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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 2, 2016)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A11 SPORTS HOLCOMB LEADING PENDLETON RESURGENCE By SAM BARBEE Staff Writer Morgan Holcomb could feel the pressure. A great deal, in fact. The junior 145-pound- er from Pendleton failed to place at last year’s state tournament despite being the second-seeded wrester at his weight. Entering this year’s tourney, he was wor- ried it would happen again. “All I was worried about was placing because that didn’t happen last year and I was seeded second,” he said. “I’m glad I placed. Hopefully I can do bet- ter next year, you know, hopefully make it into the ¿QDOV´ Fortunately for him, it did not. After losing by fall to Crater’s Logan Meek, a match Holcomb was win- ning until a mistake gave Meek the leverage he need- ed to pin Holcomb, the junior rallied with two pins — the ¿UVW LQ VHFRQGV DQG WKH second in the third round ² WR ¿QLVK DV WKH WKLUGEHVW wrestler at 145 pounds in the 5A division. “It’s a lot of joy for plac- ing third, because you’re third out of the state, you know?” he said. “It takes off a whole bunch of pressure. After my loss in the semis, I was angry. I was mad at myself ... There was a lot of stress on that loss. Then my fellas said, ‘You know what? Use that anger and get to third.’ And I did.” “I’m disappointed Mor- gan ended up third and we’re QRWZUHVWOLQJLQWKH¿QDOV´ Pendleton coach Fred Phillips said. “But a lot of times for a good kid like that who had some goals set on the state championship, it’s hard to come back and win matches after you’ve lost and you’re dream’s been crushed.” As a whole, Pendleton’s youth suggested there is rea- son for excitement not far on the horizon for the Bucks. Though Buckaroos wrestlers only won one match outside RI +ROFRPE ² D ¿UVWURXQG consolation bout by freshman 126-pounder Alex Rendon — Pendleton coach Fred Phillips was happy with the way his young guys handled them- selves. “The kids who were here competed hard,” Phillips said. “They’ve seen it now. We get ‘em all back. They’re ready to get back at it.” In the 3A bracket, Riv- erside Pirates coach Rich- ard Rockwell said his team “overperformed,” but that’s not a bad thing. He said the Pirates started the season with 22 kids, but was down to nine by districts. From there, eight TXDOL¿HGIRUVWDWHDQG¿YHRI those placed at the state tour- QDPHQW OHG E\ KLJK ¿QLVKHU Aristotle Rockwell at 126 In 2A/1A action, the Hep- pner Mustangs brought two wrestlers and advanced both WRWKHLUUHVSHFWLYH¿QDOV5\DQ Smith, who was the two-time defending state champ at 113 SRXQGVORVWKLV¿UVWPDWFKRI the year to Derrick Hargraves, the top-seeded 113-pound- er from Riddle. Wrestling LQ KLV ¿UVW VWDWH WRXUQDPHQW 195-pounder Cord Flynn had the top seed, but lost Culver’s Jaiden Jones by pin. Flynn was holding his own against the superbly athletic Jones, but a slight mistake and crazy scramble ended his season. He was very emotional afterwards, and Heppner coach Mark Lemmon said he reminded the junior of how much he actually accomplished. “If I were to say I wasn’t disappointed, I’d be lying,” he said. “...It’s hard tonight, but it’s really something to be proud of. Silver’s not WKDWEDG%HLQJLQWKH¿QDO being in the spotlight is an accomplishment.” Lemmon had nothing STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY but good tings to say about Pendleton’s Morgan Holcomb (in green) wrestles to third place in the 145-pound weight class Saturday at the state wrestling Smith, who improved im- championships at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland. mensely in his career at Heppner. “Ryan is a kid to be real- PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE ly proud of” Lemmon said. “He’s come a long way. Wednesday, March 2 He’s matured a lot. He’s BOYS BASKETBALL been a leader on the team. I was concerned with who Hermiston vs. La Salle would be the leader on the Prep, 6 p.m. team, and he stepped right STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY up.” Thursday, March 3 $n e[hausted 5osendo (FKR6WDQ¿HOG LQ LWV GIRLS BASKETBALL Moreno oI Mac-Hi receiYes second year as a program, Umatilla @ Dayton @ North congratulations from his TXDOL¿HG WZR IRU VWDWH EXW Bend HS, 1:30 p.m. coaches Saturday after just one — Kyle Ranger — winning his $ state Ànals made it to Saturday. Ranger wrestling match in the was pinned by Dillion St. Friday, March 4 GIRLS BASKETBALL 5-pound weight class at 2QJHLQWKH¿UVWURXQGEXW Hermiston vs. TBD, TBD Veterans Memorial Coliseum. coach Monte Toombs was IF UMATILLA WINS: vs. happy with how the week- Portland Christian or LQVLGH WKH ¿QDO PLQXWH RI end went for his Cougars. Coquille @ Marshfield HS, the third period. Starting the Irrigon’s Kasey Kroske noon round on top, he needed to was one match away from IF UMATILLA LOSES: vs. either stick Johnson to win, placing, but came up short, STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY or get a three-point near fall being pinned by Neah-Kah- Portland Christian or Coquille @ Marshfield HS, Heppner’s Cord Flynn (in blue) wrestles Nestucca’s Chase to force an overtime. He got Nie’s Anthony Ramirez. 8 a.m. CooN to a semiÀnal Yictory Saturday in the $ 15-pound the three points, then pinned 5DPLUH] ZHQW RQ WR ¿QLVK weight class during the state wrestling championships at Johnson shortly thereafter third. Veterans Memorial Coliseum. with six seconds left. He Saturday, March 5 ——— GIRLS BASKETBALL advanced to the semis after TEAM FINISHES: IF UMATILLA WINS FRIDAY: vs. moment,” Aristotle said of his third. a 6-2 battle with Dylan Por- 1A/2A: TBD @ Marshfield HS, 6:30 7. Heppner 36.0 father. “I could’ve shared it Overall, the Pirates ter of Elimra that had to be 27. Irrigon 4.0 p.m. with my brother last year, but SODFHG ¿YH RI LWV HLJKW settled with a tiebreaker. In 3A: 7. Riverside 91.5 , PHVVHG XS 7KLV ZDV GH¿- participants, which would KLV¿QDOERXW0RUHQREHDW 25. IF UMATILLA LOSES FRIDAY: vs. Echo/Stanield 3.0 TBD @ Marshfield HS, 9 a.m. 4A: nitely for everyone I let down certainly bode well for the Twister McComas of Banks 6. McLoughlin 83.0 last year. Riverside program. 3-1. McComas sprained 5A: Pendleton 21.5 “All I want to do now is “All of them come back Moreno’s ankle at the Pios’ 24. CHAMPIONS: pounds. go have some Red Robin.” except for one,” he said. ¿UVWWRXUQDPHQWLQ(VWDFDGD Aristotle — whose broth- Ricardo Mendoza, who “We got some youth and LQWKH¿QDOIRUFLQJ0RUHQR 3A 126 — Aristotle Rockwell (Riverside) 4A 28 — Rosendo Moreno (McLoughlin) er Hans was a four-time state started the season at 195 we’re building. So, when to miss some time. PLACERS: champion and father, Rich- pounds, injured his shoul- I’m driving back (to Board- “He came back in the 5A 145 — Morgan Holcomb (Pendleton) ard, who took over the Riv- GHU LQ WKH ¿QDOV DW 5LY- PDQ,WKLQNZH¶UHIHHOLQJ biggest match of the year, 3rd erside program before this HUVLGH¶V ¿UVW WRXUQDPHQW pretty good.” and beat the kid who gave — 4A 132 — Riley Chester (Mac-Hi) — season — had a chance to win at Mac-Hi, and returned The Mac-Hi Pio- KLP KLV ¿UVW ORVV RI WKH 5th4A 152 — Cole Skramstad (Mac-Hi) — state at the same time as his LQ WLPH WR PDNH D ¿QDO DW QHHUV SODFHG ¿YH OHG E\ year,” Mac-Hi coach Chad 5th 4A 170 — Alyxander Shaw (Mac-Hi) — brother last year, but suffered WKH 3LUDWHV¶ ¿QDO WRXUQH\ 285-pound senior Rosendo Kilburg said. 5th 4A 220 — Spencer Shaw (Mac-Hi) — what Richard called a heart- in Heppner. Then Rock- Moreno. Moreno almost Also placing for Mac-Hi 5th EUHDNLQJORVVLQWKH¿QDODQG well and his staff agreed to GLGQ¶WDGYDQFHWRWKH¿QDO were Riley Chester (5th, 5th 3A 113 — Silvestre Vazquez (Riverside) used the motivation to claim bump him up to 220 pounds but a late comeback on Ian &ROH6NUDPVWDGWK 3A 132 —Tyler Hancock (Riverside) — the 3A 126-pound champion- for districts, based on the Johnson of Hidden Valley $O\[DQGHU6KDZWK 4th3A 220 — Ricardo Mendoza (Riverside) ship this year. ¿HOGRIJX\VDW,WSDLG propelled him. DQG 6SHQFHU 6KDZ 3rd3A 220 — Anthony Kernal (Riverside) 6th “I knew he wanted this off, with the junior placing Moreno was down 5-2 WK %XOOGRJIUHVKPHQEDVNHWEDOOWHDPV¿QLVKDPD]LQJ\HDU Freshman boys go undefeated Freshman girls complete stellar season By SAM BARBEE By SAM BARBEE Staff Writer Staff Writer The Hermiston freshman bas- ketball team completed an unde- feated season, going 24-0. The Bulldogs averaged 75 points per game as a team and al- lowed just 50. The Hermiston freshman girls basketball team wrapped up a 19- win season last week with a win over the Pendleton Buckaroos. The Bulldogs, coached by Ron 6LYH\ZHQWDQGZRQWKH¿- CHAMPS: That continued success of Hermiston’s wrestlers isn’t an continued from Page A10 accident and it isn’t assumed. Though Hermiston has been ings. By the end of Friday’s FRQ¿GHQW LQ LWV DELOLWLHV DOO action, the Bulldogs had a season, it proved to be jus- 40-point lead and was in the WL¿HG 7KH %XOOGRJV VFRUHG driver’s seat to bring home more than 200 points on the yet another banner. Shortly weekend, and beat Crater by WKURXJK WKH VHPL¿QDOV ² nearly 70 in team points. through which Hermiston For Wagner, it’s as sweet went perfect — the Bull- DVWKH¿UVWRQH dogs essentially wrapped it “No matter how many up. Hermiston had six wres- times you win, it always WOHUVLQWKH¿QDOURXQGV&UD- feels good, because if you ter, the second-place team, don’t put in the time, the ef- had just three. IRUW WKH VDFUL¿FH WKH EORRG Valen Wyse, who earned sweat and tears, you’re not KLV ¿UVW VWDWH WLWOH DW gonna be on top,” he said. pounds with a well-wrestled “And so, it just feels that match against Tanner Earhart much better to know all your of Dallas, said there’s a lega- work paid off.” cy set forth by the teams of As an individual, this his coach, Kyle Larson, and, LV KLV ¿UVW RQH 7KH VHQLRU in a sense, its his team’s re- 126-pounder cruised through sponsibility to continue it. his state tournament, pinning nal two games of its series with the Bucks, avenging a 35-28 loss in January. “This group of girls came into the season with a lot to learn and I think they have done a great job!!” Sivey wrote. “It was tru- ly a team effort. Every game wthere were different leaders on WKHÀRRU7KH\DUHDYHU\DWKOHW- ic group and when the focus and KLV¿UVWWKUHHRSSRQHQWVXQWLO Brawley Lamer of Crescent Valley provided the only real challenge, which Wagner won anyway 2-0. Smiling and not really knowing what to say, Wagner was under- standably elated. “It’s just so overwhelm- ing, so exciting,” he said. “It feels good to be on top, to know you’re on top, and ev- eryone else to know you’re on top.” Wyse said last week he wanted to “bully” people and “make it entertaining.” He certainly did that, pinning KLV ¿UVW WKUHH RSSRQHQWV DQG never wrestled more than half a match. He faced Earhart at the Reser’s Tournament of Champions in January, and knew the Dallas coaches ZRXOGKDYHDVSHFL¿FJDPH- plan. They did — single leg work ethic are there, they are a very tough team.” Sophia Streeter led the Bulldogs in points per game PLQ JDPHV SOD\HG DQG UHERXQGLQJ KDG 28 steals, 17 assists and 16 blocks. Megan Wampler av- eraged more than nine points per game, but played in just nine games. take downs and movement ²EXW:\VHVWRRG¿UPHYHQ while trailing. “It was very physical and just a matter of who was go- LQJ WR EUHDN ¿UVW´ KH VDLG ³, NQHZ WKDW DIWHU WKH ¿UVW takedown. I wasn’t going to EUHDN¿UVW´ But despite however much success the Bulldogs have, the past never falls too far behind. Many Bulldogs talked about the legacy left by alumni, including Larson. A word kept popping up, too: responsibility. “The state tournament and being competitive at Hermiston is holding the standard up,” Coleman said. “They set a culture and not letting that culture die is our duty.” ——— TEAM SCORES: 5A: 1. Hermiston 226.5 2. Churchill 137.0 3. Crater 137.0 4. Dallas 120.0 5. Lebanon 114.0 CHAMPIONS: 126 Andy Wagner 1x 152 Valen Wyse 1x Taylor Greene led the team LQ ¿HOG JRDO DQG IUHH WKURZ SHU- centage at 43 and 56 percent, re- spectively, and also led the team in blocks with 34. Joanna Rosales led the team in steals with 48, and Sharidan Deike had the most as- sists with 20. As a team, the Bulldogs aver- aged 38.8 ppg and shot 31 percent IURPWKHÀRRU 180 195 PLACERS: 138 113 170 2nd 195 2nd Bob Coleman 1x Sam Colbray 4x CJ Hendon 3rd Liam Tarvin 2nd Brock McDonough John-Henry Line 37 TH ANNUAL HERMISTON SPORTS BOOSTERS STEAK FEED & AUCTION Saturday, March 5th • 5:30pm Auction starts at 7:00pm Hermiston Community Center FOR TABLE RESERVATIONS, $ 40 on per pers call Paul 541-567-5215 or formore info., call Joe 541-571-4478 Everyone 21 years & over welcome. All proceeds will assist Hermiston High School boys and girl athletic programs. This ad generously donated by RDO EQUIPMENT CO. a proud community supporter HERMISTONSPORTSBOOSTERS . COM
