Photo by Caden Shea, The Globe-Gazette: Fort Dodge's Mariaha Benedict has her hand raised after winning in the 135-pound Class 2A division on Thursday in Coralville.

CORALVILLE — On the ride to the state tournament, Mariaha Benedict and Ava Potter were reminiscing about the first time they met.

It was this past summer at the Iron Sharpens Iron camp and the freshman Potter was a little hesitant to speak to Benedict — Fort Dodge’s all-time wins leader and senior captain.

“We were talking in the car about that moment,” said FDSH head coach Jon Koenig. “Their first encounter was at the Iron Sharpens Iron and Ava didn’t know what to think, going up to the captain.

“Now they’ve melded together and have created a friendship. They have given each other good things and have benefited from each other’s presence.”

After a strong regular season and a budding friendship, the Dodger duo finds itself in the Class 2A girls state semifinals inside Xtreme Arena.

“When I looked at it, I felt we had a shot of both of them reaching the semis,” Koenig said. “They both came and did what they needed to do.

“Now, it ramps up.”

Benedict (45-5) is making her fourth state appearance after a fifth-place performance a year ago. The Northwestern College commit made quick work of her first two opponents at 135 pounds, as the No. 4 seed picked up two falls.

“It’s honestly a great feeling to be in the semifinals,” Benedict said. “Especially considering this is my first time being in them.

“These were just some light matches, but I know (Friday), I have to turn it up a notch.”

Benedict pinned Malia McHugh (38-13) of Hinton in 39 seconds. The semifinals saw Benedict with a pin in 1:49 over Algona’s Sienna Fehr (32-12).

The Dodger senior is now 163-35 in her career and will face top-seeded junior Bella Miller (28-0) of Dubuque Hempstead one win away from the championship round.

“Bella beat me in the quarterfinals (at state) my sophomore year,” Benedict said. “She went on and ended up winning state. I know some of her moves, and I just have to wrestle hard, be aggressive, and do what I do.”

Miller finished third last year, but was a state champion her freshman season for Dubuque Wahlert.

“Mariaha came in knowing the game plan and got the job done,” Koenig said. “She set herself up for the biggest match of her career.

“(Benedict and Miller) met Mariaha’s sophomore year. We’ve done some studying on film. We are going to do what we normally do and go out there to earn her spot in the finals.”

Potter (41-5) had some rookie nerves, but they quickly went away once she hit the mat.

“I honestly was nervous when we got there, but after my first match, like always, everything started to calm down,” Potter said. “It means a lot to go into the semifinals. Nerves are high, but we’re not done yet and I have so much more wrestling to do.”

Potter picked up a fall in 4:26 of her 235-pound opener against Serenity Dawkins (13-8) of Cedar Rapids Washington.

“I noticed a little difference in the first match with the jitters,” Koenig said. “Ava tightened things up in the quarters and is moving on.

“We wrestled at the Donnybrook and that definitely helped Ava. The sights, the smells, the people…they all felt comfortable. She did her job.”

In the quarterfinals, Potter pinned Aysia Mosier (41-9) of Ankeny in 1:51.

“The day was good. We practiced early and then had a good warm-up,” Potter said. “In my first match I didn’t wrestle very smart, but then adjusted for the second.

“Mariaha and I are fired up and ready to go.”

The fourth-seeded Potter will now meet top-seeded junior Emelia Reyes (41-1) of Cedar Rapids Prairie in the semis on Friday. Reyes won by fall and major decision.

Reyes is a three-time qualifier with a career record of 91-25.

“In the beginning of the season before the Ridge View tourney, we (Potter) talked about what she wanted to and where she was at,” Koenig said. “She wrestled Kaylee Dejong, who was a (former state) runner-up, and Ava went out and beat her.

“She knew then that she’d be able to make a run at state.”

The Class 2A semifinals will begin at 9:30 a.m. and run until 11:30 a.m. Finals will start at 6:30 p.m. inside Xtreme Arena.