Fort Dodge girls wrestling coach Jon Koenig will welcome home a friend for the FDSH Invitational this year.

Koenig, a 2005 St. Edmond graduate, will have a chance to reminisce with classmate Joel Allen, who brings his Dubuque Wahlert team to the Dodger gym on Friday.

“Our senior year, we competed at state duals and had a strong team at the traditional tournament,” Koenig said. “We went to Loras together, and both of us started out in football and wrestling. He quit football and I quit wrestling.

“He met his wife there and stayed (in Dubuque).”

Allen has been a big part of wrestling at the school for a long time.

“After coaching the boys and winning a championship, he started coaching the girls,” Koenig said. “He started the Iron Sharpens Iron tournament as well (that comes to Iowa Central annually).”

The Fort Dodge Invitational is one of only two home meets for the Dodgers after the November Fort Dodge Earlybird tournament started the season.

The Dodgers are coming off the Council Bluffs Classic, where junior Mariaha Benedict (135) was a champion and freshman Makayla Liska (155) was third.

During the tourney, Benedict picked up her 100th career win. She now sits at 101 victories as a Dodger.

“Obviously we had our hardest part of the season early. Now, we take a little bit of a break here soon,” Koenig said. “We have some solid schools coming over (Friday) with some strong talent.

“We’re super excited to wrestle at home. It’s our last time this year.”

Joining the Dodgers and Wahlert in the field will be area schools Algona, Eagle Grove, Emmetsburg and Humboldt.

Also making the trip will be Clear Lake, Carroll Kuemper, Le Mars, Mason City, North Tama, Perry and Sioux Center.

Action will begin at 5 p.m. in the Dodger gym.

PROBABLE DODGER LINEUP

105 — Nelly Leyva, fr.; 110 — Brooklyn Nelson, fr.; 115 — Mya Morales, so.; 120 — Alivya Rokes, so.; 130 — Tristen Holst, sr.; 135 — Mariaha Benedict, jr.; 140 — Naomi Zaharia, fr.; 155 — Makayla Liska, fr.; 170 — Charlie Stucky, fr.; 235 — Addie Mikesell, fr.