Chiefs send lucky seven on to Tacoma

SPOKANE - Yes, expectations for the Moses Lake Chiefs wrestling team were high heading into the Region IV regional tournament at Ferris High School this past weekend.

No, their hoped for eight Mat Classic qualifiers didn't come to pass.

Still, when all was settled on the mat, the facts remained - Moses Lake will go to Tacoma on Friday with seven wrestlers and a chance for a Class 4A state title.

Behind four individual champions and three third-place finishers, the Chiefs finished third with 180 points, just behind Central Valley's 181.5 points, while Mead took the title with 204 points.

"It ended well with four pins in the finals," Chiefs  head coach Jamie Wise said. "There were some disappointments along the way since we wanted to get a couple more in. Other teams are taking a couple more to Tacoma and that could hurt our team chances. If we had more qualify that would have been gravy."

Heading into the tournament, talk was of a potential eight wrestlers heading on to state meet but with the unfortunate disqualification of 189-pounder, junior, Derek Fredericksen,  and a few narrow consolation losses, it will be a lucky seven heading to Mat Classic.

"Derek didn't make weight," Wise offered.

Winning titles for the Chiefs were senior Herson Rodriguez (140-pounds), Nico Moreno (145-pounds), Brian Chamberlain (215-pounds), and Kabe Fluaitt (285-points).

Rodriguez scored two first-period pins in the first two rounds of the competition before he also pinned Patrick Grady (Central Valley) in :46. It was a nice turnaround for the senior who struggled through last weekend's district tournament.

"He wrestled a lot better this week than last week," Wise said. "He moved his feet better and was alot more aggressive. It was obvious he went back to taking it to people."

Each class was an eight-wrestler bracket.

Finishing second last year at 140-pounds at the state meet, the junior Moreno continued his quest for a championship by claiming a regional crown to add to his district triumph.

Moreno, scored two first-period pins during the quarterfinal and semifinal, and then capped off his run with a resounding first-period pin over Mead's stellar freshman, Chandler Rodgers.

"He is really on a mission and wants it really bad," Wise said. "He just keeps on wrestling and he got in a good scramble situation. It was so tight in there on the cradle he had him in. I wouldn't have wanted to be in there. He had him knee to eyeball. That's how tight it was."

The two Chiefs defending state champions will head to Tacoma as regional crown holders.

Chamberlain capped off his career in regional wrestling with a first-period pin of Wenatchee's Pat Smith in the final. He had also pulled out two second-period pins.

"He opened a lot more against Smith this time than he did last weekend against him," Wise said. "He wrestled a lot more aggressively and wasn't as conservative."

Capturing the heavyweight title was Fluaitt who pinned Richland's Grady Simpson, in the second period of the championship match.

The two were set to battle in last week's distinct final but Fluaitt pulled out and forfeited that crown due to nursing an injured knee.

It appears the rest paid off.

"He wrestled well," Wise said. "I almost think Grady went out there knowing he would be beat. He had that look."

Fluaitt won his first two matches with first period pins, including a fall in :13.

Taking third-place in their respective weight classes and advancing to state were, Beau Gleed (119-pounds), Omar Suarez (125-pounds), and Jonathan Perales (160-pounds).

Gleed defeated fellow Chief Hayden Wise in the 3rd/4th match.

Hayden Wise will be an alternate.

Gleed lost 3-2 in a semifinal with Kyle Mars of Richland that went into overtime.

Hayden Wise also lost in the semifinals, dropping a tight 3-1 decision against Colton Orrino of Central Valley.

At 125-pounds, Brad Fox, who finished second last week at districts for the Chiefs dropped two decisions in his only two matches, but Suarez saved the class for Moses Lake.

After losing 5-4 to Chiawana's Brandon Gonzales in the semifinal, Suarez won two consolation matches including a third-period pin in the 3rd/4th place match after trailing late.

Perales won his 3rd/4th-place match 11-4, after losing a 4-2 decision to Tanner Davis (Central Valley) in the semifinals.

Colton Cole wrapped up his career as a Chief with a 2-2 record at 135-pounds including a win in his final match to claim fifth place.

"He got us a couple bonus points for us and that's because no matter what, he keeps battling," Jamie Wise said. "He is a team guy and goes up against some of the toughest competition. He fights though neck problems and just keeps on fighting. He does a great job."

Freshman Fernando Leyva took fifth place at 103-pounds, and Nathan Martinez (145-pounds) ended up in sixth place.

Tanner Long went 0-2 at 112-pounds.

"It's mixed feelings because I am happy for the guys going on and not happy for the ones who aren't," Jamie Wise said. "It's one of the unfortunate things that we take only three though. We are one of the toughest regions in the state and so three bids really hamstrings us."