E AST O REGONIAN THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2022 ON THE SLATE Schedule subject to change THURSDAY, APRIL 7 Prep softball Umatilla at Pendleton JV, 4 p.m. Prep golf Heppner Invitational, Willow Creek Country Club, 1 p.m. Prep tennis Sherman at Irrigon 2 p.m. Riverside at Weston-McEwen, 3:30 p.m. Stanfi eld/Echo at Umatilla, 4:30 p.m. Prep lacrosse Hermiston at Mount Si, 7 p.m. FRIDAY, APRIL 8 Prep baseball Umatilla at McLoughlin (2), 3 p.m. Riverside at Irrigon, 4 p.m. Walla Walla at Hermiston (2), 4 p.m. Prep softball Grant Union at Heppner/Ione (2), 1 p.m. Echo/Stanfi eld at Elgin (2), 2 p.m. Riverside at Irrigon, 4 p.m. Boys soccer Hermiston at Richland, 7 p.m. Prep golf Heppner, Echo at Nixyaawii, Birch Creek Golf Club, 1 p.m. Prep lacrosse Hermiston at Snohomish, 6 p.m. Track and fi eld Griswold, Heppner, Irrigon, McLoughlin, Pendleton, Pilot Rock, Riverside, Stanfi eld/Echo, Umatilla at La Grande Invite, 10 a.m. Weston-McEwen at Moscow Invitational, TBD FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS | FACEBOOK.COM/EOSPORTS A7 Heppner’s Hisler takes his talent to EOU By ANNIE FOWLER East Oregonian HEPPNER — Heppner High School has turned out several top-notch football players over the years, and Eastern Oregon University coach Tim Camp has tried to scoop up as many as he can. Brock Hisler is the latest Heppner player to join the Mountaineers. “I’m very excited, Hisler said. “We were emailing back and forth and they invited me up for a visit.” For Camp, getting Heppner youths in his program is a bonus. “They are good kids and they work hard,” Camp said. “ Coach (Greg) Grant does such a great job. He gets them going in the right direction and they fi t into our program. I will take all the Heppner kids I can get. They have grit, determination and they want to be coached. Not every kid has that in this day and age.” Hisler met with defensive coordi- nator Bryan Mills, who let him know they thought the best fi t for him would be a linebacker. “I like him on the defensive side of the ball,” Camp said. “He has good athletic position fl exibility. I’m fully aware how he runs the ball, but I want to try him on defense fi rst.” Grant said no matter the position Hisler plays, he will not disappoint at EOU. “He is a kid who is going to give them 100%” Grant said. “He is very coachable, hardworking and some- one you can count on. He just wants to play football. He will do what you ask of him, and how you ask. That’s Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group, File Heppner’s Brock Hisler (32) makes his way past Cole Vogel (24) to score a touchdown Nov. 6, 2021, against the Regis Rams at the Morrow County Fair- grounds. Hisler has signed to play football at Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, in the fall of 2022. what they will enjoy the most.” Mills gave Hisler a campus tour, then they met with Camp, who off ered Hisler a partial scholarship to become a Mountaineer. “He said he’s been pleased with the Heppner kids he’s had,” said Hisler, who will pursue an agriculture busi- ness degree. Other Heppner players to suit up for the Mountaineers include off en- sive lineman Patrick Collins, line- backer Chris Kindle, receiver Mason Lehman and linebacker Jackson Lehman. Grant said Eastern is a good fi t for Hisler. “They don’t look down at them (small-school players),” Grant said. “They give every kid the same oppor- tunity. Education is the No. 1 thing, and football is a fun thing. It fi ts in pretty well with our core values.” Hisler also had been in contact with University of Puget Sound and Carroll College in Montana, which wanted him to walk on. EOU plays in the Frontier Confer- ence with the likes of Carroll College, Southern Oregon, College of Idaho and Whitworth University. An outstanding season During a season that saw the Mustangs finish 11-1, with their one loss to eventual state champion Coquille in the semifi nals, Hisler was the backbone of a very stingy Heppner defense that allowed opponents an average of 5.5 points per game. He had a team-high 97 tackles and three fumble recoveries. On off ense, he ran for 1,153 yards on 158 carries and 12 touchdowns. He was a fi rst-team Blue Mountain Conference selection at running back and linebacker Hisler also was named to the 2A all-state team as the Defensive Back of the Year, which includes lineback- ers and secondary players. He also earned fi rst-team honors as a running back. The cherry on the top of the season for Hisler was an invitation to play on the East team in the 70th annual East- West Shrine Game, to be held Aug. 6 at Baker High School. “I’ve been very fortunate to play here,” Hisler said. “The community is awesome, and coach Grant — there isn’t a better coach to play for — and the guys are amazing. Bigger schools might have better competition, but I love it here.” In his four years with the Mustangs, Heppner amassed a record of 36-4, and won a state title in 2019 with a 13-0 record. “Winning the title, that was awesome,” Hisler said. In addition to football, Hisler also played basketball, ran track, and this spring is playing baseball for the Mustangs. He earned Blue Mountain Conference honorable mention honors this season in basketball. “I did track the last three years,” Hisler said. “I haven’t played baseball since middle school, and before that, T-ball. I play center fi eld and pinch run for the pitcher.” Just a team player doing his part. Win up to $1,000 CASH and your entry to win a 2022 Toyota Tundra! Drawings every Friday and Saturday, 6–9pm Entry Multiplier Win up to 5X Entries every Wednesday! Swipe at an to activate. April 30 Actual truck model and color may vary. Spring APRIL 7–17 April 21–24 $35 , 000 Free Tote Bag when you hit a jackpot of $500 or more or when you sign up for Club Wild! ADDED MONEY Visit wildhorseresort.com for tournament schedule. 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