Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Fort Dodge's Dru Ayala competes in the state finals last season.

IOWA CITY — Dru Ayala is ready to take his wrestling experience to the next — and ultimate — level.

Fort Dodge’s two-time state runner-up announced his verbal commitment to the University of Iowa wrestling program on Monday evening. Ayala will join his older brother, Drake, on the Hawkeye roster beginning in the fall of 2024.

“The main factors were the great coaching staff, partners in the room and my education,” Ayala said. “It has motivated me a lot, seeing Drake wrestle (for head coach Tom Brands’ Big Ten powerhouse). I knew I wanted to push myself to be up there with him.”

Ayala is a consensus Top-75 national recruit for his current high school senior class. The Dodger star is the country’s 14th-ranked prep grappler at 113 pounds, according to FloWrestling.

Ayala has a career record of 106-12 with FDSH. He placed fifth at state as a freshman in 2021, then earned silver medals in each of the last two seasons.

Ayala is projected to compete at 120 pounds this year for the Dodgers. He is a combined 79-6 during his two-time runner-up stretch, becoming just the 14th FDSH wrestler since 1960 to reach multiple state finals.

Ayala is also a three-time Fargo Nationals All-American.

“My main goals (for 2023-24) are to be a state champ and Fargo champ,” Ayala said. “It’s my last (opportunity) to get them and will help me in my (transition) to (the collegiate level).”

Ayala is one of four former Dodger state finalists returning to head coach Bobby Thompson’s lineup this winter, joining sophomore Dreshaun Ross (champion in 2023), senior Damarion Ross (runner-up in 2023) and junior Koy Davidson (runner-up in 2022).

Last spring, Ayala brought home silver from Folkstyle Nationals and a title from the AAU state tournament.

Drake Ayala, a three-time FDSH state champ, will be a redshirt sophomore at 125 pounds this season with the Hawkeyes.

Dru Ayala is the seventh Div. I Dodger wrestling recruit since 2015, joining Sam Cook (Iowa), Triston Lara (Northern Iowa/Oregon State), Brody Teske (Penn State/UNI/Iowa), Drew Bennett (UNI/Iowa), Cayd Lara (UNI) and Drake Ayala. He is also the 18th athlete from Webster County to commit to a University of Iowa athletic program since 2015, adding to a list that includes former Dodgers Cook, Teske, Bennett, Mallory Kilian (softball), Jalen Adams (softball), Tory Bennett (softball), Tristin Doster (softball), Kole Kampen (baseball), Taylor Hartley (swimming), Andrew Fierke (swimming), Elora Fierke (rowing) and Eileen Fierke (rowing), as well as ex-Southeast Valley standouts Kyler Fisher (football), Aaron Graves (football) and Kiersten Fisher (track). St. Edmond’s Mariah Myers (softball) is a future Hawkeye as well.