Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Dreshaun Ross of Fort Dodge wrestles against Lewis Central's Joseph Monge in the Finals at 215 pounds on Saturday in the Dodger gym during a Class 3A district meet. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Sixth-ranked Fort Dodge was proud to qualify nine wrestlers for the state tournament.

The day wasn’t just about making it, though. The Dodgers also kept in mind teammates who were left behind on Saturday in the FDSH gym.

District wrestling is always an up-and-down day, with a lot of mixed and bittersweet emotions. In the end, five Dodgers will return to Wells Fargo Arena, while four will make their first-ever trips.

“I’m extremely proud of our team and how they performed and showed what they are capable of,” said top-ranked junior superstar Dreshaun Ross. “I wish we could have gotten everyone in, considering how hard I see them all work, but having nine guys qualify is super exciting and I can’t wait to watch them next week.”

Third-ranked (IAwrestle) Koy Davidson (144), will make his fourth trip. Ross (215), ninth-ranked Rylee Brown (157), and No. 9 Jesse Egli (175) are all headed to Wells Fargo Arena for a third time in as many years.

Ninth-rated sophomore Trace Rial (106) is going for the second time.

Fourth-rated sophomore Joe Constable (285), freshman Damien Yeoman (113), senior Hunter Richardson (150) and sophomore Jayce Skow (165), meanwhile, are making their rookie trips for Fort Dodge.

Rial, Davidson, Egli, Ross and Constable all won district championships. Yeoman was second, while Brown, Richardson and Skow advanced as third-place finishers.

“We are taking nine guys, and only two are seniors,” said FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson. “We have to have a short memory. Celebrate (Saturday), but then get back to the lab and turn around and compete hard this week.”

Davidson (34-2) upped his career mark to 142 victories, which is currently ninth on the program’s all-time list.

“It’s definitely been worth the grind,” Davidson said. “Coming in the room every day with a winning mindset and a goal to make my teammates better has totally been worth it.”

The Oregon State University commit spent a total of three minutes and 38 seconds on the mat, with two technical falls. Davidson, who will go for back-to-back state crowns, defeated Le Mars’ Hayden Sitzmann (16-1) in 1:19 and Mandius Volentine of Council Bluffs Lewis Central (18-3) in 2:19.

In the semifinals Ross (17-0), an Oklahoma State University recruit, picked up his 100th consecutive victory by pinning Brook Eller of Ankeny Centennial in 55 seconds.

Ross (108-2 overall), who will go for a third championship in as many years, easily handled sixth-ranked Joseph Monge of Lewis Central by technical fall in the gold-medal match, 21-6 in 1:41.

“Koy and Dreshaun are dominating and showing these other guys how to do it,” Thompson said. “They are great leaders. They set the tone.”

Egli (33-11) earned three falls on the day, including a pin in 5:35 over Lewis Central’s Chance Chappell for first place at 175.

“I have a phenomenal coaching staff and a great group of teammates that push me to be better every day,” Egli said.

In his opening-round win, the Dodger junior pinned Dalton Henry of Le Mars in 1:43. His fall in the semifinals over Sioux City East’s Gavin Palazzo came in 1:20.

Egli now has 86 career victories.

“You can see it in Jesse’s eyes,” Thompson said. “He is hungry and eager to get on the (state) podium.”

Rial (22-5) avenged an earlier loss to eighth-ranked Zander Manz of Lewis Central with an 8-6 win in the finals at 106.

“This has been a great season with our team,” Rial said. “It’s a really good feeling knowing that I will be back to state, and we’re sending nine guys to the Well.”

Rial’s semifinal victory came in a 15-0 tech fall shutout in 2:13 over Caden Gress of Spencer.

“Trace was able to reverse that loss (to Mann),” Thompson said. “There is a lot to take away from that match — mostly good, but also, to work on.

“Trace knows that he has to be able to complete matches.”

In arguably the toughest bracket, Brown (34-16) came away with a state spot. Ranked ninth, Brown lost to sixth-ranked Levi Johnson (29-6) of Spencer. He bounced back with a fall in 1:19 over Sioux City East’s Brandon Le in 1:19, then won the third-place match, pinning Kreed Schroeder of Le Mars in 3:30.

“As I prepared for that last match, I put in my head that I’ve worked for this all season,” Brown said. “I told myself I can do it and take one match at a time, going six minutes hard and not stopping.”

Top-ranked Maximus Dhabolt of Ankeny Centennial was the district champion at 157.

“Rylee was in a very tough bracket,” Thompson said. “I’m anticipating Rylee peaking at the right time now and getting on the podium.”

State wrestling begins on Wednesday in Des Moines inside Wells Fargo Arena. The Dodgers will compete in the morning session.