high school wrestling

Fort Dodge, Iowa – Dreshaun Ross cemented his legacy as one of Iowa’s greatest high school wrestlers on Saturday, February 21, 2026, capturing his fourth state title at the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament. The Fort Dodge senior heavyweight defeated Dowling Catholic’s Brady Hagan with a technical fall, 21-6, in the Class 3A final, completing a dominant run through the tournament and finishing his high school career with a remarkable 146-2 record.

Ross’s victory makes him the 34th four-time Iowa boys state champion, according to tournament results. He joins Brody Teske as the only wrestlers in Fort Dodge history to achieve the feat. Throughout the tournament, Ross showcased his exceptional skill, winning all of his matches either by pin or technical fall, and notably, never wrestling past the first period.

The path to his fourth title began with a 56-second technical fall over Bettendorf’s Armon Williams, where he registered seven takedowns. He then pinned Southeast Polk’s Cael Roberts in just 41 seconds in the quarterfinals. A 70-second technical fall against Pleasant Valley’s Cary Cox secured his place in the final.

The quarterfinal match against Roberts, although, revealed a dimension beyond Ross’s athletic prowess. Although the 41-second pin was impressive, Ross’s reaction immediately afterward spoke to his character. He wasn’t celebrating the win itself, but rather the fact that three of his Fort Dodge teammates had likewise advanced to the semifinals, including close friend Jesse Egli, who had upset the No. 2 seed, Andy Franke, at 190 pounds.

“Half the time, I’d rather see them succeed than have my own success,” Ross said, as reported by the Des Moines Register. “I’ve had enough in my life already. they can have it for now. It’s insane to go watch them and it just makes me so grateful to have them in my life.”

Ross concluded his senior season with a perfect 35-0 record and has not lost a match since December 2, 2022, finishing his high school career on a 144-match win streak. His commitment to Fort Dodge, choosing to wrestle for his hometown school despite potential opportunities elsewhere, was also highlighted by those who followed his career.

Following his final match, Ross celebrated with a running backflip, a gesture he described as a representation of his pride in the Fort Dodge community. “I was born and raised in Fort Dodge, it’s just kind of natural to me,” Ross said. “It’s kind of something special that us people from Fort Dodge, that are homegrown from there, keep a special place in our heart, definitely.”

Ross is set to continue his wrestling career at Oklahoma State University. His talent suggests the potential for success at the collegiate, and potentially even the international level, but Ross has consistently emphasized his commitment to representing his community above personal accolades.