Submitted photo: Former Fort Dodge state champions Brody Teske (left) and Drake Ayala will compete at the national tournament for Iowa.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brody Teske’s mindset is simple this week: Take care of what’s directly in front of him.

The Iowa senior’s path hasn’t been a typical one, but it will end where he dreamed of being all along: at the NCAA national wrestling tournament as a senior.

“I’m living the dream that I had as a kid,” said the 2018 FDSH graduate. “I wanted to wear the Black and Gold and enjoy my time (as a collegiate competitor).

“I can’t take anything for granted now, and I won’t. I don’t want to leave any stones unturned.”

In his final season on the mat, Teske will wrestle in his fourth straight NCAA tournament. Teske (13-5) — a four-time Fort Dodge state champion — earned the 15th seed at 133 pounds, and will face No. 18 Derrick Cardinal (22-10) of South Dakota State on Thursday.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to compete, as always,” Teske said. “I’m feeling good and I’m ready to go.

“I’m enjoying this opportunity. I can only control what I can control and that’s how I move forward.”

Teske was the 14th seed at the Big Ten Tournament and pulled off three upsets, including a rally to defeat the No. 3 seed in the opening round.

“It was just another tournament (at Big Tens). I wrestled whoever I had to,” Teske said. “Nothing is given. There are no guarantees.

“I can’t worry about anything else out of my control. I have to be best prepared for what I can be and wrestle that way.”

Teske knocked off seventh-seeded Braxton Brown of Maryland, 4-1, to finish fifth at 133.

“The goal is to do the best I can (at nationals),” Teske said. “I have Drake (Ayala) on the same team, which is obviously great, and I’ve gained a special bond with my teammates.”

Teske’s career began at Penn State, where he wrestled unattached and posted a 6-2 record.

In his redshirt freshman year, he was 5-2 for the Nittany Lions before transferring to Northern Iowa at the semester.

“I appreciate everyone’s support from the 515,” Teske said. “They’ve been with me since day one.

“It’s been a longer journey than most, but I’ve been enjoying it and appreciating everyone and everything along the way.”

In 2021, Teske was a Big 12 champion and went undefeated in Big 12 duals for the Panthers. He qualified and competed in the NCAA championships as a No. 5 seed at 125 pounds, where he went 2-2.

Teske was then second at the Big 12 tournament in 2022. He entered the NCAA tournament as the 15th seed and finished with a 2-2 record.

In his first season at Iowa last year, Teske made his third straight trip to the NCAA tournament at 133. He qualified for the field with a seventh-place finish at the Big Ten Championships and was ranked as high as 12th during the regular season.

Teske is still Fort Dodge’s all-time wins leader with a career mark of 177-1.