Photo by Nic Ryder/IAwrestle: Mariaha Benedict of Fort Dodge celebrates her Dan Gable Donnybrook title in Coralville on Friday night.

CORALVILLE — When Mariaha Benedict’s back was against the wall, she knew it was time to dig deep.

The Fort Dodge junior trailed in the Dan Gable Donnybrook finals here on Friday. Down 6-2 to Waverly-Shell Rock’s Lilly Stough, she knew the time was now.

Benedict reversed Stough and took her to her back, holding her there for a fall in 3:04 to become Fort Dodge’s first-ever Donnybrook girls champion.

“It was absolutely amazing,” Benedict said. “I was trying to stay calm, but I knew I had to do something. As soon as I felt she was trying to throw me, I went into complete fight or flight.

“I fought as hard as I could to get her to her back. Once I got her there, I just held it and squeezed as hard as I could.”

This was the first goal Benedict was able to cross off her list.

“I’m so happy she was able to get what she wanted,” said FDSH head coach Jon Koenig. “It took her a while to get here, but now, she’ll have the goal to come back and do it again and maybe be the outstanding wrestler of the meet.”

Koenig knew that Benedict had to reverse course, and that time was running out.

“I leaned to Roger (Porter, assistant coach) and said, ‘she’s not going to be able to win being on bottom. She needs to get back to her feet,” Koenig said. “That girl wrestled heavy on top, and Mariaha almost got in the cradle right before that.

“They squared back up, and Mariaha had a perfect counter to go away from it. That takes so long to be able to develop that feeling and catch someone in that.”

Benedict (18-1) was fourth here as a freshman and fifth last season. She picked up three falls, a major decision and an injury default on her way to the championship this week.

“That, by far, is one of the best moments in my wrestling career,” Benedict said.

Benedict was one of three Dodgers to place at the Donnybrook, as freshman Makayna Liska (155) was seventh and classmate Brooklyn Nelson (105) took 10th.

“The elite competition is why we come to this tournament,” Koenig said. “Those two (Benedict and Stough) could meet again and we could see her when we go to Waverly. That success is going to carry over.”

Nelson (15-6) went 1-2 on day two, but finished 4-3 overall in the tournament. She had two falls, a technical fall and a major decision.

Liska (13-6) had four wins in two days. She logged three pins and an injury default.

“It was great for Brooklyn and Makayla to come down here and have some success, too,” Koenig said. “I asked Brooklyn if she thought coming down she would be able to finish ninth, and she didn’t. It sets the groundwork for next year, when Mariaha is a senior and they’ll be sophomores.

“We have a plan, and being at one of the toughest tourneys in the midwest helps set up for a bigger picture.”