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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022
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A10
Hottman is headed to WSU
The Hermiston
senior is an elite
discus thrower
By ANNIE FOWLER
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — Herm-
iston’s Caden Hottman never
has won a state track title. In
fact, because of the COVID-
19 pandemic, he never has
been to the 3A state track
meet.
That apparently did not
mean much to Washing-
ton State University, which
signed Hottman to a letter
of intent to throw for the
Cougars.
“He’s never been to state
and signed a Division I schol-
arship,” Hermiston track
coach Emilee Strot said.
“This class has been the
most affected by COVID.
Their sophomore year was
taken away, last year we had
a shortened season. Hope-
fully, we get a full season
this year.”
For Hottman, WSU was a
place that felt like home.
“I was interested in a
couple of schools, I went on
a couple of visits and ended
up choosing WSU,” he said.
“The biggest thing is the
facilities are awesome there,
and they have the major
Kathy Aney/East Oregonian, File
Hermiston’s Caden Hottman prepares to throw the discus at
the MCC track and fi eld championship on May 6, 2021, at Fran
Rish Stadium in Richland, Washington. Washington State
University recently signed Hottman to a letter of intent to
throw for the Cougars.
(business management) I
want to go into. I had a lot of
bigger off ers, but WSU was
the place I was going to feel
the most comfortable at the
next level.”
Pullman also is close
enough for mom and dad to
watch his meets.
“My dad just wants what’s
best for me,” Hottman said.
“He’s really excited now that
I made my decision. My mom
(Molly) is the most happy.
She was a big advocate for
WSU and it’s proximity to
home.”
Hottman, who carries a
3.8 GPA, will receive a 25%
scholarship his fi rst year at
Washington State. He also
has an academic scholarship,
which will cover out-of-state
tuition.
Hottman burst onto the
Mid-Columbia Conference
track scene his junior year.
In his third high school meet,
he threw the discus 178 feet
to break Tre Neal’s school
discus record of 169-2 set in
2016.
Hottman now holds the
school record with a mark of
181-6.
“It has been my goal to
hit 200 (feet) in the discus by
my senior year, and 220 in the
hammer. I have thrown in six
hammer meets. My PR is 189,
which I threw at the Junior
Olympics in July, in Jack-
sonville, Florida. I fi nished
third in the hammer. I was
third in the discus too, but I
only threw 173.”
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound
Hottman also throws the shot
put, but not with the same
zeal he does the discus and
hammer. His personal best
is 50-7. He won the MCC
district shot put and discus
titles last spring.
“In one year, I did all of
these things,” Hottman said.
“I knew the process and what
I was getting into. I have been
throwing since the seventh
grade. I just want to get better
everyday. Just doing the little
things, and I knew the big
things would happen. Hope-
fully this year will be better.”
Strot said she and fellow
throws coach David Faae-
teete can’t take much credit
for Hottman’s success. He
came to the program with a
good track background.
“I can’t take any credit for
him,” Strot said. “He does so
much on his own. I coach him
at an extremely high level. He
knows so much. It’s a unique
relationship I get to have
See Hottman, Page A11
Hermiston sends 11 to state wrestling tournament
By ANNIE FOWLER
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — Herm-
iston’s Sam Cadenas and Ben
Larson won regional wres-
tling titles Saturday, Feb. 12,
at the Washington Interscho-
lastic Activities Association
Region 4 Regional Tourna-
ment, and lead a contingent
of 11 wrestlers to state.
The Bulldogs finished
third among the 16 teams
with 273.5 points. Mead
won the team title with
345.5 points, with Univer-
sity second at 310.5.
Hermiston had six wres-
tlers in the fi nals, but came
away with just two champi-
ons. The top five wrestlers
in each weight class advance
to Mat Classic XXXIII
Feb. 18-19 at the Tacoma Dome
in Tacoma, Washington.
“We are excited to get
after it,” Hermiston coach
Kyle Larson said. “We
thought we might have a
chance to maybe get 13 or
14 (to state), but that’s how
it shook out. I’m proud
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian
Hermiston’s Sam Cadenas, top, drops Elijah Reems, of Uni-
versity, on his way to winning the 285-pound title Saturday,
Feb. 12, 2022, at the Washington Interscholastic Activities
Association Region 4 Regional Tournament at Hermiston
High School.
of the 11 and the other 11
who didn’t make it. We are
excited to go to state and see
how it shakes out.”
The top-ranked Cadenas
(32-3) won the 285-pound
title and earned a trip to
state, pinning Elijah Reems
of University in 2:25.
In the semifi nals, Cade-
nas earned a 7-2 decision
over Hayden Wienclaw. In
the fi rst two rounds, Cadenas
pinned both of his opponents
in less than one minute.
“He will blow you up if
you’re not paying attention,”
Larson said of Cadenas. “His
semifi nal match, he put his
guy 15 feet out of the circle
in a double leg. That is the
explosion and strength he
puts on the mat. He is excit-
ing to watch. That’s what
fans want to see. He puts on
a show.”
Larson (33-5), who is
ranked No. 1 at 160 pounds,
won his regional title after
Austin Justice of Mead
injury defaulted.
Larson beat Jackson Hale
of Mt. Spokane by major
decision, 11-0, in the semifi -
nals. He pinned his fi rst two
opponents.
Placing second for the
Bulldogs were Carlos
Cervantes at 106, Aiden
Favorite at 120, Jaysen
Rodriguez at 126 and Jesse
Vassey at 220.
Cervantes, a freshman,
won by pin, technical fall
and a major decision before
losing a 7-3 decision to Jacob
Chapa of Southridge in the
fi nals.
Favorite dropped a 7-3
See Wrestling, Page A11
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File
Hermiston lineman Sam Cadenas (52) takes down North
Central quarterback Carter Storm (10) on Nov. 8, 2019, at
Kennison Field in Hermiston. Cadenas has signed to play
football for Eastern Oregon University, La Grande.
Hermiston’s Cadenas
joins EOU football
2022 recruiting class
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
LA GRANDE — East-
ern Oregon University
added depth to its lineback-
ing corps and beefed up its
lines with its 2022 recruit-
ing class.
“I think we met some
needs that will help us out
immediately, as well as
building our roster toward
the future,” Eastern head
football coach Tim Camp
said.
The class includes a
mix of size and skill, with
nine of the recruits primar-
ily playing defensive posi-
tions. The group consists
of 12 off ensive-based play-
ers, but most of the high
school recruits have played
on both sides of the ball in
prep competition.
The EOU team adding
four primary off ensive line-
men and two defensive line-
men. Most of the linemen
play both sides, so Eastern
will have some fl exibility in
moving them around to fi ll
gaps on the roster.
Hermiston’s Sam Cade-
nas will help fill out the
roster on the off ensive or
defensive lines. Cadenas
was a fi rst-team all-confer-
ence selection at the defen-
See EOU, Page A11
Pendleton crowns three
district wrestling champs
By ANNIE FOWLER
East Oregonian
PR I N EV I LLE —
Pendleton crowned three
champions, and the Bucks
fi nished fourth in the team
standings Saturday, Feb. 11,
at the 5A Special District
4 Tournament at Crook
County High School.
Jack Lieuallen (138
pounds), Patrick Simpson
(182) and Jacob Griffi n (285)
all won titles for the Bucks,
who will send six wrestlers
to the 5A state tournament
Feb. 26 at Ridgeview High
School.
Crook County won the
team title with 474 points,
followed by Redmond
(406), Ridgeview (172.5)
and Pendleton (144.5).
Lieuallen, a junior,
opened the tournament with
a bye, then posted two quick
pins to reach the fi nals.
The championship bout,
he pinned Wyatt Wood of
Crook County in 3:41.
Simpson also had a bye
in the fi rst round. He then
won by technical fall and by
pin to earn a shot at the title.
Simpson pinned Logan
Willett of Redmond in 1:26
in the championship match.
Griffin won his title
by pinning all three of his
opponents on the day in the
fi rst round.
In the finals, Griffin
pinned Ashton Fields of
Redmond in 1:06.
Also punching their
ticket to state were Owen
Golter, who fi nished fourth
at 126, Gabe Browning,
who was third at 138, and
Collin Primus, who was
second at 160.
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