Fluaitt places at national tourneys

ROCHESTER, Minn. — The 2009 Washington State Cadet National Team brought home All-American honors from this past week’s U.S.A. Wrestling Cadet National Duals tournament held in Rochester, Minn.

The four-day tournament brought together teams from all over the United States. In all, 22 Greco-Roman wrestling teams and 27 freestyle wrestling teams competed in each two-day tournament.

Moses Lake was well represented in this tournament by Moses Lake High School sophomore heavyweight Kabe Fluaitt. Fluaitt wrestled for the Chiefs this past season and qualified for the state tournament in only his second season with the high school. 

“Kabe decided to wrestle this summer because he was having fun getting better and he saw the opportunity to represent himself and Moses Lake as the heavyweight for Team Washington at the Cadet National Duals,” said Moses Lake High School assistant wrestling coach Jim Nielsen. 

Fluaitt ended up wrestling in 18 dual matches and he finished with a record of 11 wins and seven losses. His team finished with a fourth-place finish in the Greco-Roman wrestling tournament and a sixth-place finish in the freestyle wrestling tournament.

The team members earned All-American honors in both tournaments.

“We are really proud of Kabe and all that he has worked for this year,” Nielsen said.

Fluaitt is also planning to follow up this tournament with a trip to Fargo, N.D. for the cadet Greco-Roman wrestling and freestyle wrestling national championships July 18 through July 24.

“We are looking forward to seeing Kabe progress as a junior when next season comes around,” Nielsen said. “He has really put a lot of effort into this Greco-Roman (and) freestyle season. We have been working on raising funds for Kabe’s trips and so we are having a heavyweight clinic this Friday and Saturday at the (Moses Lake) High School wrestling room.”

For more information about this clinic or ways to help Fluaitt raise funds contact coach Nielsen at 509-750-5676.