IOWA CITY — Drake Ayala has no regrets on his career at the University of Iowa.

The three-time Fort Dodge state champion has gone through some ups and downs, but in the end the troubles and triumphs have built him into the person he is as a senior Hawkeye.

“There are growing pains in college,” Ayala said. “I’ve suffered some of those, but being at Iowa is exactly what I dreamed about and more.

“I’m grateful for everything that’s happened — no regrets.”

Ayala will enter his final Big Ten Championships as the fifth-seed at 133 pounds on Saturday.

The two-day state tournament will be held in College Station, Pa.

“I’m just super excited and have the same feelings I’ve had the last two years,” Ayala said. “It’s completely lining up. It’s biter sweet and will be my last hurrah.

“This is my last Big Ten Championships and national tournament. I don’t know what the future holds for me, so I’m going to let it fly and let it rip to represent the Iowa Hawkeyes and be in the position to have fun and enjoy.”

The 171 match winner for the Dodgers, took the nation by strom as a sophomore and junior, punching tickets to the finals the past two seasons.

In his sophomore campaign he went 27-5 and placed third at the Big Ten Championships. He was a runner up at 125 pounds in the national tournament.

“Coming to Iowa, I still had some growing up to do, so I gained a lot of maturity,” Ayala said. “The experiences have been great and as a kid I had been to all the big arenas, so I kind of did that early on.

“But these guys are my best friends and I’ve made some lasting relationships as I’ve grown into a man.”

Last season he was 21-3 and a Big Ten runner-up. He repeated as a national runner up, this time at 133 pounds.

“Obviously from my first time in the finals, last year was a lot harder,” Ayala said. “I took a longer break and that helped, because losing motivates me. I think about losses all the time. It’s my every day motivation.

“That’s my story — no regrets.”

With success comes a new standard and new expectations, not for what Ayala could do on the mat, but what he could do for his teammates.

“I take pride in it (being a leader),” Ayala said. “I get to be a leader of this program and I wear that on my chest.

“I lead by example, by how I lead my life, then things take care of themselves. But If I need to be a vocal leader I can.”

When Ayala stepped onto the mat as a true freshman for the Hawkeyes, there was no waiting around. He made his name known.

He went 17-8 as a freshman and placed eighth in the Big Ten tournament and earned an NCAA bid. He was the third true freshman to compete at the NCAA Championships under head coach Tom Brands.

Ayala took a red-shirt the following year, going 13-1 unattached for the Hawkeyes.

“I wanted to come to Iowa for a number of things,” Ayala said. “The first thing was that Tom and Terry (Brands) are very similar to my high school coaches, and TJ Sebolt. They had success and I wanted to stay with that same aspect.

“When I came on my visit, I saw how they cared for you and the bond was close.”

Entering the Big Ten tournament, Ayala carries a 74-23 career record.

“I will definitely remember the relationships,” Ayala said. “The thing that sticks out is what they taught me and the maturity to become what I am and the relationships with teammates and coaches.”

As always the guiding force for Ayala has been the connection with his family and his community.

“The support from my family is huge,” Ayala said. “I hope that my supporters know I read what they say on social media and I see it and my parents tell me. Everyone’s support means a lot to me.

“They have my back through the good and the bad. I’m proud of Fort Dodge and they’re proud of me. Fort Dodge is always in my heart. My family has been with me the whole way. They are who I do it for — my family and my friends.”

In his final two seasons, Ayala has spent time with his brother Dru Ayala.

“It’s awesome to be on the same team again with my brother,” Ayala said. “It’s cool to live in a house together with a built-in best friend.”