A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2018
SPORTS
MEET THE
M
L
U
O
M
C
-
BIA
D
I
CONFERENCE
PHOTO COURTESY THE TRI-CITY HERALD
PHOTO COURTESY THE TRI-CITY HERALD
HH FILE PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS
Chiawana’s Summer Yates (10) heads the ball during a Mid-
Columbia Conference high school girls soccer game against
Richland last season. Yates scored 3 goals before the half.
Hanford’s Caylee Shelton (3) bumps the ball during a high
school girls volleyball game against Walla Walla last year in
Richland.
Hermiston head coach David Faaeteete hugs AJ Fernandez
after the Bulldogs’ 38-35 win against Churchill in the 5A
state championship game last fall in Hillsboro.
CHIAWANA
HANFORD
HERMISTON
The Chiawana Riverhawks are the newest school in the
Mid-Columbia Conference, opening in 2009 as Pasco’s
second high school.
They were the 2016 state champs in girls’ bowling, and
took second place in football for the 2014-15 season with
a 13-1 record. Their football team is currently ranked at
No. 21 in the state, and were state champs for the 2013-14
season.
Student population: 2,543
Home turf: 8125 W. Argent Road in Pasco
The Hanford Falcons of Richland were originally part
of a K-12 complex built in 1972. The elementary school
was closed in the 1980s, and the middle school shut down
in 2005. In 2013, the boys varsity soccer team took 4th in
state. Their girls’ bowling team were state champions in
2016, as were their girls’ golf team in 2013.
Student population: 1,911
Home turf: 450 Hanford St. in Richland
This year is the Hermiston High School Bulldogs’ first
year as an official member of the Washington Interscholas-
tic Activities Association (WIAA) after leaving the OSAA.
It is the first out-of-state school on the roster, joining the
Mid-Columbia Conference alongside Washington schools
in the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla. The transition came about
in order to accommodate the school’s growth and to cut
down on travel distance and budget spending.
Last year, the Hermiston Bulldogs won the Oregon 5A
football title, following their state championship in 2014.
Student population: 1,509
Home turf: Kennison Field, 600 S. First St. in Hermiston
PHOTO COURTESY THE TRI-CITY HERALD
PHOTO COURTESY THE TRI-CITY HERALD
Kamiakin’s Jonah Franco runs in the state cross country
3A championship at Sun Willow’s Golf Course in Pasco
last season. Kamiakin won the boys team state title, ending
North Central’s 10 year run.
KAMIAKIN
Kamiakin High School is home to 19 varsity teams, 12
junior varsity teams, and nine “C” teams, and compete in
WIAA’s 3A class — the state’s second largest division.
Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Ron L. Childs, for-
mer Texas Rangers pitcher Tony Mounce, and former Seat-
tle Mariners designated hitter Ron Wright are all former
Kamiakin Braves. Their football team is currently ranked
at No. 26 in the state. Their girls’ track and field team had
an impressive four-year streak winning the state champi-
onship from 2011-2015, and their girls’ track and field had
an equally stellar run, taking home the state title during the
same four years. Their softball team were state champions
from 2011-2013, and their baseball team won the title for
their 2011-12 season. Their girls’ gymnastics team were
also state champs in 2016.
Student population: 1,778
Home turf: The campus is located at 600 N. Arthur St.
in Kennewick, but most football games are played Kenne-
wick High School’s Neil F. Lampson Stadium.
Kennewick’s Johan Correa wins the boys mile during the
57th annual Pasco Invite at Edgar Brown Stadium in April.
It was the fastest high school mile in the nation for spring.
KENNEWICK
PHOTO BY PATRICK HAGERTY, COURTESY THE TRI-CITY HERALD
Until Kamiakin’s establishment in 1970, Kennewick
High School served as the city’s only high school. Notable
Kennewick Lions alumni include former MLB player Russ
Swan, who played for the San Francisco Giants, Seattle
Mariners and Cleveland Indians, two-time Pittsburgh Steel-
ers Super Bowl winner Ray Mansfield, and former Wash-
ington Redskins defensive end Adam Carriker.
Student population: 1,562
Home turf: 500 S. Dayton St. in Kennewick
Pasco’s Isaiah Gonzalez points to his fans after defeating
Tacoma’s Austin Michalski in their 4A 113 lb. State Wrestling
championship match Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Tacoma,
Wash.
PASCO
Pasco High School was once the only high school in
the city until Chiawana opened in 2009, who have since
become their rivals. The football team won the state cham-
pionship in 1998, 2000, and 2003, and their soccer team
won in 1999 and 2007. Notable alumni include former
Detroit Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman, who was the
only player to ever be drafted as a junior in high school, and
former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Anthony Davis. The
Pasco Bulldogs’ first football game of the 2018-19 season
will be against the Hermiston Bulldogs. Their boys’ soccer
team took home the state championship during last year’s
season.
Student population: 2,059
Home turf: 1108 N. 10th Ave. in Pasco
PHOTO BY THE TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE
The Richland Bombers celebrate winning the WIAA 4A State
Football Championship in the Tacoma Dome Saturday, Dec.
2, 2017.
RICHLAND
Currently ranked at No. 3 in the state, the Richland
Bombers football team were state champions in 2017, and
are coached by Mike Neidhold. United States World Cup
and Gold Medalist-winning goalkeeper Hope Solo led their
state championship team in 1999, following an undefeated
season. Alumna Kathryn Ruemmler served on the White
House Counsel to President Obama from 2011-2014. Their
baseball and football teams were last year’s state champi-
ons. It was Richland’s only high school until Hanford was
founded in 1972.
Student population: 2,022
Home turf: 930 Long Ave. in Richland
PHOTO BY THE TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE
PHOTO COURTESY THE TRI-CITY HERALD
The Southridge Suns won the Class 3A state baseball title in
May, their first since 2004.
SOUTHRIDGE
The Southridge Suns opened their doors in 1996, and
have claimed four consecutive state championships in
dance from 2004-2008. Alumni include Seattle Mariners
infielder Shawn O’Malley and Pittsburg Pirates first base-
man and outfielder Mason Martin. Their girls’ soccer team
were state champs from 2015-2017, improving their record
with each season (19-5 in 2015, 19-3 in 2016, and 22-3 in
2017).
Student population: 1,685
Home turf: 3520 Southridge Blvd. in Kennewick
Walla Walla’s Paige Gardner competes in the 100-yard
freestyle event at the 4A girls state swim and dive
championships at the King County Aquatics Center in
Federal Way, Wash., on Nov. 11, 2017. She set a new school
record in the 50 free that day.
WALLA WALLA
The Walla Walla Blue Devils, otherwise known as
Wa-Hi, share the distinction with Hermiston High of being
the only other high school in the WIAA Mid-Columbia
Conference not located in the Tri-Cities. Their softball team
were state champions for the 2010-11 season. Drew Bled-
soe, the first overall pick in the 1993 NFL draft, is a former
Blue Devil.
Student population: 1,820
Home turf: 800 Abbott Road in Walla Walla
INFORMATION COMPILED FROM USNEWS.COM, MAXPREPS.COM AND WIAA.COM.