Somerset's Flandrick accepts scholarship offer to wrestle at Mankato

• Gabe Flandrick

Gabe Flandrick is shown signing his letter of intent to attend Minnesota State University-Mankato. Pictured with him are his mom, Michelle Baillargeon and his dad and wrestling coach, Mitch Flandrick. In the back row are (l-r) athletic director Bill Roll, football coach Bruce Larson and high school Principal Brad Nemec.

Talk about it

Add Gabe Flandrick to the long list of Somerset High School athletes who have the chance to compete in college athletics.

Flandrick has agreed to a scholarship offer to wrestle at the Minnesota State University-Mankato beginning next winter.

Flandrick is a three-time state placewinner who finished second in the state Division 2 138-pound bracket in 2012. Flandrick was the underdog in one of the most closely anticipated matches in the tournament. He faced Cuba City’s Jared Donar, who was going for his fourth straight undefeated season. Flandrick wrestled an outstanding strategic match, trailing 1-0 late in the match. He said that was his goal, to be in a position to get a winning takedown in the final stages of the match. Donar was able to repel Flandrick’s takedown attempts, getting a takedown in the final seconds to win 3-0. That match gave Donar a 189-0 high school career record, but it also drew state-wide respect for Flandrick.

Flandrick said that match helped to get him more attention in the recruiting process. He had offers from several NCAA Division 1 programs, but said he wanted to stay close to home. He said St. Cloud State and Augsburg were the two other programs he considered attending.

Mankato recruited Flandrick to wrestle at 157 pounds, where they currently have a senior who is an All-American. Flandrick said he was told he would get a shot at competing for that spot in the varsity lineup as a freshman.

Flandrick currently has a 130-13 high school record. He said he plans to study business management “so I can work on the family farm after college.” He said he also plans to return to the Spartan program as a coach following college.

Tags: somerset schools, sports, somerset, spartans, wrestling, prep