MASON CITY — Mariaha Benedict and Makayla Liska both punched tickets to the girls state wrestling tournament on Friday for Fort Dodge.

Benedict (41-5) will be making her third appearance in as many seasons for the Dodgers and upped her school record win total to 113 with a regional title in the Riverhawk gym.

In her first varsity season, Liska (34-11) cruised through the field on Friday, picking up three falls and a gold medal as well.

In the 135-pound championship match, Benedict earned a 6-4 decision over Waverly-Shell Rock’s Lily Stough.

“I knew that match wouldn’t be easy,” Benedict said. “That girl and I always go neck and neck, and both have the will to win. She is by far my favorite opponent, because it’s almost like wrestling myself.

“I never really go into matches with a plan (every time out)…I just know I have to work hard and be smart. This being my first time winning regionals, it’s pretty exciting. I am beyond excited to be returning to the state tournament to see how far I can and will go.”

All three of Stough’s losses have been to Benedict.

“That match was tense,” said FDSH girls head coach Jon Koenig. “(Stough) got in on a single leg that was good, but Mariaha did a great job executing a whizzer as time ran out.

“She has a chance now to grab her first medal.”

In the opening round regional match, Benedict pinned Mason City’s Madeline Hoover in 1:03.

Liska, who dropped to 145 pounds for the tournament, earned three falls — two in the first period.

“Coming down from 155 ranked in the Top-10 then wrestling unranked here at regionals at 145 was my push that I needed to get my name out there,” Liska said. “I know I’m a freshman and people see me as new in high school wrestling, but I’m just getting started and I think (Friday) was just me trying to prove I’m here for business.”

Liska pinned Alexa Heflin (31-11) of Clear Lake in 36 seconds of the final.

“That was our original plan to go to 145 with Makayla…it just happened later (in the year) than we expected,” Koenig said. “Now she can put a star by her name for winning this tournament and getting on the podium.

“Before we came up, I pointed up to the banners and said there is only one name up there (Alexis Ross as a state champion) — who is going to be the next to do it.”

In the opening round, Liska pinned Lily Jeynes of Cedar Rapids Washington in 1:34. The semifinals was a Liska fall victory over Nintee Tarr of Marshalltown in 2:52.

Freshman Addie Mikesell had a chance, wrestling in the 235-pound true second-place match for Fort Dodge. She lost by fall to Nevaeh Gonzalez of Marshaltown.

Mikesell had a first period and second period pin in the tournament.

Freshman Brooklyn Nelson (27-13) placed third, but didn’t get a wrestleback match. She lost in the semifinals after earning a fall in 1:43 of the quarterfinals.

Nelson pinned Webster City’s Kali Hartnett in a minute of the consolation semifinals, and earned a fall in 3:42 of the third-place match.

“That was really gut-wrenching for Brooklyn,” Koenig said. “She beat a girl that was a state qualifier for third.

“She might not be happy, but now she can build on it.”

Senior Tristen Holst took fourth at 130 and Jessenia Elias placed fourth at 170.

“Addie was winning, but just got rolled to her back,” Koenig said. “Now she has something to build on.

“Tristen wrestled her butt off and made a run at it.”

The state tournament is this Thursday and Friday in Coralville inside Xtream Arena.