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
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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
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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
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