Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge senior Mariaha Benedict is in search of her third Fort Dodge Invitational crown.

The Fort Dodge girls wrestling team will kick off a busy local weekend on the mat.

The Dodgers host the fourth FDSH girls Invitational on Friday.

Saturday will be the Don Miller Invitational, and on Sunday, there is a kids tournament. All events will be in the Dodger gym.

The girls tournament will begin at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon.

This is the fourth year of the current format, as there were three years previous as part of the Don Miller Invitational.

“We have 14 teams coming, so a lot of the brackets will be full,” said FDSH girls coach Jon Koenig. “It’s a start to a big weekend of wrestling in Fort Dodge.”

Area schools competing on Friday are Humboldt, Algona, Eagle Grove, and Emmetsburg. Also in action will be St. Ansgar, Sioux Center, Western Christian, Dubuque Wahlert, Mason City, North Tama, Spencer, Clear Lake, Perry, and Le Mars.

Dubuque Wahlert is coached by St. Edmond graduate Joel Allen, a teammate of Koenig’s at St. Edmond.

The Dodgers have earned the highest placing in program history at both the Dan Gable Donnybrook and the Council Bluffs Classic so far this season. Numbers and depth have improved for Fort Dodge, which has helped in the team standings.

Northwestern College recruit Mariaha Benedict, a Dodger senior, will be wrestling for her third home title.

“This has always been a great event,” Koenig said. “We wouldn’t be able to do this without all the volunteers who help put it together.

“Everyone’s work and effort is appreciated. All the supporters and businesses that back us…that’s big for the program. It’s great for the girls to be able to wrestle at home now after a couple of long road trips.”