Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Rylee Brown of Fort Dodge works his way toward a win at the state tournament in Des Moines on Wednesday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — Rylee Brown has been waiting for a day like this at the state tournament.

The Fort Dodge senior passed his first two tests at the state tournament, and the four-time state qualifier is inching closer to earning an elusive medal.

Brown (29-7 at 165 pounds) was joined by classmates Jesse Egli (190), top-seeded Dreshaun Ross (285) and freshman Knox Ayala (106) in the quarterfinals.

Damien Yeoman (113), and Trace Rial (120) are still alive on the backside, while senior Caiden Fraher (157) was eliminated from the tourney.

Brown had gone a combined 1-6 in his state appearances before Thursday, and had never made it out of the second round until Wednesday inside the Casey’s Center.

“Going into the first match I just told myself I can do this. Let’s do this,” Brown said. “It’s my last year to show everyone who I am and I kept that same thing in my head for the second match and I ended up winning that one, too.

“I’m just going to keep a positive attitude the rest of the tournament and I’m going to give it all I’ve got. It definitely feels good to know that I’m one win away from the podium.”

In the opening round, the 10th-seeded Brown dominated Bondurant-Farrar’s Collin Summers for a 15-0 technical fall in 2:18. Brown beat Summers in the true second match at the district meet.

Brown then advanced with a 7-2 decision over Kinnick Thompson (31-12) — his fourth victory over Thompson this season.

Now Brown — one of nine total double-digit seeds in the quarters — will square off with second-seed Noah Hawk-Erwin (25-4) of Linn-Mar.

“Rylee wrestled well against some familiar opponents, which is always tough,” said FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson who is in his final season at the helm. “He dominated both of them and beat the Johnston kid for the fourth time.”

Ross (32-0) had the fastest tech fall of the day, beating Armon Williams (28-13) of Bettendorf in 56 seconds, 21-6.

Ross, who is now 13-0 at the state tournament in his career, will face eighth-seeded Cael Roberts (22-13) of Southeast Polk.

“It feels good to start off and get the first match out of the way and just move onto the next,” Ross said. “It’s awesome to see (teammates) go out there and have success with me.

“I love cheering them on and being there for them.”

The Oklahoma State University commit has now won 136 consecutive matches for FDSH, and is 143-2 in his prep career. He will look to bring the 68th overall state championship to the halls of FDSH, as he is currently one of nine Dodgers to be a multi-time gold medalist.

The tech fall was the 29th of Ross’ season, and he has not let an opponent out of the first round yet this year.

“It’s pretty impressive to watch Dreshaun warm up,” Thompson said. “He takes every step like it’s a big championship match.

“He is on his game all the time. That’s what makes him special.”

Egli (27-8) had an easy task in the first round, earning a 14-1 major decision over Chase Brunscheen (28-8) of Western Dubuque. Egli, the seven seed, will now have second-seeded Andy Franke (40-1) of Muscatine.

“I feel like I wrestled well,” Egli said. “My conditioning felt good and I am as calm as I’ve ever been.

“Give praises to God and move onto the next match.”

Egli, the youngest brother of the five Eglis (Duke, Jonah, Ben and Levi), is looking for his first state medal.

Brown is now 119-69 in his career. Egli is 115-69.

“Jesse looked good in his opener,” Thompson said. “Now he has a tough matchup in the next round, but he’s prepared.”

Ayala (28-5) the youngest brother of three-time state champion Drake Ayala and four-time medalist Dru Ayala, breezed through his first opponent after a tough opening period.

“I was pretty nervous for the first time out there, but I got it done,” Ayala said. “It was a rough first period, but I saw him getting tired so I had to put the pace on him.

“I’m glad to get the first win out of the way.”

Ayala earned a 25-9 tech fall in 4:29 over Eddie Salgado (33-11) of Ankeny.

“Knox wrestled with a few jitters,” Thompson said. “There’s a lot to take in in your first time down there.

“With all of the media hype and everything behind you, he just has to put that in his rearview mirror.”

The fourth-seed freshman will now face No. 5 senior Lucas Reeder (47-3) of Pleasant Valley.

Ninth-seeded Rial (29-9) earned a fall over Joshua Saavedra (16-17) of Mason City in 3:53 of the first round.

Rial, the oldest son of two-time state champion Mark Rial, then lost by fall in 52 seconds to eighth-seeded Kayden Eller (29-13) of Dowling. The Dodger junior stayed alive with a 21-3 tech fall in 2:55 over Braxton Hummel (26-20) of Carlisle.

Rial will now wrestle 18th-seed Max Panosh (28-14) of Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

“In Trace’s second match, we didn’t get to the point we wanted and the strategy didn’t work,” Thompson said. “We regrouped and he got a tech in the wrestleback. Now he wants to push for the medal stand.”

Yeoman (27-12), the seventh seed, lost by fall to 10th-seeded Kylan Walsh (29-10) in 3:52 of the second round. The Dodger sophomore bounced back with a 17-2 tech fall in 2:29 over No. 24 Cameron Moeckly (16-21) of Ankeny Centennial.

Up next for Yeoman is 15th-seed Cole Buck (22-10) of North Scott.

“Damien got knocked off against a tough Linn-Mar kid,” Thompson said. “He made a couple of mistakes, but came out strong in the wrestleback.”

Fraher (21-17), who was making his only state appearance, lost a tough 6-3 decision to Jireh Gaye (19-10) of Urbandale in the opener. He was then was eliminated by Brady Cochran (35-10) of Valley by an 18-4 decision.

“Caiden had a chance in his first match (up 3-2 in the third period),” Thompson said. “We needed to win that one. He had a good year. That second match may not reflect it, but he battled hard and that’s a tribute to going out tough as a senior.”

The Dodgers are back in action on Thursday. The session begins at 2:30 p.m. with Class 2A first-round and second-round actions. Class 3A quarterfinals and consolations will follow.