Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge’s Rylee Brown reacts to securing a victory on Saturday at state in Des Moines. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — When Rylee Brown and Jesse Egli entered the state tournament one final time, there was only one goal in mind: to finish on the podium.

Both Fort Dodge seniors walked into the Casey’s Center as three-time qualifiers, but had zero medals between the two of them. That ended after a memorable quarterfinal night on Thursday, as they each clinched a semifinal spot and their first medal.

Brown (165 pounds) wrapped up his career with a fifth-place showing, while Egli (190) was sixth.

At the beginning of the season, Brown was on the fence about even going out for wrestling given he was graduating early.

“I finished my career the way I wanted to finish it,” Brown said. “I didn’t even know if I was going to go out this year, but Coach Thompson told me this would be my year to place and make the last memories for my high school career, so I told him I would.”

After a couple of intense conversations with head coach Bobby Thompson, Brown decided to give it one last try.

“Rylee and I had a couple of talks. He was thinking he just wanted to work,” Thompson said. “He finally came to me and said he changed his mind and decided to going out.

“He gave it everything he had and even more at the end of the year. After that match (quarterfinals), he knew it was the right decision. He’ll always have that memory now.”

Brown (31-9), who entered as the 10 seed, knocked off second-seeded Noah Hawk-Erwin (29-5) of Linn-Mar. Hawk-Erwin wound up placing third at the weight.

Brown lost in the semifinals to Calvin Rathjen (27-3) of Ankeny, 13-3, who wound up being the state runner-up.

“I ended up making it all the way to the semis after never placing in high school,” Brown said. “My goal was to get on the podium and get my name on that wall in the wrestling room. It means a lot to accomplish that.”

The Dodger senior lost a tight 5-4 decision to Dokken Biladeau (33-9) of Southeast Polk in the consolation semifinals.

He finished his career with a 10-7 SV-1 victory over Cole Green (33-4) of North Scott, the four seed.

Brown won four matches here this week, with upset wins over the second, fourth and seventh seeds.

Brown finishes his career with a record of 121-72, tied for 17th on FDSH’s all-time win list with 2006 graduate Riley Lindner (121-17) and former state champion Carson Taylor (121-19, a 2020 grad).

Egli (28-11) joined his classmate in the upset circle, also knocking off the No. 2 seed to reach the semis and finally reaching the medal round.

“Joining my brothers on that placement wall (in the Dodger wrestling room) means the world,” said Egli, who will play football at Northwestern with brothers Ben and Levi. “Bobby (Thompson) is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.

“The whole staff is phenomenal. They have helped shape me into the person I am today.”

Egli shocked No. 2 Andy Franke (44-2) of Muscatine, 4-2. It was more than just an upset for Egli, who lost 16-3 to Franke earlier in the season.

The Dodger senior dropped a tight 4-2 match in the semifinals to Louden Bloxham (23-4) of Cedar Rapids Prairie, who was the eventual runner-up.

Egli fell in both of his consolation matches, 4-0 and 7-2. He lost to Dalton Zednichek of Marshalltown (4-0), who placed fourth, and Victor Esparza of Norwalk (7-2).

“Jesse and Rylee wanted more than fifth and sixth, but they had outstanding tournaments and careers here,” Thompson said. “Jesse is pretty upset about losing tight matches, but they were close.

“I’m so proud of him. I always have been.”

Egli finished his career 116-72 and is 21st on Fort Dodge’s all-time win list.

The final Egli brother joined his siblings on the medal wall. Oldest brother Duke was third and eighth. Jonah (5th, and 6th), Levi (3rd and 5th) and Ben (3rd) all medaled as well.