Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current, November 25, 2015, Image 14

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Newspaper Page TextB2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM SPORTS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 Larson takes over Bulldogs grapplers Former Hermiston star wrestler leads program as rookie head coach program, it keeps them on their toes.” Larson is a product of Hermiston’s youth wres- tling program, and feels it is an integral part of maintaining a state cham- pionship-caliber program. There will always be guys joining the team late — as eighth graders, freshmen or later — he said, but it’s important to be coaching the fundamentals and tech- niques at the lower levels that are being taught at the varsity level. It simply creates cohesion and con- tinuity. Techniques don’t have to be un-learned then re-learned. It’s all the same. “The high school head wrestling coach has to be involved at all levels — (middle school) as well,” Larson said. “If we’re not all on the same page be- tween the kids program and transitioning into (middle school), we could end up with a mess. It’s GH¿QLWHO\VRPHWKLQJWKDW¶V on my mind. Myself and all the other coaches have to have a foot in that pro- gram.” Larson put a special emphasis on the middle school program. There isn’t anything wrong with it, he said, but he feels it’s arguably the second-most important level of the pro- gram, to the varsity. Like the youth program, the middle school program doesn’t get the visibility of the high school, yet the middle school is crucial to Larson’s plan. “The kids coming in have to know what we’re coaching,” Larson said. “If they already know what we’re teaching in high school, then they’re a step ahead when they come in.” Larson just understands the value of the youth and middle school programs and his role within them. “When you have a core group of kids that started in our kids program, (then) transitioned to (middle school), that’s how you win state championship,” he said. “It’s that import- ant.” Larson is relaxed at the helm. As a product of the program, he understands the expectations, internal and external, applied to his program. The amount of state championship banners don’t make him nervous, they make him proud. But he isn’t content on merely living with the past glory of the program. He wants more. He doesn’t want to merely win state championships. He wants to win national champi- onships. He doesn’t want a handful of state champi- ons, he wants 14 ³:H GH¿QLWHO\ KDYH goals, and our goals are set high,” Larson said. “We’ve proven we can win in Oregon. Now what’s the next step? And that’s where we want to go. We won last year with a group of kids and it was a tight race at the state tournament. We need to get better.” made it 34-20 with 2:08 in the third quarter, and Stan- ¿HOGFRXOGQHYHUUHFRYHU continued from Page B1 Monkus rushed for 87 yards on 13 carries and a they capitalized on them.” WRXFKGRZQDQG*URJDQ¿Q- Kennedy’s rushing of- ished with 65 yards on 16 fense proved to be too much STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS carries and two scores. He IRU 6WDQ¿HOG LQ WKH HQG DV also passed for 146 yards on well. Behind bruising full- StanÀeld TuarterbacN 9-of-15 passing and two in- back Jacob Lopez, running Dylan Grogan topples over terceptions. back Bishop Mitchell and Kennedy’s Tom Schmidt 6WDQ¿HOG WKRXJK ORV- quarterback Brett Traeger, in the Tigers’ 34-20 loss to es just three seniors from the Trojans compiled 325 the Trojans on Saturday in D WHDP WKDW ZHQW ¿Q- rushing yards on 52 carries. Hillsboro. ished second in a good Co- Each had more than 100 But turnovers and pen- lumbia Basin Conference yards rushing, and no Stan- ¿HOG 7LJHU ZHQW RYHU WKH alties hurt the Tigers. Aside and won two road playoff from Monkus’ fumble that games, one over the top century mark. 6WDQ¿HOG¶V RIIHQVH stopped a drive before it seed in the tournament. Salas is expecting “spe- PHDQZKLOH KDG D GLI¿FXOW VWDUWHG 6WDQ¿HOG WXUQHG time of things in the second the ball over twice more cial” things in his second half after matching Kenne- in the second half, one of \HDUDWWKHKHOPLQ6WDQ¿HOG G\ VWHS IRU VWHS 7KDW ¿UVW which resulted directly in a “The fuel should be that we half saw just one punt and touchdown when Mitchell have our team back, that we ¿YH WRXFKGRZQV EHWZHHQ stepped in front of a hitch have our core team back,” the No. 9 Tigers and the No. route and eased 17 yards Salas said. “We only lost into the end zone. That three seniors. I’m glad I got 4 Trojans. to coach them, but we’ll be back next year.” By SAM BARBEE Staff Writer When Kyle Larson be- gan wrestling at Herm- iston High School, the accolades, banners and expectations that domi- nate the Bulldogs’ pro- gram weren’t yet around. Hermiston wasn’t a wres- tling power, but it soon would be. Larson, a sophomore on that team, helped and watched as Curt Berger transformed the Bulldogs from wrestling also-ran into state juggernaut, win- ning eight of the last nine 5A team titles. Now, Larson has moved to the other side of the equation, taking over as head coach of the Bull- dogs after the sudden res- ignation of previous head coach Shaun Williams in August. “I’m just excited to be involved as much as I can,” Larson said. “We just want to get the com- munity support.” Larson wrestled at Ore- gon State University under Jim Zalesky. Wrestling at 141 and 144 pounds, Lar- son tied for the Beavers lead in pins with eight in 2007, and is 44th all-time in pins with 17. In 2006 at 141 pounds, he posted STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BARBEE )LUVW\HDU+HUPLVWRQZUHVWOLQJFRDFK.\OH/DUVRQOHIWVSHDNVZLWKDQDVVLVWDQWDWKLVÀUVW practice as head coach Monday in Hermiston. the best Beavers record at 26-7 (.788). After graduating in 2008, Larson coached in Hermiston for one season under Berger before mov- ing to Boise and Borah Se- nior High School, where he spent four years as an assistant. Then, in 2013, former Bulldogs coach Shaun Williams brought the former Bulldog back onto his staff where he has remained since. While at Oregon State, Larson decided he wanted to coach. He entered the sport at 4 years old and has done nothing since. Now 30, Larson has been around wrestling for 26 years. As a head coach, he’s inexperienced and admits it as this will be his ¿UVWVHDVRQUXQQLQJDSUR- gram. But he isn’t inex- perienced in wrestling or coaching wrestling at all. He’s known he’s wanted a head coaching job since his early 20s, when his ca- reer was still alive. That said, he doesn’t look at his new job as special of a for- mer Hermiston wrestler, and one from the founda- tion-building years at that. TIGERS: STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS Heppner’s Weston Putman gets tangled up with Regis’ Adair Pelayo and Brandon Piete (11) in the Mustangs’ 26-3 win against the Rams on Saturday in Hillsboro. MUSTANGS: touchdown. The win gives Heppner a chance to redeem itself continued from Page B1 following the 49-0 loss to enced Heppner defense. He Burns in Hermiston in last threw three second-half in- \HDU¶V ¿QDO 7KDW JDPH terceptions, but threw two though, isn’t in the fore- or three more passes that front of Heppner’s collec- ÀRDWHGDQGFRXOGKDYHEHHQ tive mind. intercepted. “I don’t think you can “Our defense was great go back and change histo- all day long,” Grant said. ry,” Grant said. “Last year “They really rallied to ball was last year. Burns had a and made the plays they team, one of the three or needed to make.” four best teams I’ve seen Meanwhile, Heppner’s in my 31-year career at this offense took absolute con- level. I think that this year’s WURO ,WV ¿UVW VHFRQGKDOI this year, and these kids just drive took 16 plays and want to play more football. 7:03 to go 71 yards, end- “You can see the joy on ing in a Kindle 1-yard run. their faces because they get Heppner threw the ball week 13. How cool is that?” twice that drive, complet- ——— ing one. It set the tone for Heppner 26, Regis 3 REG (8-4) 0 3 0 0 — 3 the remainder of the game. HEP (12-0) 0 6 14 6 — 26 5HJLV KDG ¿YH SRVVHV- Second Quarter sions in the second half. Regis — A. Pelayo 25-yard Field Goal, 8:40 Two were three-and-outs, Heppner — C. Kindle 1-yard run (2-point and three were intercep- No Good), 1:12 Third Quarter tions. Logan Grieb picked Heppner — C. Kindle 1-yard run (2-point No Good), 4:57 off Wiltsey with 6:26 left Heppner — L. Grieb 30-yard run (K. Clark in the fourth quarter, Jake pass to W. Putman), 0:32 Fourth Quarter Linsay grabbed one with Heppner — W. Putman 1-yard run (2-point No Good), 6:23 3:00 remaining, then Caden Statistics Hedman stepped in front of RUSHING — REGIS (26-45): J. Scrocca the third to seal the win. 13-32; Bra. Piete 5-13; A. Pelayo 4-8; Bry. 1-8; E. Gustin 1-0; A. Wiltsey 2-(-)16. To put the game away on Piete HEPPNER (54-297, 4 TD): C. Kindle 24-195, the scoreboard, Grieb got 2 TD; L. Grieb 8-64, TD; W. Putman 12-44, TD; K. Clark 6-(-)6. a carry from the Regis 30- PASSING — REGIS (7-19-3, 50 yards): A. 7-18-3, 50 yards; Bry. Piete 0-1-0, 0 yard line, broke a tackle at Wiltsey yards. HEPPNER (6-11-2, 60 yards): K. Clark 6- yards. the line of scrimmage and 6-11-2, RECEIVING — REGIS: E. Gustin 2-20; raced unmolested for a 30- S. Nieslanik 2-8; A. Moore 1-11; Bra. Piete 1-10; J. Scrocca 1-1. HEPPNER: W. Putman yard touchdown and a 20-3 4-32; C. Kindle 1-15; L. Grieb 1-13. Penalty — REGIS: 7-67. HEPPNER: 9-98. lead. Putman added a late Fully Digital Enya 3 Series Hearing Aid Now $ Only 950 • Enhances Speech • Reduces Noise Call 541-276-3155 Ruud’s Hearing Aid Service Sale price valid on the Resound Enya 3 series. Limit two at the promotional price. No other offers or discounts apply. Discount does not apply to prior sales. Offer expires November 25, 2015. “Hermiston deserves it,” Larson said. “There’s a huge tradition in Herm- iston.There’s a huge wres- tling community here. And from what I under- stand, we want to win. It’s not just me who wants to win. It’s not just the guys. When we go out to Tri-State, when we go to the Reser’s Tournament of Champions, people are seeing that and they want to see Hermiston at the top. That’s good. That keeps our coaching staff, our coaching staff at the (middle school), youth Kennedy 34, Stanfield 20 STAN (10-2) 6 8 6 0 — 0 KENN (11-1) 7 14 13 0 — 0 First Quarter Kennedy — B. Traeger 1-yard run (Extra Point Good), 9:05 Stanﬁeld — D. Grogan 11-yard run (Extra Point Failed), 4:37 Second Quarter Kennedy — J. Lopez 1-yard run (Extra Point Good), 3:35 Stanﬁeld — D. Grogan 1-yard run (J. Keeney pass from D. Grogan), 0:29 Kennedy — B. Mitchell 36-yard pass from B. Traeger (Extra POint Good), 0:00 Third Quarter Stanﬁeld — T. Monkus 1-yard run (Extra Point Blocked), 10:39 Kennedy — J. Suing 18-yard pass from B. Traeger (Extra Point Good), 7:43 Kennedy — B. Mitchell 17-yard intercep- tion return (Extra POint Failed), 2:08 Statistics RUSHING — STANFIELD (38-181, 3 TD): T. Monkus 13-87, TD; D. Grogan 16-65, 2 TD; J. Keeney 5-19; M. Blankenship 3-10. KENNEDY (52-325, 2 TD): J. Lopez 23-111, 1 TD; B. Traeger 14-113, TD; B. Mitchell 15-108. PASSING — STANFIELD (9-15-2, 146 yards): D. Grogan 9-15-2, 146. KENNEDY (5-11-1, 102 yards, 2 TD): B. Traeger 5-11-1, 102, 2 TD. RECEIVING — STANFIELD: T. Monkus 7-100; J. Fitzpatrick 1-33; J. Keeney 1-13. HOME: J. Suing 2-40, TD; O. Seiler 2-26; B. Mitchell 1-36 TD. Penalty — STANFIELD: 5-32. KENNEDY: 7-59.