AP Photo: Former Fort Dodge state champion Drake Ayala of Iowa wrestles for a national title in Kansas City.

KANSAS CITY — Drake Ayala may have felt all alone as he approached the mat for his 125-pound national title match during last Saturday night’s NCAA championships inside T-Mobile Center.

The three-time Fort Dodge state gold medalist was looking to become the first former Dodger in 62 years to reach the pinnacle of Div. I wrestling. The Iowa Hawkeye sophomore had the weight of the world on his shoulders — standing at center stage, by himself — as Ayala faced an old rival, Richard Figueroa of Arizona State, in the finals.

All across the country and even the world, Fort Dodgers were tuning in to watch. Nervous energy and eager anticipation filled the air as Ayala squared off with Figueroa, who ultimately prevailed by a 7-2 decision.

The loss was crushing, of course, but the journey to the title bout was just the beginning for Ayala. And an army of family, friends, fans and well-wishers will continue to be there for him every step of the way.

“Watching Drake compete for a national title was surreal,” said Cayd Lara, a Dodger teammate of Ayala’s during their 2018 championship season and former Northern Iowa wrestler. “Not just Fort Dodge, but the entire state of Iowa tuned in. I remember, as a young high school kid, watching him win (youth) tournament after tournament. I knew he was bound to do something no one has done in years.

“Just in Drake’s day-to-day lifestyle…he lives to be the best in the world. Drake works so hard and is surrounded by some of the best athletes you want to be around. He will be back and he will be ready.”

Before they were Fort Dodge wrestlers, Cayd and his older brother, Triston, grew up in the same neighborhood as Ayala. Triston Lara, a two-time Dodger state champ who went on to wrestle for both UNI and Oregon State, graduated from FDSH in 2017. Cayd was a year younger. Drake’s final season in Red and Black came in 2021.

“From running around Reynolds Park with Drake when he was a baby to where he is today, it’s amazing to see him reach the highest level,” Triston said. “Watching Drake compete in the national finals was very nerve-wracking. Wrestling for a Division I national title is like being at the top of the mountain. Drake made it. I’m super proud of him, and I know he will be back.

“Two-time national champion Drake Ayala has a great ring to it.”

Dreyzon Phillips, a classmate of Ayala’s at FDSH and a two-time state runner-up, added “it’s hard to put into words the emotions I felt watching him out there.”

“Being around our family, the Iowa/Dodger community, and just seeing how much love he gave us brings nothing but joy to us all,” Phillips said. “No one deserves it more than Drake. From the time we were little to the present day, he’s done all the right things. I’ve watched him compete on many big stages throughout our lives, but none of them compare to this.

“He’s hard on himself, and that’s why he’s the person he is in the first place. I just hope he realizes how proud we are of him for what he accomplished (in making the finals). Drake’s all about moving forward, so sometimes, I don’t think he gives himself enough credit (in the moment). He’s a great role model not just for younger kids, but how you want to represent yourself as a man.”

Drew Bennett transferred from UNI to Iowa in 2021, and was Ayala’s teammate with the Hawkeyes. Like Cayd Lara, Bennett was also a senior on the ’18 Fort Dodge title squad during Ayala’s freshman year.

“Drake is one of my best friends,” Bennett said. “I was nervous all day for his finals match. I haven’t been real nervous for a wrestling match since getting ready for my own. That’s probably because he’s like a little brother to me.

“Obviously the result wasn’t what he wanted. But knowing how that dude works and trains, he will come back next year and be better than he was this season. I think two national titles will still be pretty damn cool.”

Ayala and his Iowa teammate, senior Brody Teske, represented both the Hawkeyes and the Fort Dodge community the right way, Triston Lara added.

“Those two are the definition of being a Dodger, and have earned every single bit of success they’ve had,” Triston said. “Drake and Brody are the two most humble, disciplined, consistent, and driven people I know.

“Win, lose, or draw, Fort Dodge is so proud of them.”

Carson Taylor was a year older than Ayala at FDSH. Taylor, a two-time Dodger state finalist and 2019 champion, is an All-American at Grand View University with one year of eligibility remaining.

“It really makes me proud to see both Drake and Brody doing so well,” Taylor said. “They wrestled so hard and tough, and accomplished something most wrestlers only dream of: to compete at the NCAA championships.

“Watching them wrestle like that motivates me to work even harder and get better for my last year at GVU. I want to make the most of my last season and not take it for granted, because I know how fast one year goes by.”

Bennett noticed the rallying cry of Fort Dodge almost immediately when he arrived in Kansas City.

“The love that Drake and Brody had down there was insane,” Bennett smiled. “You’d walk into a restaurant downtown Kansas City, and there was always a group of Fort Dodge people who were there supporting the boys. When Brody and Drake were wrestling, you could hear somebody randomly yell ‘Fort Dodge,’ and you’d turn to see who it was…sometimes, it was a person you didn’t even know.

“The support in Fort Dodge is awesome. I’m proud to forever be a Dodger.”

Sam Cook, a two-time FDSH state champion who also suited up for the Hawkeyes before graduating in 2020, agreed.

“It’s so hard to even put into words,” said Cook, a teammate of Teske’s with the Dodgers through 2016. “The most incredible thing in Kansas City was that almost anyone and everyone was loving Fort Dodge and wanted to hang out with the FD crowd, which was so well represented.

“Sense of pride as a Dodger is at an all-time high.”

Cook added he had “butterflies in the stomach” every time Ayala and Teske took the mat.

“Way worse than when I was competing,” Cook said. Although I didn’t get any when Drake wrestled in the finals. I didn’t have a worry in the world…he wrestled well. Just had a few situations that didn’t go his way that time.

“He’ll be back.”