Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Rylee Brown of Fort Dodge pins Waterloo East Narshawn Pompilus on Thursday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Rylee Brown just didn’t want to let his teammates down.

With a dual victory hanging in the balance and on his shoulders, Fort Dodge’s two-time state qualifier knew exactly what he needed to do here on Thursday night.

The Dodgers (4-3 overall) trailed 30-28 heading into the final match, which featured Brown. He was quickly the aggressor and took a shot, putting Waterloo East freshman Norshawn Pompilus on tilt.

After a reset, Brown stuck Pompilus and kept him there for a fall in 1:43, clinching Fort Dodge’s fourth dual victory of the season in a 34-30 final.

“As I was warming up, I just put it in my head, ‘I have to give it my best,'” Brown said. “I can’t let my teammates down. I have to wrestle all three periods hard and find a way to pin him.”

With a depleted lineup and seven freshmen in action, Fort Dodge squeaked out the home victory. The Dodgers won seven matches, and five came with bonus points.

The victory was the 298th in head coach Bobby Thompson’s career, and his 176th at Fort Dodge in season No. 20.

“To have a veteran a two-time state qualifier in that spot is what you want,” Thompson said. “He was obviously looking for points and went out being the aggressor.

“Rylee has really come on in the last few outings.”

Three of Fort Dodge’s freshmen picked up victories.

“A dual like this is good for the young kids,” Thompson said. “It gives them the experience and chance to get quality mat time.

“Matches like that in January will have a big effect on February. We have a couple more tournaments and then in three weeks, we will be in the postseason.

“Every win counts for seeding and percentage.”

Freshman Cael Adams (3-0 in duals) started the meet with a fall in 1:53 over Trent Keller at 165 pounds. Two-time state qualifier and fifth-ranked (IAwrestle) Jesse Egli followed with a 14-1 major decision over George Tyler at 175 pounds.

“Cael got a big win for us to start the dual,” Thompson said. “And to get bonus points from a veteran like Jesse was huge.”

Freshman Kadince Kisler (132) earned a hard fought tight 8-7 decision over Brody Hall. Classmate Drake Hayes (126) picked up a forfeit victory.

The match of the evening may have been the ranked contest at 106 with Fort Dodge’s No. 8 Trace Rial and Waterloo East’s 12th-rated Mariyon Norton. The only points of the match came on a reversal from Rial in the third period, after he held Norton down for the second.

“That was a big win for Trace against a senior 106-pounder,” Thompson said. “Trace tweaked his ankle in the match, but fought through it for the win.”

Eighth-ranked Joe Constable (285) picked up a forfeit victory.

Angel Sandoval and Brexton Hines scored wins for the FDSH junior varsity squad.

The Dodgers are back in action on Saturday when they head to the Mendenhall Invitational in Ames. Joining the Dodgers and Little Cyclones will be Ankeny, Ankeny Centennial, Ballard, Bettendorf, Boone, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Dowling, Indianola, Iowa City High, Perry, Spencer, Valley, and Waverly-Shell Rock.

The invitational will begin at 10 a.m.

FORT DODGE 34, WATERLOO EAST 30

165 — Cael Adams, FD pinned Trent Keller, 1:53; 175 — Jesse Egli, FD major dec. George Tyler, 14-1; 190 — Chance Shaw, WE major dec. John Phan, 14-2; 215 — Christopher Foss, WE pinned Kaden Nichols, 4:50; 285 — Joe Constable, FD won by forfeit; 106 — Trace Rial, FD dec. Mariyon Norton, 2-0; 113 — Nolan Pfalzgraf, WE dec. Damien Yeoman, 11-9; 120 — DeShawn Parrow, WE dec. Hunter Kasperbauer, 11-7; 126 — Drake Hayes, FD won by forfeit; 132 — Kadince Kisler, FD dec. Brody Hall, 8-7; 138 — Georvon Tyler, WE pinned Amari McCaleb, 3:48; 144 — Isaac Lomas, WE pinned Brock Trexler, :36; 150 — Tyrone Parrow, WE dec. Hunter Richardson, 12-10; 157 — Rylee Brown, FD pinned Norshawn Pompilus, 1:43.