Girls Wrestling

FORT DODGE GIRLS WRESTLING

Dodger girls ready to take their turn

By CHRIS JOHNSON

cjohnson@messengernews.net

Jon Koenig knows this is just the beginning.

The numbers have been going up. The interest is growing and the participation is growing by the day.

Girls wrestling in the state of Iowa is the hot-bed sport and with the approval from the IGHSAU, the numbers are continuing to rise.

Wrestling in Fort Dodge has a strong history, and in the first season for the Dodger girls, their own story has begun.

When the season first got under way, Koenig didn’t know what to expect.

“It was really a big shocker the first night,’’ said Koenig, who was a state finalist in high school. “A lot of excitement. So those first two weeks, we pushed as much as we could.

“We started with teaching the fundamentals and working on that, then going from there.”

As the 2022-23 season progresses, Koening is simply looking for improvement each time out.

“After every practice, we talk about just getting better as you go,’’ Koenig said. “The girls have set some really high goals.

“I’m excited to see them chase it.”

The Dodgers won’t enter the season with all new faces, as senior Alexis Ross — a defending state individual champion — spearheads the group. Ross, who started her prep career with a bronze and silver medal, added gold to her repertoire in the final IWCOA state championship.

Ross is one of the top poundfor-pound competitors in the state, having compiled a 55-3 career record for the Dodgers.

On her way to the state championship a year ago, she hurt her knee in the semifinals and had to find a brace to finish out. She fought through the pain and claimed the school’s firstever girls state championship.

“Alexis is definitely pushing and fighting with all she’s got,’’ Koenig said. “This is her last go-round; she’s taking her ability and going down that tunnel that gets narrower and narrower, until she gets on top of the podium.

“She’s been in the finals and knows what that feels like. She’s driven and focused.”

Ross has also been a big help in bringing the newer girls along.

“She’s been great over the past couple of weeks,’’ Koenig said. “She has been teaching technique and bouncing back and forth, helping the other girls out. She’s been like an assistant coach for me.

“Once the boys started, she was able to wrestle with them and get the training she needs.”

Fort Dodge will have wrestlers from Webster City and St. Edmond.

Heading into the first season, there are 12 athletes on the roster, including multi-sport competitors. State softball champions Lucy Porter and Macy Brown are on the mat.

“Lucy and Macy have been great,” Koenig said. “They know the routines of lifting and being part of a team. Knowing the way that Andi (Adams, FDSH softball coach) practices, they have a lot of grit, which is what you want when you are trying a new sport.”

Fort Dodge state swimming qualifier Hailey Vogel, along with fellow swimmers Maddie Pulis (Webster City), Gracie Harvey and St. Edmond’s Delaney O’Connor, are also giving the sport a go.

Alejandra Manzanilla, Jade Flatgard, Izzy Feldhaus, Kate Feltz and Emailie Perez will be in action as well. Webster City students are Pulis, Feltz, Feldhaus and Perez.

“We have a handful of girls from the swim team like Gracie, Delaney, Hailey and Maddie,’’ Koenig said. “Andee Barwin (of St. Edmond) wrestled at state last year. Now she has the team aspect as well and can go out and get better.

“Mariaha Benedict is a freshman, but I had her in middle school and she is super excited.”

The newest change to the season will be a regional qualifying round. There will be four regions around the state to qualify for the state meet.

Eight wrestlers from each region will advance to state in Coralville.

“There are a lot of ‘ifs’ this season,’’ Koenig said. “There is a plan, but we will have to see how everything works out. It’s a brand new sport, so the main thing is to get as many matches as we can and prepare for the postseason.”

Messenger photo by Britt Kudla FORT DODGE GIRLS WRESTLING TEAM MEMBERS are, front row (left to right): Mariaha Benedict, Gracie Harvey, Emalie Perez, Isabelle Feldhaus, Andee Barwin, Jade Flatgard and Macy Brown. Back: Alejandra Manzanilla, Lucy Porter, Kate Feltz, Alexis Ross, Delaney O’Connor, Hailey Vogel and Maddie Pulis. Not pictured: Adriana Manzanilla and Addison Weiss (managers).

HEAD COACH

Jon Koenig

1st year

ROSTER Alexis Ross................................sr. Andee Barwin ............................ jr. Maddie Pulis .............................. jr. Macy Brown............................... jr. Emalie Perez ............................ so. Hailey Vogel............................. so. Delaney O’Connor................... so. Jade Flatgard ............................ so. Izzy Feldhaus ........................... so. Lucy Porter .............................. so. Kate Feltz ...................................fr. Alejandra Manzanilla..................fr. Gracie Harvey ............................fr. Mariaha Benedict.......................fr.

SCHEDULE

Dec. 1-2 — at Iowa City (Donnybrook); 6 — at Waverly-Shell Rock; 9 — Des Moines schools; 17 — Fort Dodge Invitational.

Jan. 5 — Waterloo East; 7 — at Ames; 14 — at Waukee Northwest; 19 — at Des Moines East (conference meet); 24 — Mason City; 28 — districts.