DES MOINES — The fifth-ranked (IAwrestle) Fort Dodge wrestling team has two more mat assignments before the second half of the season — and chase to state — begins.

The Dodgers will first travel to Des Moines on Thursday to face Des Moines Lincoln and Des Moines Roosevelt.

Action begins at 5:30 p.m.

“We’re looking for improvement week in and week out and hope it comes together,” said FDSH Bobby Thompson who has over 300 career dual victories. “We want to finish out the season on a high note in a double dual and then in our home gym for the Don Miller.”

On Saturday Fort Dodge will wrap up 2025 by hosting its annual Don Miller Invitational.

The last time out was a first for the Dodgers, who competed in the inaugural Iowa City West Dual tournament last Saturday. Fort Dodge won one dual, losing to three ranked teams.

“Iowa City West put on a great dual tournament,” Thompson said. “We got on the mat 10 a.m., and were back on the road before dark.”

Top-ranked senior Dreshaun Ross (285) and Jesse Egli (190) both won four matches, three by fall and a tech fall each.

Rylee Brown (157), Knox Ayala (106) and Trace Rial (120) all picked up three wins. Caiden Fraher (165), Amari McCaleb (130) and Damien Yeoman (113) all prevailed in two matches for Fort Dodge.

Ross, the Oklahoma State signee, enters the week as a winner in 113 straight high school matches. He is 120-2 in his career.

Brown and Egli are both nearing the 100-win mark, as Brown has 97 and Egli sits at 95.

“It’s good for our younger kids to wrestle in these conference duals,” Thompson said. “It’s nice to get into something where they can be competitive.

“Coming out of the Donnybrook and Iowa City West (the first two weeks), it will have a different look and a different feel.”

PROBABLE DODGER LINEUP

106 — Knox Ayala, fr., (7-3); 113 — Damien Yeoman, so., (5-5); 120 — Trace Rial, jr., (6-4); 126 — Sam Davidson, sr., (3-5); 132 — Hunter Kasperbauer, sr., (1-6); 138 — Angel Sandoval, sr., (0-3); 144 — Open; 150 — Amari McCaleb, so., (3-5); 157 — Rylee Brown, sr., (7-3); 165 — Caiden Fraher, sr., (5-5); 175 — Mykel Benedict, fr., (2-7) 190 — Jesse Egli, sr., (7-3); 215 — Cael Adams, so., (1-8) 285 — Dreshaun Ross, sr., (9-0).