Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge senior Dreshaun Ross works his way toward a Don Miller Invitational championship on Saturday in the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

His future is in Stillwater, Oklahoma, but Dreshaun Ross’s heart will always be with the Red and Black.

The nationally-recognized Oklahoma State University wrestling prospect is enjoying his final ride for the fifth-ranked Fort Dodge wrestling team this season. On Saturday, Ross secured his spot in program history once again, becoming a three-time champion at the 51st annual Don Miller Invitational in the FDSH gym.

Ross’s efforts garnered him the Tim Ascherl/Brent Helmkamp Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet Award in his final appearance at the coveted tournament for the Dodgers.

“It’s incredibly awesome to be able to wrestle at the Don Miller in front of my hometown and family,” Ross said. “I’m grateful to be able to wrestle and wear the Dodger singlet.

“There’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be than be wrestling here for Fort Dodge for my last season in high school athletics.”

Ross was part of a handful of Dodgers who reached the championship round, as the squad came away with three titles.

“Dreshaun could be training in Stillwater right now, but he loves being a Dodger,” said FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson. “And that is something to say about Dodge. It’s a special place to wrestle, that started with Fred Cooper and was continued by Don Miller and Ed Birnbaum.

“Dreshuan what being a Dodger represents. He is a great team leader and has become a vocal leader with so many of his teammates.”

FDSH finished third with 157 team points. Decorah (217.5) was the champion, followed by Iowa City West (176.5).

Algona (156.5) was fifth, followed by Sioux Center (116.5), Humboldt (111), Emmetsburg (72),Webster City (56.5), Sioux City East (45.5) and Bishop Heelan (6.5).

Third-ranked freshman (IAwrestle) Knox Ayala (106) and seventh-rated junior Trace Rial (120) joined Ross in the championship circle. No. 5 sophomore Damien Yeoman (113) and 10th-ranked Rylee Brown (157) were both runner-ups for the Dodgers.

Third-rated senior Jesse Egli (190) finished third in the toughest bracket of the event.

Ross (12-0) has now won 114 straight high school matches and is 123-2 in his career. Ross cruised through the field, earning a pin in 25 seconds of the opener. In the semifinals, he picked up a tech fall in 1:35.

“Dreshaun may be a heavyweight, but he moves like some of the lighter athletes,” Thompson said. “He can attack on the ankles and move to the hips.”

In the finals, Ross made quick work of fourth-ranked Kaden Stitt of Iowa City West, picking up a 21-6 tech fall in 1:40.

“Dreshaun’s matches can be deceiving as far as good his opponents actually are,” Thompson said. “He’s just that much better. He has great mat awareness, and can change levels and get done what he needs to.”

Ayala (10-3) tech falled his way to the championship in three matches. His first two wins were in the first period.

In the finals, Ayala scored a 22-6 win over Decorah’s seventh-ranked Edison Fullhart in 3:52.

“Knox wrestled aggressively all day,” Thompson said. “He was getting to his leg attacks and moving on his feet.

“He was wrestling at his pace and was solid across the board.”

Rial (9-4) had two pins on the day and a tech fall over Hugo Hughes of Iowa City West for the championship. Rial won 19-4 in 4:44.

“Trace wrestled tough,” Thompson said. “He fell behind in the semifinals and fought back, and was on cruise control from there.”

Yeoman (7-6) lost to Fargo champion Diego Roberts of Iowa City West, 16-1. In his first two matches, the Dodger won by fall in 1:31 and 4:50.

“Damien obviously had a difficult opponent in the finals,” Thompson said. “We just have to work on a few things, like taking more effective shots.”

Brown (9-4) suffered a 13-6 setback to Gavin Knutson (11-2) of Decorah for gold. In his first two matches the Dodger senior earned a tech fall and fall.

Brown currently sits at 99 career victories for his FDSH career.

“This was Rylee’s second loss to Knutson,” Thompson said. “He knows he can put together a strong second half of the season. That’s what has helped him get to three (previous) state tournaments (in the past).”

Egli (9-4) fought through a ranked gauntlet ,with six state qualifiers and four medalists at 190. Egli, who now has 97 career victories, beat fourth-rated (1A) Ryan Wirtz of Emmetsburg, 3-2.

In the semifinals, he suffered a 17-2 setback to top-ranked (2A) Broedy Hendricks of Humboldt. In his third-place match, Egli toppled No. 3 (2A) Brendan Lamfers of Sioux Center, 3-1.

Junior varsity wrestler Aaron Perez (126) won three matches and finished fourth for the Dodgers, earning his first career victory. Freshman Brody Reimers (132) picked up his first two varsity wins.

Fort Dodge senior Caiden Fraher (165) placed third after losing in the semifinals. He beat Blest Woods of Iowa City West by medical forfeit.