Dodge state champion is just doing what he has to do.

“It’s kind of like in one ear and out the other,” Ayala said. “I’m focusing on what I can do — not what is out of my control — to be able to separate myself.”

Ayala was ranked as high as No. 1 at 125 earlier this season. He enters this week’s national field as the third seed.

“I’m ready and excited. It’s going to be a fun week,” the 2021 FDSH graduate said. “I’ve just got to be myself. When I’m Drake Ayala, that’s when the best product is on the mat and I’m wrestling my best.”

Making his second NCAA tournament appearance, Ayala enters with a 23-4 record. His four losses are to 21st seed Brandon Kaylor of Oregon State, Purdue’s fourth-seed Matt Ramos, and twice to Michigan’s 18th-seeded Michael DeAugstino.

Ayala finished third in the Big Ten Tournament, returning the favor and knocking off Ramos in the bronze-medal match.

“I don’t think it’s anything in particular (changes needed),” Ayala said. “I just need to make little adjustments here and there and that will help me make that jump.”

Ayala owns a 4-2 win over top-seeded Braeden Davis (20-2) of Penn State. He has not faced No. 2 seed Luke Stanich (19-3) of Lehigh.

Ayala will meet Elijah Griffin (19-11) of California Baptist in the opening round. Ayala beat Griffin 18-8 in his first match of the season.

Among the Top-10 seeds, Ayala is 7-1, with wins over No. 1, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10 this season.

“We talk a lot about peaking and being physical, but it’s mostly a mindset,” Ayala said. “For me it’s being confident in myself and my abilities to put the best products on the mat that I know I’m capable of, my coaches know I’m capable of and my teammates know I’m capable of.”

Ayala is 40-12 in his career.

The Hawkeyes enter the national tournament with nine qualifiers. Along with Ayala, Real Woods is the third seed at 140 pounds.

Michael Caliendo (165) and Zach Glazier (197) are the six and seven seeds, respectively. Also in the national field is No. 10 Jared Franek (157), No. 12 Patrick Kennedy (174), No. 13 Caleb Rathjen (149), No. 15 Brody Teske (133) and No. 25 Bradley Hill (285).

“We all have to do our jobs,” Ayala said. “I have to do my job in order to get a trophy (Top-3), and that’s important to me and I know it’s important to them (Ayala’s Hawkeye teammates).”

Ayala still ranks third on FDSH’s all-time win list with a career mark of 171-3. He is third in win percentage as well (.983).

The NCAA tournament begins Thursday at noon. Friday’s quarterfinals start at noon, with the semifinals and blood round at 8 p.m.

The medal round is 11 a.m. on Saturday, and championship finals start at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Matches will be televised on ESPNU and ESPN Plus.