CORALVILLE — The young Fort Dodge girls wrestling team will test the waters as they head to the stacked Dan Gable Donnybrook here on Thursday and Friday.

Fifth-ranked (IAwrestle) junior Mariaha Benedict (135) will look to improve on her fifth place showing here from a year ago.

Benedict won her first two matches by fall before losing in the quarterfinals. She bounced back, though, with two falls.

“The first step for Mariaha is to get to the next day (on the winner’s side),” said FDSH head coach Jon Koenig. “One match at a time. After she has been fourth and fifth here, her goal now is to reach the finals.”

The Dodgers have had three meets so far this season, competing in the Fort Dodge Senior High Earlybird Tournament, the Ridge View girls event and the Triton Clash at Iowa Central.

It was a strong showing for the Dodgers at the Earlybird tourney, where Benedict was a champion.

Freshman Addie Mikesell (235) was a runner-up on her home mat. Freshmen Brooklyn Nelson (115), J.J. Leyva (125), Makayla Liska (155) were all second.

“We’re looking for toughness and grit out of these girls,” Koenig said. “We want to take it one match at a time and keep advancing.

“We also want to see if they can bounce back after a loss or a setback.”

At the Ridge View tourney, Nelson pinned her way to the 110-pound crown. She had two falls in the first period and two more in the second.

Liska earned silver, taking three falls — all in the first period — before losing in the championship round to defending state titleist Mahri Manz of Council Bluffs Lewis Central.

Benedict was a bronze medalist at 140 in the Ridge View competition. She picked up three falls.

Action begins at noon on Thursday in Coralville, and will run through 8:30 p.m.

Friday’s matches will start at 9 a.m., with the finals to begin at approximately 7:30 p.m.

PROBABLE DODGER LINEUP

105 — Junelis Leyva, fr.; 110 — Brooklyn Nelson, fr.; 120 — J.J. Leyva, fr.; 130 — Tristen Holst, sr.; 135 — Mariaha Benedict, jr.; 140 — Naomi Zaharia, fr.; 155 — Makayla Liska, fr.; 170 — Charlie Stucky, fr.; 170 — Mariah Gonzalez, fr.; 235 — Addie Mikesell, fr.