B2 • 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-
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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
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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-
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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
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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
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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
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“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.