Chiefs defend home mat, claim districts

MOSES LAKE - One mission down, two to go.

The Moses Lake Chiefs wrestling team played host to the Big 9 district tournament this weekend at Maroon Gym and when it was all over the other six teams were seeing red.

Moses Lake, behind six championship performances and 14 direct qualifiers to next weekend's regional at Ferris High School in Spokane, cruised to their 46th district title in 54 years with a score of 325 points to easily pull away from runners-up Richland (271.5).

Chiefs head coach Jamie Wise was happy to see his boys get through to the next step but ultimately he is hoping they carry their strong run for another two weekends, culminating at the Mat Classic in Tacoma.

Winning titles for the Chiefs were Brian Chamberlain (215-pounds), Derek Fredericksen (189-pounds), Jonathan Perales (160-pounds), Nico Moreno (145-pounds), Herson Rodriguez (140-pounds), and Beau Gleed (119-pounds).

Kabe Fluaitt (285-pounds) forfeited his finals match due to not wanting to risk further hurt to an ailing knee.

Chamberlain rolled to two pin wins before he rolled over Wenatchee's Pat Smith 11-3.

"He's had some better workouts in the room and so he is getting there," Wise said of Chamberlain's continued return from a knee injury. "He just hasn't been tested yet to the point where he will be at state. No one around here has the physical ability to hang with him."

Fredericksen has continued to pleasantly surprise as the year rolls on. He had a bye and then 20-7 and 7-2 wins before he pinned Richland's Mitchell Atwell in the third period.

"Dewey is starting to make a run," Wise said of Fredericksen. "He just has more confidence in his ability and is in much better shape than he was earlier in the year. He is becoming a lot more efficient. He's a big threat to score a lot of points for us."

The sophomore Perales has also come on strong as of late and won his title with an 11-3 win over Thomas Ruanne in the final.

"Jonathan has become much better at working at winning matches," Wise said. "He's moving better on his feet and making smarter decisions on the mat."

Moreno's dominant run of wrestling continued with a 11-5 win over teammate Nathan Martinez in the semifinal before he pinned Daniel Ramirez of Chiawana in the final.

"Nico has been more driven since that loss at Marysville," Wise said. "He's been doing whatever it takes and you can see he wants to win that state title. You can see his demeanor and in how he does so many different things to make the changes needed."

Rodriguez struggled to his crown, winning his final 6-2 over Paul Jagla of Wenatchee, while Gleed rolled through to a title that ended up with a win over teammate Hayden Wise, via second period pin.

"Herson, I don't think wrestled up to his potential by any means but he got the job done and was solid enough but we have to get back to the basics," coach Wise said. "Beau's just wrestling straight forward and solid right now and taking care of business with good, solid, positioning."Other second-place finishers were Hayden Wise, who has put together another late season run of strong wrestling to advance to the regionals, and Brad Fox (125-pounds), who fell in a tough 3-1 match to Chiawana's Brandon Gonzalez.

"It was a very close match and that kid is a very tough kid," Jamie Wise said. "Brad stays in really great position and is getting in better positions where he is scoring better. His position of his feet is so solid and he is very dangerous in a variety of positions."

Other regional qualifiers were Omar Suarez (145-pounds, third place), Fernando Leyva (103-pounds, fourth place), Tanner Long (112-pounds, fourth place), Colton Cole (135-pounds, fourth place), and Martinez (fourth place).

Hunter Warkentin (152-pounds) and Luciano Hernandez (171-pounds) are still eligible as alternates.

As for Fluaitt they will just hope that the defending state heavyweight champion is ready to go.

"He will be okay he just needs to get that healed up this week," Jamie Wise said.