MARSHALLTOWN — When Bobby Thompson graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High in 1983 and moved away, he wasn’t sure if he would ever return to Fort Dodge.

But deep down, Thompson always knew his local roots ran deep. Even when he wasn’t coaching in Fort Dodge, he was always a Dodger at heart.

In his 20th season as Fort Dodge wrestling coach, Thompson has piled up plenty of memories along the way. Tonight, he will look for his 300th career dual victory.

“When I left, I never really thought I would come back,” Thompson said. “With the era I wrestled in in the 1980s, you were always proud to be a Dodger and wear Red and Black. When I coached at Ames with (Brad) Bruhl, (Brent) Helmkamp and (Tim) Ascherl, if we weren’t competing against the Dodgers, we would root for them.”

After stints in Nebraska, Georgia, Oklahoma and Missouri, Thompson moved closer to home. He coached four seasons in Ames and three in Humboldt before returning to his alma mater in 2004.

“It’s a special program, with homegrown kids,” Thompson said. “It’s a very prestigious honor to be a part of this program and now to be able to coach these kids.”

Thompson isn’t concerned about the career milestone, in fact he is more worried about the tasks at hand.

“To me it’s just another win,” Thompson said. “It’s about the kids and the program, it doesn’t mean anything. I want us to take care of what is right in front of us and go 2-0 and then get ready for a big weekend.

“We have a big weekend to work on our seeding. I’m not looking behind what was and looking toward right now.”

The Dodgers will travel to Marshalltown on Thursday and face the Bobcats at 5:30 p.m. The Dodger girls will also wrestle Marshalltown at the same time on the second mat.

Fort Dodge will then face second-ranked (IAwrestle) Waverly-Shell Rock with junior varsity on the other mat.

“Marshalltown has had a full lineup and Waverly-Shell Rock is solid,” Thompson said. “They both have been fighting through illness, so we’re not sure of what we will see (tonight).”

The Dodgers are coming off a weekend visit to the J-Hawk Invitational in Cedar Rapids.

Two-time state champion and top-ranked Dreshaun Ross (215) returned to the tournament trail for the first time.

Ross went 4-0 in Cedar Rapids to make him 5-0 on the season. He currently sits with 96 career victories and only two losses.

“With Dreshaun and Koy both back in the room, it has made a huge difference,” Thompson said. “They held a captain’s practice the other day and the kids listened and showed respect to them. Dreshaun just has a great personality and charisma. He doesn’t see himself as a two-time state champion, he’s just one of the guys.

“He and Koy don’t have an ego, it’s just kind of a cultural thing for us. Everyone is always cheering on their teammates. Running to the next mat to see how their teammate is doing.”

Davidson, ranked No. 1, claimed the 144 pound championship in Cedar Rapids with a fall, tech fall and two major decisions.

Joe Constable was second at 285 pounds. Rylee Brown (157), Jesse Egli (175) and Damien Yeoman (106) all placed third.

On Saturday the Dodgers will compete in the ultra-competitive Ed Winger Invitational.

Joining the Dodgers and host Urbandale will be Ames, Ankeny Centennial, Bettendorf, Carlisle, Cedar Falls, Dallas-Center Grimes, Dowling, Glenwood, Johnston, Lewis Central, North Scott, Norwalk, PCM, Southeast Polk, Underwood, Valley, Waukee, Waukee Northwest and Waverly-Shell Rock.

“This is a very tough tournament and will be good for seeding down the road,” Thompson said. “The season is winding down and districts will be here soon, so we have to keep competing and building our resumes.”

Action begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

PROBABLE DODGER LINEUP

106 — Damien Yeoman, fr., (24-13); 113 — Hunter Kasperbauer, jr. (7-18); 120 — Angel Sandoval, jr., (0-0); 126 –Drake Hayes, fr., (3-3); 132 — Kadince Kisler, fr., (5-7); 138 — Amari McCaleb, fr., (11-9) 144 — Koy Davidson, sr., (23-1); 150 — Hunter Kasperbauer, sr., (8-19); 157 — Rylee Brown, jr., (24-12); Jace Skow, so., (9-16); 175 — Jesse Egli, jr., (23-8); 190 — John Phan, sr., ( 215 — Dreshaun Ross, jr., (5-0); 285 — Joe Constable, so., (28-4).