S PORTS
Hermiston
A9
2015
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2015
HERMISTONHERALD.COM
TOP SPORTS STORIES OF
A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF OUR FAVORITES STORIES FROM LOCAL SPORTS
Herald sports staff (of one) picks
its top stories of the year
By SAM BARBEE
Staff Writer
The calendar is about to turn. Here at the Herm-
iston Herald, we thought it would be fun to take a
look back at 2015 and the stories it produced. Being
the only sports reporter, I went back and looked at
some of the stories which struck me the most, I had
the most fun writing, or the stories that had the most
reaction from the community.
It isn’t necessarily based on only athletic accom-
plishments. I met some wonderful people this year
and wrote some stories I’m proud of and that got
some good feedback. Those will all be listed here.
Here’s to a fun 2015 and a better 2016.
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The Hermiston Bulldogs wrestling program is
in this position, where anything short of a state ti-
tle seemingly seems like a failure. Then-head coach
Shaun Williams said before the season that it would
be a “rebuilding year.” Maybe he was selling it short
intentionally, maybe he was being honest. It’s tough
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pin to earn Hermiston its (sixth-straight) team wres-
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At this point, we are recognizing Hermiston’s
ability to maintain its success rather than the fact it
won a state championship. They’re running out of
room in The Dawghouse to hang all of the banners,
and that’s a good thing. Being the second-best sports
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always right.
state championship, its only outright football title
(they tied the year before).
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historic 1957 season, and played arguably its worst
game of the season against the Kennedy Trojans.
STAFF PHOTO BY EJ HARRIS
Hermiston’s Tavin Headings (22), Kynzee Padilla (21) and
Abi Drotzmann walk off the court as the La Salle’s girls
basketball team celebrate their 51-46 5A state championship
win against the Bulldogs in Corvallis.
1. Hermiston girls basketball
makes its deepest run
The Bulldogs were a powerhouse last season, es-
pecially in 2015. After the calendar turned, Hermis-
ton lost just two games: a 55-49 home loss to Sunny-
side (WA) and a 51-46 loss in the state championship
game to La Salle Prep.
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league. The Bulldogs parlayed that record into the
top seed in the 5A state tournament, but were stone-
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championship game.
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home. But they closed the regular season winning 21
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as any team in the state. Following two blowout wins
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which had knocked Hermiston out of the tournament
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STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BARBEE
STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BARBEE
Brandi Howard (right) speaks with her daughter Courtney after
opening ceremonies of the 6th annual Jeremy Howard — for
the Love of the Game co-ed softball tournament in Hermiston.
3. ‘More than a game’ — local softball
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This story is along the lines of one I thoroughly
enjoyed writing. Brandi Howard’s story of losing her
husband to melanoma then starting a softball tour-
nament in his honor was amazingly personal, and I
was thankful she opened up to me about it as much
as she did.
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she naturally became emotional at times, and, to her
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forthcoming, and I hope I did her courage justice.
To top it off, it was the most-read sports story on
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to be on this list. Sometimes the hardest stories to
tell are the easiest to write, and this one was it. And
sometimes stories can demonstrate the power sports
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touchdowns. Sometimes sports are simply about peo-
ple. This story whole-heartedly demonstrated that.
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place trophy from the Spokane Youth Lacrosse LAXFest May
16-17. Allison turned to coaching after his athletic career was
ended with a severe back injury.
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play’ — Andre Allison’s story
Again, many thanks to Allison and those around
him for opening up to me about this. Think about
it: sports is your life then it’s taken away abruptly.
There aren’t many worse things in life than losing
one’s identity, and that’s what happened to Allison.
And he was honest and up front, and that blew me
away. He didn’t make excuses. He didn’t wonder
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single parent I spoke to said glowing things about
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his face when talking about coaching, when talking
about spending time with the kids told me all I need-
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he got hurt. It changed him for the better. It was truly
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COURTESY PHOTO BY ADDIE TUIA
Members of the 2015 state championship Hermiston
wrestling team pose for a photo at the 5A state wrestling
tournament Saturday at Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
Bulldog wrestlers accumulated 149 points to defeat Dallas,
Lebanon and Eagle Point. Three Bulldogs won their weight
classes to become state champions: Sam Colbray, Liam
Tarvin and Isaac Aguilar.
2. Hermiston wrestling stays on top
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winning. After one state championship, then two,
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But when you factor in attrition due to graduation,
STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BARBEE
STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS
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Tom Schmidt in the Tigers’ 34-20 loss to the Trojans in
Hillsboro.
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the game has changed since the 1957 Tigers won the
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open during the second half of Heppner’s 47-32 tie-breaker win
over the Tigers at Armand Larive Middle School in Hermiston.
6. Echo girls basketball
has best season in two decades
You win a district championship and a host a state
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some time, you get on this list. From the beginning
See STORIES, A10