Fluaitt rolls at national tourney

FARGO, N.D. — Moses Lake High School heavyweight wrestler and the Washington state freestyle cadet 285-pound state champion Kabe Fluaitt earned a guaranteed All-American award Thursday.

Fluaitt clinched the All-American Award by winning his fourth and fifth matches at the 2009 cadet national freestyle tournament in Fargo, N.D.

Fluaitt enters the weekend with a 5-0 record.

On the first day of the Freestyle tournament Wednesday, Fluaitt went 3-0 by beating Kacee Sauer of New York, Kyle Smith of Oregon, and Jim Walsh of Michigan. 

Going into Thursday’s competition, Fluiatt was one of two undefeated wrestlers for the Washington team.

After Thursday’s matches, Fluaitt is the only undefeated wrestler for Team Washington remaining.

Fluaitt beat California’s Steven Wood and then defeated the 2009 cadet national Greco-Roman runner-up Caleb White of Iowa in his last match of the day.  Fluaitt avenged an earlier loss to the Iowa wrestler at the National Dual meet tournament.

“Kabe is wrestling really well right now. He is being patient and wrestling smart, close matches. We are really proud of our Chief,” assistant coach Jim Nielsen said.  “Kabe has been working really hard all spring and summer and he has earned all that he has right now, but he knows that he has three more matches and that his tournament isn’t over yet.  We’re really excited for him but we know his big day is Friday.”

Fluaitt will wrestle Cole Dillman from Pennsylvania who is currently 4-1 in the Freestyle tournament and went 2-2 in the Greco tournament. Fluaitt’s next match will be against Greg Kuhar from Ohio. Kuhar is currently 5-0 in the freestyle tournament and didn’t wrestle in the Greco-Roman tournament.  The outcome of Fluaitt’s next two matches will determine what place he will wrestle for.