LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Dreshaun Ross has been wrestling his entire life and he is already starting to cross off career goals.

This past weekend Ross, a sophomore at Fort Dodge Senior High, won the U17 freestyle 92 kg bracket of the U.S. Open.

With the victory Ross, a two-time state champion for the Dodgers, will now be a part of the U17 World Team.

“This is one of my life long goals,” Ross said. “I can’t wait.”

With five technical falls in six contested matches, Ross was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament..

“Being named Outstanding wrestler just shows how much work and dedication I had to make for the World Team,” Ross said. “I’ve trained for this and I couldn’t be more grateful and blessed to have the opportunity to compete.

“Things went as my coaches and I planned for quite some time leading up to this tournament.”

In the Round of 16 Ross, who was wrestling for Sebolt Academy, beat William Ward of North Dakota, 11-0 in 2:42.

“My coaches preach attack, attack, attack,” Ross said. “You might give up a point, but keep attacking and they will fold.”

Ross, who is a 2023 USA Wrestling Triple Crown winner and 2022 Pan American champion in both styles, earned a 10-0, one minute win over Carson Thomas of Ohio in the quarterfinals.

Canon Howle of South Carolina was the first to score on Ross, but the two-time champion prevailed with a 7-1 win to advance to the finals.

In the first round of the championships Ross picked up a dominating 12-1 victory over Elijah Diakomihalis of New York in 3:39.

“My coaches told me to expect it to be tough,” Ross said. “He’s a good person and this is the finals of the World Team trials , no one is going to be a slouch.

“Expect to be tired and expect it to be hard.”

Ross clinched the US World team spot with a 14-2 win over Diakomihalis in 2:14 of the final match.

“I feel like you have to be physically and mentally strong, and more physical,” Ross said. “This year I expected to win and last year I wasn’t expecting it.

“This year, I really expected it.”

Ross posted two technical falls in the two victories over Diakomihalis, who is also a Fargo winner.

“I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. The coaches know all about everything else,” Ross said. “They’ll tell me what to do and I just got to be coachable and listen and get the job done.”

Ross, who won his second state championship for the Dodgers this year, has been training with his brother Damarion Ross, who also won a state championship.

“My brother has helped me a lot,” Ross said. “Unfortunately he is going to be going to college soon and I have to live without him.

“It will be hard, but I have to move on and keep going.”