CORALVILLE — Bobby Thompson looks at the Dan Gable Donnybrook as a test of mettle and an early learning ground.

With 38 teams from across both Iowa and the Midwest involved, the competition is a crash-course lesson on the mat against some of the best around.

“Our effort was good, but we got exposed for our practice habits,” said Thompson, FDSH’s long-time head coach. “We have to clean up some things and that was pretty obvious to our guys. We’ve been preaching it in the room — now they see what we’re telling them is true.

“I like the effort, though. Now we see how they respond.”

Fort Dodge came away with three podium spots, highlighted by a silver medal from top-ranked (IAwrestle) senior Koy Davidson at 144 pounds.

No. 7 sophomore Trace Rial was fourth at 106 pounds, and seventh-rated Jesse Egli walked away with a sixth-place performance at 175.

No. 8 sophomore Joe Constable (285) and freshman Damien Yeoman were 10th and 11th, respectively.

Davidson, the defending Class 3A 138-pound gold medalist, reached the finals for the second straight year, losing a tough sudden-victory decision to Tyler Turzinksi of Shakopee.

“There were a couple of flurries and with time ticking down, and Koy was dinged with a penalty,” Thompson said. “In the semis, he had a flurry at the end and tossed his opponent and landed on top.

“The nice thing about our schedule is we are not anywhere near what we want to be in February. Now we have eight matches under our belt and we’ll be in great shape as we move forward.”

In the semifinals, Davidson won a tight 7-6 decision versus Landen McDowell of Park Hill South.

After a quarterfinal loss, Egli moved to the fifth-place match with a medical forfeit. He lost to Brecken Wacholz of Albert Lea 10-2.

“He lost in the quarters to a kid from Linn-Mar where he just got caught,” Thompson said. “Coming out and placing sixth is a good start for Jesse.”

Rial’s final two matches were close, as he lost to Kane Robles of Joliet (6-4) and Erik Kilchurov of Lombard (9-4).

“Trace had some really good matches,” Thompson said. “He kept a solid pace throughout the tournament. Now we just have to keep going and getting better.”

Constable picked up two wins on the backside before losing to Brayden Williams of Waukee Northwest in the ninth-place match.

In his first varsity event, Yeoman went 4-2. He picked up two consolation-side victories and beat Jacob Blakenship of Creighton Preparatory, 15-13, in the 11th spot.

“Joe and Damien’s seeding didn’t do them any favors, as they came in with no (prior varsity) credentials,” Thompson said. “That puts you down low in the bracket with no pool matches, so you have to fight through the tough side.”

The Dodgers head to Council Bluffs this Friday and Saturday.

“This is a great tournament and did exactly what we wanted to do,” Thompson said. “We saw the guys bonding. The young guys feeding off of and learning from guys like Koy and Jesse.

“Just building a team.”

The Dodgers are back in action on Thursday when they host Des Moines East. Varsity and junior varsity action will take place on two mats, starting at 5:30 p.m.