CORALVILLE — Fort Dodge seniors Dreshaun Ross and Jesse Egli welcomed freshman Knox Ayala into the Donnybrook semifinals here on Friday.

The Dodger trio earned elite spots with an impressive start to the ultra-competitive tournament.

Fort Dodge advanced five wrestlers into the quarterfinals, as No. 6 (IAwrestle) Damien Yeoman (113) and No. 6 Trace Rial (120) both lost to challenging opponents.

The Dodgers sit in eighth place overall with 173 points. Aurora (Marmion Academy) is the leader (287.5), followed by Creighton Prep (245).

Ross (3-0) had a quick fall in 37 seconds of the second round and went into the third period, earning a 21-5 tech fall victory.

The Oklahoma State recruit, who is ranked No. 1 in the nation at 285, is now 114-2 in his career and has won 107 consecutive matches.

“Dreshaun was Dreshaun. He just came out and dominated,” Thompson said. “This last guy came out and fought him. It was 3-1 toward the end of the first before he got a takedown for a 6-1 lead.”

Egli (3-1), ranked seventh at 190 pounds, picked up a 19-3 tech fall in 5:25 and advanced to the semifinals with a 13-2 major decision in the quarters.

“Jesse wrestled really well,” Thompson said. “I’m really pleased with his efforts. He’s not a big 190-pounder, and now that he’s in the semifinals, he’s in the top six already. That’s a big deal here.”

Ayala (4-0 at 106) recorded pins in 41 seconds and 4:35 advancing to the quarterfinals. He won a tight 8-6 decision to advance to the semifinals.

“Knox was very impressive in a high-quality tournament with a national setting,” Thompson said. “He is wrestling hard and confident.

“He has a tough draw right off the bat (Saturday in the semis).”

Yeoman (3-1) won his first match by fall (3:20) and picked up a 20-11 major decision in the second round. He lost to Erik Klichurov of Lombard in the quarters.

“Damien had a tough kid in the quarters,” Thompson said. “He won a good second round match to get into the quarters. He needs to win one more match on the back to finish in the top eight.”

Rial (3-1) prevailed by injury default in his opener before picking up a 10-1 major decision. In the quarterfinals, he fell to nationally-ranked Cruzer Dominguez (3-0) of Creighton Prep, 18-3.

“Trace lost to a top-eight kid in the nation,” Thompson said. “But those are the type of opponents you are going to see down here. You get better facing them.”

No. 10 senior Rylee Brown (2-1) won his opener for Fort Dodge before losing in the second round. Brown now has 92 career wins for the Dodgers.

“It’s a tough environment and a tough way to start the season,” Thompson said. “I told the guys to remember this is the most difficult tournament we will see all year. It’s just a measuring stick.

“We want them to use this as a challenge and nothing else. Be a motivator, not a downer and don’t beat yourself up for not getting many wins.”

Action begins again at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning, with the finals slated at 5:30 p.m.