Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge's Dreshaun Ross acknowledges the crowd at the Casey's Center in Des Moines after winning his fourth state wrestling championship. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — Dreshaun Ross of Fort Dodge invited the entire Casey’s Center to his show on Saturday night.

After winning his fourth championship — an iconic performance that cemented his legendary status in both the state and the sport — the fans knew what was coming next.

The Dodger senior walked to the edge of the mat, waving for the crowd to get on their feet and cheer for the fireworks that were about to take place.

He sprinted to the mat for his patented round-off cartwheel into a back-flip celebration for a second straight year, as the sold-out crowd gave him a standing ovation for becoming Iowa’s 34th four-time state wrestling champion.

“It’s insane to me, to this day, the support I’ve received,” Ross said. “There was a lot of excitement going in and competing in front of thousands of people.

“I just wanted to put on a show.”

Ross walked over and hugged FDSH veteran leader Bobby Thompson, who had just coached his last match as a head coach, as well as Dodger assistant Tom McClimon.

“It means the world to me (being a four-time state champion),” Ross said. “It’s hard to put into words.

“More proud of the person I am than the outcome of a wrestling tournament, though, because there’s a lot more to life than just wrestling.”

Ross then made his way over to his family, jumping clear of a table into the waiting arms of his parents, Amy and Andre, and his siblings.

“It was amazing to be able to run over there and embrace my family,” Ross said. “They’re who I do it for. They’ve given me everything.”

It was an emotional night for the top-ranked heavyweight recruit in the nation, and the stands remained packed to see what Ross would do for his finale.

“In my 34 years of coaching, most fans leave before the heavyweight match. This year, they stayed to watch the show,” said Thompson. “Dreshaun is a showman. He’s the Buffalo Bill of 2026.”

This championship was a memorable one. It’s his last school match before he heads to Stillwater to become an Oklahoma State Cowboy.

“I’m definitely not taking any of this for granted,” Ross said. “I’ll probably head to Stillwater in two weeks or so to start training (Ross has already accumulated enough high school credits to graduate early from FDSH).

“Right now, I’m just soaking it all in.”

It was tunnel vision in the Class 3A 285-pound championship against second-seeded Brady Hagan (36-5) of West Des Moines Dowling. Ross (35-0) immediately raced to the mat. Hagan had no answer for the onslaught, and the only question quickly became whether or not the match would make it out of the first period.

No opponent has gone more than two minutes this year against Ross in 35 matches. Hagan almost made it, but a late Ross flurry sealed the deal.

Ross recorded two of his seven takedowns in the final seven seconds of the frame for a 21-6 technical fall victory in 1:59.

The eighth winningest wrestler in Fort Dodge history at 146-2 made it a goal to keep his one-period streak intact.

“Dreshaun had a plan (for the finals),” Thompson said. “He went in wanting to end it in the first period.

“He is a generational talent. I don’t know if you will ever see anyone like him again. And it’s not just about wrestling…he’s a great person.”

Ross spent very little time on the mat in the tourney, winning his first round match and his semifinal match by identical 21-6 counts in 56 and 70 seconds, respectively.

“It’s hard to put into words what he accomplished,” Thompson said. “What it means for the town, the community and our program.

“It’s just special.”

Ross said his quarterfinal match, where he recorded a 41-second fall, was his most memorable match of the season — mostly because of what his teammates had accomplished to set the table.

“I have a few memorable matches,” Ross said. “This year would be the quarterfinals when Rylee (Brown) and Jesse (Egli) won their matches. I was so jacked up when I went into my match.

“My most memorable win was when I won my second state title (as a sophomore in 2024) with my brother (Damarion) and Koy (Davidson).”

Ross finished his state tournament career 16-0 with seven falls, six technical falls, a major decision and two decisions.

Ross joins 2018 FDSH graduate and all-time win leader Brody Teske (177-1) as the only four-time state champions in school history. He is the school’s 68th state wrestling champion overall.

Ross (.9864) finishes second behind only Teske (.994) for career win percentage. Teske lost once; Ross dropped two decisions as a freshman: to current Div. I wrestlers Cole Mirasola and McCrae Hagarty.

Mirasola is currently on the Penn State roster and is 14-4 at heavyweight. Hagarty is a 6-2 sophomore at Iowa State. Ross later avenged the setback to Hagarty with a 4-2, SV-1 win at the Ed Winger Classic.

The legendary Dodger won 139 straight matches, finishing with 88 falls, and 31 technical falls. He missed a significant portion of his junior year while recovering from a shoulder injury.

“He is just an epitome of what a Dodger is,” Thompson said. “(Sunday) morning, it started to sink in for me as far as what he just did, and that this would be the last time to be in his corner.

“It was a privilege and an honor to be in his corner.”

This marks the sixth title for the Ross siblings and the 14th medal overall. Dreshuaun, Drevon, Damarion and Alexis reached at least the state semifinals 11 times.

Alexis was a three-time finalist with a state title, two runner-up showing and a third-place medal.

Damarion was a champion, a runner-up and seventh place finisher, as well as being a four-time state qualifier.

Ross could have easily moved to Stillwater and started training, but wanted to make it a memorable last ride as a Dodger.

“I was born and raised in Fort Dodge, and it’s just something natural to me to love the Dodgers. It’s a special place in my heart and I would never want to go to any other school,” Ross said. “Doing this with Coach Thompson was incredible. He has been more than a coach. He’s always been there for more and helped me with anything I’d need.

“I wouldn’t want to go out any other way or with anyone else.”

Thompson received many congratulatory texts after Ross’ championship from former Dodgers and fans. One in particular stuck with him.

“Jim Sanford (a two-time state runner up in 1957 and 1958), a Fred Cooper disciple, texted me after Dreshaun’s match,” Thompson said. “He said, ‘Congratulations. That last one you got could fight a bear in the woods with a baseball bat and come out alive.’

“I laughed and said, ‘He wouldn’t need a bat.'”

Thompson’s coaching career has been filled with success, as the Dodgers won the traditional title and state dual championship in 2018.

“It’s a great way for me to go out by his side, along with Knox finishing third and two seniors earning their first medals,” Thompson said. “Dreshaun is an unbelievable, special person, but I’ve had a lot of them through the years.

“It’s been a great ride.”