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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia -- Dreshaun Ross has been on big stages before.
Now, the entire world got a chance to see what the Fort Dodge Senior High graduate can do.
Ross got his first real taste of wrestling overseas, competing in the United World Wrestling U-20 World Championships this past weekend and earning a silver medal at 125 kg.
"The experience was extremely fun and exciting, getting to compete at my first world tournament," Ross said in an exclusive interview with The Messenger. "I'm already looking forward to my next overseas trip."
Ross ran into a talented competitor in the championship match, falling 5-3 to Abolfazl Mohammad Nezhad of Iran. Nezhad, 19, was a U23 world champion from 2025 and is a four-time world medalist overall.
"Earning silver is a great accomplishment," Ross said. "It's definitely not what I came here for, but it's something I can grow on and something that will help me elevate my wrestling career and become a better wrestler and human being."
Ross rolled to the championship round, as the freshman at Oklahoma State University won 4-1 over Azerbaijan's Yusif Dursunov. It was the first point he allowed in his four matches here, as Ross defeated his opponents leading up to the gold medal match by a combined 34-1.
"The atmosphere is definitely different than any other tournament I've competed in," Ross said. "With all the different countries cheering for their athletes and just being around foreign wrestlers and fans who celebrate and act differently than what Americans do, it was definitely (a learning experience). But it was really cool to witness."
In his first match, Ross cruised past Baejoon Jang of Korea, 10-0. It was an identical score in the next round, as he topped Riza Izakhar of Kazakhstan. Ross then reached the semifinals with a 10-0 win over Aleksandre Abramishvili of Georgia.
"This tournament was extremely fun and something Iáll remember for the rest of my career," Ross said.
Ross reached Slovakia from the U.S. Open, where he had to overcome an 8-6 loss to Coby Merrill in the 120 kg championship match. That got the four-time Dodger state champion to the U20 World Team Trials, where he pinned Dean Bechtold in 53 seconds and then beat Michael Mocco, 11-0, to set up a rematch with Merrill.
Ross had a 146-2 record at FDSH, winning his final 139 matches.
Ross wasn't the only Iowans in attendance. His entire family -- along with former Dodger wrestling coaches Bobby Thompson and Ed Birnbaum and long-time assistant Tanner Utley -- made the trip as well.
"It was great having not only my entire family, but my high school coaches travel across the world to support me and watch me chase a dream of mine, and it just honestly shows the character of all of them and the support and belief they have in me," Ross said. "It's amazing to have not only them, but all of my family there cheering me on and having my back all the time."
Thompson, who coached Ross as a Dodger, was amazed by the experience.
"This has been an honor and a privilege to watch Dreshaun compete at this level and take the next steps toward his future goals," Thompson said. "I'm unbelievably excited for his next chapter."