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WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2016 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9 Herald Sports Follow sports on Twitter @HHeraldSports Dohman spurns military for college basketball Vikings forward signs to play with Blue Mountain By ERIC SINGER Staff writer For her entire high school career, Umatilla’s Courtney Dohman has had a plan. Once she would get the braces taken off of her teeth, she would enlist in the United States Air Force and make a career out of the military. However, that plan has now been moved to the back burner as Dohman re- cently signed her National Letter of Intent to play bas- ketball at Blue Mountain Community College. “As a little kid I always thought it’d be so cool to play in college, and then you seen college athletes and you look up to them,” Dohman said. “But I never thought I’d go play college ball in a million years, so it’s awesome and really cool.” Dohman’s mother, Trish, said the decision between college basketball or mili- tary was one that featured much discussion from the family, but she is happy to be able to watch her daugh- ter continue her career. “She was really set on the Air Force ... coaches were telling her to put her college applications in but she was always like ‘no, no, I’m going Air Force,’ but the opportunity came up and a lot of thought went into this with a lot of different people,” she said. “But she absolutely loves (basketball) so do it while she can and mom’s ready to watch more games.” The recruiting process was quick for Dohman, as it only got started around the conclusion of the Vikings’ 2015-2016 season. Uma- tilla’s varsity coach Scott Bow approached Dohman and let her know of some other options that may be available to her. “I just wanted to make sure she had every oppor- tunity available,” Bow said. “I know she was pretty set on the Air Force, but the work she has put in and everything she’s done has given her the opportunity to (play basketball) and I just wanted to make sure she knew there was another choice, because a lot of kids don’t realize that they have potential and can do it.” The six-feet-tall senior was an integral part of the Umatilla basketball pro- gram, earning a spot on the varsity team all four years of high school, including the 2016 squad that earned the sixth place trophy in the 3A state tournament. In the three games at state, Dohman averaged 5.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 23 minutes per game as the Vikings only loss came to the eventual state champi- on Dayton. To Dohman, the whole experience felt like a dream. “It was absolutely per- fect,” she said. “We were treated like royalty and we ended up way better than we expected.” Dohman took a visit to Blue Mountain with Bow and had the chance to meet with Timberwolves head coach Adam Driver as well as a few players from the team, which sold her on the school. ROHRMAN’S HURDLES FINISH PACES BULLDOGS AT STATE The Hermiston Bull- dogs boys and girls track teams weren’t able to crack the top 10 at the OSAA track state championships Saturday at the Universi- ty of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene, but sever- al individuals did, let by a third place inish by Tyler Rohrman in the boys 110 meter hurdles and a fourth place inish by Ayleen San- doval in the girls shot put. Hermiston also found a spot on the podium in the relay when Alexis Merca- do swung wide off the i- nal turn and overtook Sil- verton and La Salle Prep down the stretch to win the earlier heat. The Bulldogs time of 3:29.92 held up for eighth place. Hayden Earl also in- ished ifth in the 800. The Bulldogs inished out the day placing both girls relay teams on the po- dium as the 4x100 team of Scout Reagan, Elsa Torres, Sara Ortiz and Audrey Lin- coln inished seventh with a time of 50.33 and the 4x400 team of Ortiz, Reagan, Madison Wilson and Mac- ey Foley inished eighth with a time of 4:09.29. ——— OSAA State Track & Field Champi- onships Saturday’s Results 5A GIRLS 800 Meter Run 9) Macey Foley, Hermiston (2:21.93) 1500 Meter Run 12) Melany Solorio, Hermiston (5:12.86) 4x100 Meter Relay 7) Hermiston (Reagan, Torres, Ortiz, Lincoln), 50.33 4x400 Meter Relay 8) Hermiston (Ortiz, Reagan, Wilson, Foley), 4:09.29 Triple Jump 11) Ebony Wilson, Hermiston (32-01.75) Shot Put 4) Ayleen Sandoval, Hermiston (35- 09.50) 7) Maddy Juul, Hermiston (35-03.75) Discus 10) Ayleen Sandoval, Hermiston (101-05) Team Standings 19) Hermiston (10 points) BOYS 800M Run 5) Hayden Earl, Hermiston (1:58.40) STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY Hermiston’s Scout Reagan hands the baton to teammate Elsa Torres during the 5A Girls 4x100 meter dash Saturday at the Oregon State OSAA Track & Field Championships. 1500M Run 11) Isaac Sanchez, Hermiston (4:18.49) 110M Hurdles 3) Tyler Rohrman, Hermiston (14.99) 4x400 Relay 8) Hermiston (Gutierrez, Earl, Sanchez, Mercado), 3:29.92 Triple Jump 12) Vaeume Ena, Hermiston (40-05.50) Javelin Throw 11) Nathan Hunsaker, Hermiston (167-02) 12) Tre Neal, Hermiston (161-02) Pole Vault 9) Will Sharkey, Hermiston (12-06) Team Standings 13) Hermiston (22 points) Coleman signs with Oregon State Becomes third former Bulldog on Oregon State wrestling roster By ERIC SINGER Staff writer Feb. 28, 2015 proved to be a life-changing evening for Bob Coleman. Facing off against Cen- tral’s Tanner Swinehart in the 170-pound 5A wrestling championship, Coleman — then a junior —was dead- locked in 2-2 battle for the bulk of the match, but with 40 seconds left Swinehart earned a takedown for two points and the victory. The heart-breaking loss forced a change in the way Coleman approached the sport and his mindset in competition that led to success as a senior. “I went from being scared to wrestle people to looking forward to a good match and looking forward to be- ing able to wrestle top-level opponents,” Coleman said. “You look forward to the big matches and when you get to wrestle them and come out with wins it really becomes fun and that’s where I started to notice I wanted to wrestle in college.” Coleman will now have the opportunity to compete against that top-level talent he seeks as the senior signed his National Letter of Intent with Oregon State Universi- ty under a partial scholarship on Wednesday afternoon at Hermiston High School. He said that he is disappointed to watch his high school career come to a close, but is excit- ed that his next step is now complete. “Financials I’d have to say (is the biggest),” he said. “It’s a big school and I want- STAFF PHOTO BY ERIC SINGER Hermiston senior Bob Coleman poses with Bulldog varsity wrestling coaches Kyle Larson, right, and Doug Tovey, left, after signing with Oregon State University during a ceremony on Wednesday at Hermiston High School. ed to go to a big school and I wanted to wrestle Division I. I didn’t want to go to an NAIA irst or something like that. And I think with that in mind and to wrestle with (former Hermiston team- mates Abraham Rodriguez, Joey Delgado, Hans Rock- well (from Riverside), kids like that from the area that I know it kind of gives a home feeling to a big change and that’s something that’s big to me.” He adds to the list of Eastern Oregon transplants on the Beavers squad, join- ing Rodriguez, Delgado and Rockwell and said that the number is a testament to the state of the sport on this side of the state. “It’s crazy, we have a lot of guys that are doing a lot of great things and the pop- ulation isn’t nearly as big,” he said. “It’s a big ‘Atta boy’ to our coaches too for getting us to that level to be able to compete in a Division I pro- gram and it kind of puts us on a map over here.” Wrestling irst came into Coleman’s life in elemen- tary school, but what kept him coming back each year was the family feel that the Hermiston program gave him. Coleman added that some people often wonder if he is crazy for going through the rigorous training to be successful in the sport, but said he inds it the most re- warding feeling in sports. “Practices are killer, but I enjoyed them because I was there with really good friends and we were hav- ing fun,” he said. “You go to practice after not eating that day and you’re stomach hurts and you’re thirsty and the cottonmouth is disgust- ing and you can’t breathe, and it’s a grind and doing it day after day with almost the same people makes it almost the most rewarding sport....” Coleman was an integral part of the Bulldogs’ state champion teams in each of the last four years, and capped off a senior season with a 39-2 overall record and a 5A state champion- ship at 182 pounds. He was thrilled to earn the title, but says he has bigger things in mind for himself now. “It’s just kind of a check mark for me,” he said. “I mean it was deinitely some- thing I wanted to do and I knew I just had to show up and do it. I’ve been wres- tling since third grade and it would be kind of sad to go all the way through and not win a title, so it’s good to say I’ve done it. “But I think I have bigger goals in mind, like wanting to wrestle in college and be successful there and not just be on the team for four years, so that’s where my sights have been set.” While at Hermiston, Coleman was more than just an athlete as well. He was heavily involved with vari- ous student clubs and sports, which include serving as the ASB Leadership president this year. However, he said the thing he’s most proud of is completing his Eagle Scout project within the Boy Scouts of America — something many people did not know he was involved with. “I think succeeding and getting through and becom- ing an Eagle Scout is a ma- jor thing for me because it taught me a lot of life skills that sports wouldn’t have taught me,” he said. He plans on studying ag- ricultural business at Oregon State, as well as extensive work with the Spanish lan- guage, but isn’t sure of his plans beyond that. “Anything in the (agri- cultural) industry, Spanish is kind of integral nowadays,” he said. “I don’t know what I want to do (after that), may- be come back to the area here and do something.” For now, Coleman will spend his inal days as a Hermiston High School stu- dent just like any other se- nior. “Try to get grades up,” he joked. STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS Milwaukie’s Gunner Murk slides into home plate as Hermiston’s Slade Gritz waits for the ball in the Bulldogs’ 3-1 loss to the Mustangs on Friday in Hermiston. Bulldogs ousted by Mustangs By ERIC SINGER Staff writer The Hermiston Bulldogs spent the irst 24 games of the season trying to solve the puzzle that is their offense. The Bulldogs averaged just over four runs per game this season, and scored more than ive runs just ive times as the team worked hard for but struggled to ind a consis- tent approach and attack that could lead to more runs. In their 25th and inal game, the Bulldogs still were not able to ind that missing piece as they fell to the Mil- waukie Mustangs, 3-1, in a 5A Play-in game on Friday at Armand Larive Middle School. Hermiston coach Lance Hawkins said after the game that he’s sad to see this group of kids’ season come to an end. “I told the boys I’ve never had a bunch that’s worked so hard and worked so togeth- er as a team,” Hawkins said. “Everybody gets along here and it’s been a real pleasure to coach them. I enjoy these guys and every year it’s tough, but this is a special bunch and I mean it. “They are dandies at prac- tice, and it’s a fun bunch, but I want to be fun and win.” The postgame huddle was illed with plenty of emotion and tears from many of the underclassmen and the four seniors that played their inal game as Bulldogs. Seeing that emotion is something Haw- kins said he is all too familiar with, having seen many of his teams have their seasons end before they believe they should. “I tell them all the time I wish I could bottle that emo- tion up and have them drink it the irst of March to know that feeling and keep that drive to where they don’t want to lose,” Hawkins said. Hermiston (13-12) was stiled at the plate by Mil- waukie pitcher Bradley Mc- Vay — a University of Port- land commit — through his six innings on the mound, only mustering two hits against him and three total for the game. McVay came at Hermiston with a heavy diet of fastballs, but kept them off balance with perfectly timed breaking balls. The Bulldogs did not register their irst hit until R.J. Robles crushed an opposite-ield double over the head of the left ielder in the bottom of the ifth inning. “(McVay) wasn’t doing anything special, he threw well but we weren’t selective enough at the plate,” Hermis- ton’s Tyler Sexton said. “We didn’t look for our pitch, we were swinging at stuff in the dirt. We had prepared all week but come game time we just couldn’t put them into play.” Perhaps the game could have played out differently had the Bulldogs cashed in on some early opportuni- ties, mainly the bases loaded situation in the irst inning. Robles had reached on a dropped third strike and fol- lowing a sacriice bunt from Chase Root a ly ball out from Daniel Gossler, back-to-back walks by Sexton and Hayden Edmiston loaded the bases. But the threat ended when McVay caught Lukas Tolan SCOREBOARD Local Slate PREP BASEBALL Wednesday, May 25 No. 13 Los River at No. 4 Irrigon (2A/1A Round 1), 3 p.m. No. 14 Lakeview at No. 3 Stan- ield (3A Round 1), 4:30 p.m. PREP SOFTBALL Wednesday, May 25 No. 10 Echo at No. 7 Harrisburg (3A Round 1), 5 p.m. No. 13 Irrigon at No. 4 North Douglas (2A/1A Round 1), 4 p.m. looking on strike three. “For a team that doesn’t score a lot of runs, that’s a killer,” Hawkins said. To combat the slow of- fense all year, the Bulldogs were always fortunate to have solid pitching and that was the case for the most part on Friday. Robles — recent- ly named the CRC Pitcher of the Year — was stellar through the irst three innings for Hermiston, allowing just one hit and one walk with three strikeouts to help keep the game scoreless. But in the fourth inning, Robles gave up a lead-off single and then hit a batter to start the frame, and a ly ball out to right ield advanced the runner to third base with only one out. The Mustangs then used that opportunity to be aggres- sive at the plate as Chase An- derson put down a successful safety squeeze bunt to score the run from third for a 1-0 Mustangs lead. The Mustangs got things going against Ro- bles again in the sixth inning after back-to-back walks, and then caught a huge break when Robles ielded a bunt attempt and then threw the ball wide of irst base which rolled all the way down the right ield line to score both runners for the 3-0 lead. In the seventh inning with their backs against the wall, Hermiston was able to show some life. Slade Gritz led off the inning with a single to right ield, and then a two- out single from Robles put runners on the corners. Gritz would score a few pitches later on a passed ball by the catcher, but Root inished off the game with a strikeout for out No. 3. As Hermiston now begins the process of building to- wards next season, Hawkins and the rest of his coaching staff believe that the search for offensive consistency starts with the building of an indoor hitting facility — something he says he has been trying to secure for a while now. “Every 5A school that I know of has a place to hit year-round and my boys have to start in January hitting in- side of a gym with whifle balls and it shows,” Hawkins said. “We have to come to- gether as a community and we need to get some stuff done so we can get our program on the same level. It’s something in the offseason I’m really going to have to go after.” “It stinks for the seniors but the young guys better get going,” Hawkins said, “because they’re going to be in the program for a handful of years and we have greater things we want to do. ——— R H E MHS 000 102 0 — 3 4 1 HHS 000 000 1 — 1 3 4 McVay, Murk (7), and Santos. Robles, Root (6), and Gritz. W — McVay, L — Robles. 2B — Robles (HHS).
