The Fort Dodge wrestling team has spent this entire season trying to get on the same page.

The eighth-ranked (IAwrestle) Dodgers aren’t quite there yet, but they may receive the spark they’ve been looking for on Thursday with the potential return of two-time state champion Dreshaun Ross.

The FDSH junior superstar is one doctor’s approval away from returning to the mat after completing nearly six full months of recovery from shoulder surgery. Ross has been sidelined since the summer as he works his way back, and he has an appointment earlier in the day on Thursday – hours before his Dodgers visit Ames for an Iowa Alliance Conference Northern Division dual.

“He’s obviously chomping at the bit,” FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson said. “He’s gotten back into his pre-meet preparation mode, and you’ve seen him turn the corner both physically and mentally recently.

“The presence of Dreshaun obviously brings a different energy both to our room and any meet he competes in. And he’s hungry. He’s still following doctor’s orders, of course, so we won’t officially know until earlier in the day (Thursday). But we’re almost there.”

The Dodgers are also welcoming another defending gold medalist, Koy Davidson, back to the lineup for the first time since before Christmas. The Oregon State University recruit has been recovering from a knee injury.

Like Ross at 215 pounds, Davidson is currently ranked No. 1 at 144 by IAwrestle.

“Having Koy back is obviously huge, too,” Thompson said. “You’re talking about big point swings, both in duals and tournaments. That should help light a fire.

“We’re getting closer and closer to the postseason…it’s time to go and increase our sense of urgency. I really believe getting closer to a full lineup, hopefully very soon, is going to be a real boost to our energy, morale and just our overall performance.”

Unfortunately for Fort Dodge, the squad isn’t quite there yet. Sophomore standout Trace Rial (rated 9th at 106) is recovering from a foot injury and hopes to return next week. Junior Jesse Egli, ranked 10th at 175, will miss Thursday’s meet as well to attend a family funeral.

Sophomore Joe Constable (No. 6 at 285) and junior Rylee Brown (11th at 157) are the Dodgers’ other ranked competitors.

Ames has spent most of the season in Class 3A’s Top-10 as well. The Little Cyclones are anchored by No. 1 (126) Christian Castillo and top-rated (150) Jabari Hinson, who recently committed to Arizona State University.

Braxton Winkey (138), Jackson Winkey (175) and Cole Martin (190) have spent most of the season ranked for Ames as well.

On Saturday, the Dodgers head to Cedar Rapids Jefferson for the J-Hawk Invitational. Fort Dodge will be joined by Alburnett, Bondurant-Farrar, Boone, Cedar Falls, Clinton, Dallas Center-Grimes, Davenport Central, Davenport North, Forest City, Fort Madison, Iowa City High, Muscatine, Pleasant Valley, West Des Moines Valley, Waterloo East and Waukee Northwest.

PROJECTED DODGER LINEUP

106 — Damien Yeoman, fr.; 113 — Hunter Kasperbauer, jr.; 120 – Angel Sandoval, jr.; 126 — Drake Hayes, fr.; 132 — Kadince Kisler, fr.; 138 — Brock Trexler, fr.; 144 – Koy Davidson, sr.; 150 — Hunter Richardson, sr.; 157 — Rylee Brown, jr.; 165 — Cael Adams, fr.; 175 — John Phan, sr.; 190 — Kason Echevarria, so.; 215 — Dreshaun Ross, jr.; 285 — Joe Constable, so.