COUNCIL BLUFFS — The Fort Dodge wrestling team entered into action at the Council Bluffs Classic on Friday, battling through opening round pool matches before starting bracket battles inside Mid-America Center.

The Dodgers are currently tied for 13th in the team standings with 95.5 points. They are the fifth-highest Iowa school and just seven points back of Sergeant Bluff-Luton, who is seventh.

“Overall we’ve been wrestling better,” said Fort Dodge head coach Bobby Thompson. “We’re facing different competition than last week, so it’s a good change of pace.

“It’s kind of nice to see the guys on the silver bracket wrestle some guys of their caliber.”

Advancing into the quarterfinals were Trace Rial, Koy Davidson, Rylee Brown, Jesse Egli and Joe Constable.

Rial, who earned a fall Thursday night in a dual vs. Des Moines East, picked up two technical falls, a major decision and a medical forfeit at 106 pounds. He bested Judson Francis of Smithville in the championship bracket with a technical fall in just under three minutes.

Up next for the Dodger sophomore will be Josh Gray from Sergeant Bluff-Luton, a freshman who is 8-3.

“Trace has been hammering it out,” Thompson said. “He is also in a tough weight class and has three No. 1 kids from different states in his bracket.”

Davidson, a defending state champion, pinned his way through the day at 144. He scored three first period falls in pool action before sticking Mandius Volentine of Lewis Central in the championship bracket in 3:20.

The top seed, Davidson will face Gavin Pedersen of Grand Island, Neb., a junior who is 10-0 on the year.

“Koy is starting to get the range of motion back in his knee after surgery,” Thompson said. “He’s getting better each outing and he is in arguably one of the toughest brackets in the tournament.”

Brown swept through his four pool matches, claiming two technical falls and a pair of decisions before adding a 12-9 decision over Kaden Harder from Grand Island to move into the quarters at 157 where he will face Ben McAllister of Millard West, a junior who is 9-1.

“This is big for Rylee, after being in the silver bracket last year,” Thompson said. “He’s in a tough weight class and this should definitely build his confidence.”

Egli reeled off four straight falls after a bye to start his day, including two in the first period. In the championship round at 175, he pinned Jackson Winkey from Ames in 5:39.

Up next for Egli will be Jaeston Delano, a junior from Columbus, Neb. who is 9-0 on the year.

“Jesse wrestled solid, going undefeated in pool play,” Thompson said. “He was losing to the kid from Ames and threw a headlock and pinned him at the end.”

Constable stormed through the heavyweight field, earning two pins and a technical fall. After besting Darrius Helms of South Sioux City in the quarters, 7-2, he gets Lamarcus Barber, a 6-1 junior from Mill Valley, Kan. next.

“Joe had a good win to reach the quarterfinals against a senior who has a good record,” Thompson said. “This is one of the best times I’ve seen him wrestle. He was real patient in that match and separated himself — he wore that kid out.”

Damien Yeoman fell in the championship round at 113 after earning a technical fall in pool matches. The freshman can still place as high as fifth.

Bo Marsh went 3-2 on the day and is in the quarterfinals at 132 in the consolation side where he faces Treyton Kropatsch of Columbus, a freshman who is 4-5.

Hunter Richardson claimed a major decision in the consolation opening round at 150 after going 1-3 in pool matches. The senior gets Grand Island sophomore Joden Schumacher next.

Amari McCaleb was 2-3 but lost via medical forfeit in the consolation first round at 138. Hunter Kasperbauer and Kaden Nichols can both finish as high as fifth in the consolation brackets at 120 and 215.

Action begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.