—Photo by Iowa Central Athletics Fort Dodge graduate alexis ross reached the NJCAA national semifinals at 138 pounds on Friday.

COUNCIL BLUFFS — Alexis Ross is on the verge of another dream come true.

The Fort Dodge graduate reached the 138 pound semifinals of the NJCAA national invitational.

After becoming FDSH’s first girls state champion, the goal became a national championship, not for her, but for everyone along her path.

“It would mean a lot to be able to bring home a national title for not only myself, but for all my family that has given me the opportunity to be where I am today,” Ross said. “I also would love to do it for all of the local support that has backed me throughout my 16 year journey which I am beyond grateful to have the support system I do.

“I would be beyond grateful to bring them home a national title.”

Aniyah Dinwiddle (124), Avery Mohr (131) and Delise Villa (145) will join Ross in the semifinal round.

The Tritons had 13 wrestlers advance to the quarterfinal matches. With the four semifinalsts, Myah Rausch (103), Aneth Campos (110), Annabelle Petsinger (124), Kammie Schanz (138), Alexandra Grow (16), Amaya Fairley Vasquez (160), Aailyah Presley (180), Maia Esera (207) and Breanna Salgado (235) were in the semifinals.

Ross, who was part of last year’s runner up Triton squad placed third, missing out on the semifinal round.

“It means a lot to be able to participate in something like this,” Ross said. “This is something that as a kid I would have never imagined would have even existed in Iowa.

“I am now in the semifinals and last year I fell short, so for me to be here now has me very excited for the rest of the tournament.”

In her first day of action in her second trip, she cruised to three victories. In the opening round Ross picked up a technical fall over Faith Torres of Fort Hays, 10-0 in three minutes.

The second round netted Ross another 10-0 tech fall in 5:08 over No. 10 seed Clara Sapienza of Southeast.

The domination continued into the quarterfinals, where she beat fifth-seed Eden Smith of Indian Hills, 10-0 in 2:24.

Up next in the semifinals for Ross is No. 5 seed Daeja Sundquist of Iowa Western. Ross has pinned and tech falled Sundquist this season.

Dinwiddle, the three seed earned a 24 second fall in her opener. In the second round she beat eighth-seed Ashton Hofeling of Southeast, 11-6. In the quarters she had a fal over Kyah Miller of Big Bend in 1:36.

No. 4 Mohr had a fall 1:15, a pin over No. 8 Sierra Rieschick of Umpqua (4:19) and a decision over Olivia Sandoval of Carl Albert State, 14-8.

Villa, the two seed, had a tech fall, a fall and a tech fall over No. 4 seed Sara Daley of Iowa Western.

Semifinal action begins at 9:30 a.m. Opening ceremonies are at 5:30 p.m. with the parade of champions at 5:50 p.m. and the championships starting at 6 p.m.