Courtesy of Kendall Snoke Photography: Four-time Fort Dodge state champion Brody Teske works with kids on a drill at his Built Tough Wrestling Club last week.

The sport of wrestling has taken Brody Teske to places and on journeys he could only dream about as a youngster growing up in the Fort Dodge area.

In what he sees as a full circle moment of sorts, Teske has returned home to help kids from similar backgrounds reach for the stars themselves.

The four-time Dodger state champion has started the Built Tough Wrestling Club, which will train wrestlers from all grade levels out of facilities in both Fort Dodge and Clarion. Registration is currently under way for students in grades K-12, and will continue through this Thursday for the 2025-26 folkstyle season.

“I’ve been all over the country, and trust me when I say Fort Dodge is known as ‘Wrestletown,'” said Teske, a former Penn State, Northern Iowa and Iowa competitor. “It’s just what we are here. What we’re known for. So why not make north-central Iowa home base for helping and coaching the next generation of kids?

“I’m really excited about this. I’m here to teach these kids about the sport, but also, about life. I want to pass along my system and my values, and I want to do it here. I feel such a huge, deep connection to the Fort Dodge area. It’s where I was made. It’s who I am.”

Teske moved back in the summer and got the ball rolling for both an Iowa Central Community College location and as a partner with the Team Valley Wrestling Club in Clarion, where he trained in high school under Carl Valley.

“The first night in Dodge, we had two kids doing private lessons,” said Teske, a 2018 FDSH graduate. “Now we’ve got 40 coming in consistently three nights a week. It just kind of took off. The word of mouth made it (a full wrestling club) something worth trying.”

Teske figured he had plenty of experience and wisdom to pass along to aspiring athletes who were in their formative years — both on and off the mat.

“I’ve kind of ‘been there, done that’ when it comes to this sport,” said Teske, a four-time NCAA national tournament qualifier. “I learned so much from all three schools and the coaching styles (of Penn State’s Cael Sanderson, UNI’s Doug Schwab and Iowa’s Tom Brands). I’ve made connections and lifelong friendships. I’ve been exposed to different systems and philosophies.

“I just feel like I have a lot to give and pay back to this area.”

Teske emphasized, though, that “this isn’t about me.”

“It’s for the kids,” Teske added. “I was in their shoes not that long ago. I know what they’re thinking and how they’re feeling. My only (requirements) are that they come ready to learn, have fun and compete. I want them to maximize their potential (on the mat), while becoming a new generation of good and productive people in our society.

“This sport teaches us so much about both who we are and who we can be. And nothing gets me more fired up than getting kids to see that. I don’t care if they’re four or five (years old) all the way up through 18 or 19.”

In addition to group work at both the Fort Dodge and Clarion locations — flanked by the help of the veteran Coach Valley — Teske will also continue to offer private lessons twice a week. Registration forms are available at https://www.builttoughwc.com, or by visiting the Built Tough Wrestling Club Facebook page.

The number of participants will eventually reach a limit, so Teske is asking for families to complete all forms as soon as possible. Boys and girls in grades K-12 are all welcome.

The folkstyle season runs from September through March 31.

“In addition to Iowa Central, I do want to thank Coach Carl (Valley) and (Dr.) Dan Gabrielson for their support (at the Clarion facility),” Teske said. “I have so much respect for them and their passion for wrestling in north-central Iowa. Having that as our second location will be big (for the region).”

There are still sponsorship opportunities available to support the Built Tough Wrestling Club.

“Wrestling in the Fort Dodge area isn’t going anywhere, and we want to be a big reason why,” Teske said. “We’re going to help build a legacy for the future, with an understanding of the tradition and history of the 515.

“I feel like this is my purpose and where I want to be with my life. My goal is to help kids become better versions of themselves, both as wrestlers and as people.”