Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge teammates Mariaha Benedict (left) and Ava Potter will head to the girls state wrestling meet, which begins on Thursday in Coralville.

CORALVILLE — Mariaha Benedict felt something had to change after walking away from the state tournament last season.

She had won her fifth-place match, but the Fort Dodge standout wrestler has much higher goals.

“My placement at state last year left me very disappointed — especially since I had beaten the (eventual) state champ multiple times,” said Benedict, now a senior. “I fixed my mindset to stop focusing so much on winning, and instead focus on how I’m wrestling.

“My coaches say take it one match at a time, and that’s what I need to do.”

The third-ranked (IAwrestle) Benedict (43-5) is making her fourth state trip in as many years, and will be the four seed in the 135-pound Class 2A bracket beginning Thursday.

The Northwestern College commit won’t be alone, as Benedict will be joined by eighth-ranked Dodger freshman Ava Potter (235).

“From the first time I saw Ava at Iron Sharpens Iron (camp in the summer) until now, she has made changes comparable to what a freshman to sophomore would make,” said FDSH head coach Jon Koenig. “She has grown in her fundamentals and is now a heavyweight with a much more complete knowledge of what she’s doing and why.

“Ava does a lot of extra work that nobody sees.”

Benedict will finish her career as Fort Dodge’s all-time winningest girls wrestler. She enters the state tournament with a career mark of 161-35 overall.

“Being back at state for the fourth time is a great feeling,” Benedict said. “I know I’ve earned my spot. I never took a break after state last year; I went right back to training.

“I was wrestling all of the national tournaments, just trying to get as good as possible, because I knew I only had one year left. I know this tournament will be hard, and I believe that I have put in the work to do great things this week.”

Bendict will first face Malia Mchugh (38-11) of Hinton. Bella Miller (26-0) of Dubuque Hempstead is the top seed at 135.

The second seed is Lexa Rozevink (39-1) of Ames, and the No. 3 seed is Addie Nelson (39-2) of Southeast Polk.

Benedict has helped spearhead a Dodger team that has been much more successful top to bottom. Fort Dodge compiled eight dual wins and has made more of a push at tournaments thanks in large part to a strong freshman class.

“Mariaha definitely took on the captain role as a senior,” Koenig said. “She’s done a great job with the freshmen.

“She does what it takes behind the scenes, putting in the hours and working hard. She sets a good example.”

Potter has compiled a 39-5 record out of the gate and will enter the tourney as the fourth seed at 235 pounds.

“This season has been amazing,” Potter said. “We started to see tougher competition and I definitely had to adjust a bit to that and just change a little bit of my wrestling.

“There wasn’t a big adjustment to high school, as I was wrestling up in high school divisions in tournaments, so the standard was already to put in the work if I wanted to see the results.”

Potter will square off with Serenity Dawkins (13-6) of Cedar Rapids Washington. The top seed at 235 is Emelia Reyes (39-1) of Cedar Rapids Prairie.

The No. 2 seed is Deliilah Subsin (31-3) of Ottumwa. Kinley Jimenez (28-4) of South Tama is the 3.

“Ava works hard to get where she is,” Koenig said. “After practice she goes to work at Casablanca (Steakhouse). She gets great grades, and is doing this as a freshman. She has great potential.

“She has toughness and grit.”

Potter is the only freshman in the 235-pound weight bracket.

“It means a lot for me to be competing at state,” Potter said. “It’s always been a goal of mine, and I’m so glad to be able to be beside Mariaha. I’m looking forward to the experience.

“My goal for the tournament is to just go out there and be a hammer and get the first two wins, then see what I need to adjust and come out on Friday ready to go and ready for any competition. I want to go out there and win it.”

The Class 2A portion of the state tournament begins at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday inside the Xtream Arena.