SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A11
RODEO
Continued from Page A10
Photo contributed by Midge Harris
The “Deadwood” team of Ed Long, Jim Long, Jeri Jordan, DJ Tricker, and Dave Haven won The Arc fundraising bowling
tournament with 1688 pins. The April 20 event was held at Desert Lanes in Hermiston.
he does tend to play favor-
ites when it comes to his
events.
“My personal favorite
is calf roping,” Pederson
said. “I started steer wres-
tling in high school and
did it my fi rst year in col-
lege. I didn’t compete in it
last year because of a knee
injury, but I got back in
it because I wanted to go
after the all-around title.”
While his size is not an
issue in roping, it can be
in steer wrestling, where
most guys are a bit shorter
and heavier.
He works with Hep-
pner native Tony Currin,
the 1987 PRCA Rookie
of the Year, and four-
time Columbia River Cir-
cuit champion, to hone
his skills in the big man’s
event.
“He’s not built like a
typical bulldogger, but
once he gets locked in,
things happen,” Eng said
of Pederson.
Pederson will get help
from Currin at nationals,
and friend Hayden Ful-
lerton of Dayton is letting
him borrow a horse (Cash)
for the event.
Currin owns the hazing
horse that Calgary Smith
will ride when working
with Pederson. For tie-
down, Pederson will ride
his horse Valentine.
“Matt Liscom owns the
heading horse I will use
for team roping,” Peder-
son said. “I will take four
horses nationals. Everyone
has helped me a lot.”
Photo contributed by Midge Harris
Team “Hole in 1!” with Mike Jeppson, Jeff Newton, Don Otto,
Mike Botti and Mike Mayhead placed second in The Arc
fundraising bowling tournament.
Doing the Wright thing
Photo contributed by Midge Harris
“Jilli’s Silly Bowlers,” which included Mark Smalley, Jilli
Smalley, Lyall Arey, Anita Vernon and Cal Harris .
After graduating from
Stanfi eld High in 2015,
Wright spent time in the
Marines. He never got on
a bucking horse until he
was 20 years old, but rodeo
runs through his veins.
His grandfather, Jackie
Wright, competed along-
side the likes of Casey
Tibbs, and is in the St.
Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame.
His dad, Scott Wright, also
rode broncs, last competing
at the Pendleton Round-Up
when he was 40.
“They were pretty
good,” Payton Wright said.
“My dad is my biggest
coach, and I get some help
from RC Landingham. I
kinda grew up roping a bit,
but I like bucking horses
more than roping.”
Wright got back into
rodeo in February 2018
when he got out of the
service.
“It’s a different life than
the military scene,” he
said. “There, your whole
day was planned out for
you. I love it.”
Wright said Eng sought
him out, and after explor-
ing other options, decided
BMCC was the right place
for him.
“I wanted to come back
home, and Pendleton is the
closest place to Stanfi eld.”
Wright earned 1,060
points for the bareback title
this season.
Eng said Wright’s mili-
tary background shows in
the rodeo arena.
“He is solid, that kid,”
Eng said. “He knows how
to take orders, he tries hard
and there is no quit.”
Wright, who will con-
tinue to ride on his PRCA
permit this spring and
summer, will compete
in Eagle, Idaho, Sisters
and Union with Pederson
before heading to Casper.
Fundraiser rolls strikes for The Arc
BY HERMISTON HERALD
Strikes, spares and maybe even
a few gutter balls helped provide
needed funds to The Arc Umatilla
County.
During an April 20 fundraiser, 60
bowlers gathered at Desert Lanes —
bringing in more than $2,300 to The
Arc.
With 12 fi ve-person teams vying
for top honors, the “Deadwood”
team, which was sponsored by Des-
ert Lanes, had the top pin count with
1688. Members of the winning team
were Ed Long, Jim Long, Jeri Jordan,
DJ Tricker and Dave Haven. Com-
ing in second with a total of 1602 pins
was the “Hole in 1!” team. Sponsored
by Randy Sperr, owner of Randy’s Pro
Shop at Echo Hills Golf Course, team
members included Mike Jeppson, Jeff
Newton, Don Otto, Mike Botti and
Mike Mayhead. Rounding out the top
three fi nishers was “Jilli’s Silly Bowl-
ers,” which included Jilli Smalley,
Mark Smalley, Lyall Arey, Anita Ver-
non and Cal Harris.
The title sponsor for the fi fth year
was Umatilla Electric Cooperative.
Prizes for the top teams were provided
by Kieztke Angus, Obie’s Express
and also baked goods made by Kristi
Smalley, The Arc board member. In
addition, a number of individuals and
local businesses provided both team
and lane sponsorships.
A nonprofi t organization, The Arc
Umatilla County advocates for the
rights of children and adults with
intellectual and developmental dis-
abilities. They focus on providing
support, improving services, inspir-
ing communities and infl uencing pub-
lic policy. For more information about
The Arc activities, call 541-567-
7615 or visit www.facebook.com/
arcofumatillacounty.
TRACK
Hermiston’s Sanchez wins 1,600 at MCC meet
HERMISTON HERALD
Hermiston’s
Cydney
Sanchez ran a personal best
5 minutes, 40.43 seconds in
the 1,600 meters Thursday
to win the event at a three-
team Mid-Columbia Con-
ference meet at Kennewick
High School.
A freshman, Sanchez
trimmed nearly 4 seconds
off her previous best time of
5:44.18.
Sophomore Paige Palz-
inski won the shot put with
a PR throw of 39 feet, and
Jazlyn Romero won the jav-
elin with a toss of 136-3,
and was fourth in the discus
(109-0).
In the pole vault, Jennifer
Fuentes won with a height of
8 feet. She also was second
in the 300 hurdles (50.39),
and fourth in the 100 hur-
dles (18.35).
The Hermiston boys did
not win any events, but they
have athletes with top marks
for the season.
In the 400, Freddy Men-
doza ran a personal best
52.94 in placing second to
Kennewick’s Johan Correa
(50.57). Hermiston’s Simon
Headings was third with a
PR time of 53.08.
Jackson Shaver clocked
a personal best of 10:27.37
to place second in the 3,200,
while Chase Bradshaw had a
personal best throw of 138-2
to place third in the discus.
Bradshaw also was third in
the shot put (41-11).
Dean Nice Invite
The Hermiston girls
fi nished third Friday at
the Dean Nice Invite in
Gresham, led by Jazlyn
Romero, who placed second
in the javelin and the discus.
Romero had a PR toss
of 114-0 in the discus, and
threw 125-10 in the javelin.
Kendall Dowdy threw a
PR of 36-7 1/4 to place third
in the shot put, while Paige
Palzinski was third in the
triple jump with a lead of
32-10 3/4 — a personal best.
Palzinski also was eighth in
the long jump (14-10 3/4).
Jennifer Fuentes cleared
The most valuable and respected
source of local news, advertising and
information for our communities.
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT
Hermiston
Herald.com
www.eomediagroup.com
MEDICAL DIRECTORY
To advertise in the Medical Directory, please call:
Jeanne at 541-564-4531 or Audra at 541-564-4538
GENERAL FAMILY DENTISTRY
• CROWNS • BRIDGES • DENTURES
VENEERS DENTAL IMPLANT RESTORATION
Ryan M. Wieseler,
D.D.S, PC
www.desertdentalsmiles.com
541.567.8161 • 995 Orchard Avenue • Hermiston
8-6 to place fourth in the
pole vault, while Sheridan
Deike was fi fth in the discus
(105-8).
The Bulldogs’ 4x100
relay team of Elsa Torres,
MaKaylee Young, Kam-
ryn Aldred and Jayden Ray
placed third with a time of
51.42. Young also was third
in the 100 (13.15).
For the boys, Garrett
Walchli was fourth in the
200 (23.29), while Freddy
Mendoza was fi fth in the
800 in a personal best time
of 1:59.78 — the fi rst time
he has run under 2 minutes.
Chase Bradshaw fi nished
third in the discus (135-
1) and sixth in the shot put
(42-1 1/2).
Butte Challenge Fun
Run set for Saturday
BY HERMISTON HERALD
The 20th annual Butte
Challenge Fun Run will be
Saturday at Butte Park in
Hermiston.
Runners of all ages can
choose from a 5K run or
walk, or a 10K run. The
entire course is pavement.
Registration is $20, or
$25 the day of the race.
You can register at www.
buttechallenge.com. Each
runner will be entered into
a drawing for gift cards
and other items. Must be
present to win.
Check-in is at 7:30 a.m.,
with races beginning at
8:30 a.m.
There will be medals for
the top runners in each age
group, and for the top over-
all runners.
The event is a fund-
raiser for the Hermiston
High School cross coun-
try team.
Join Boardman Girl
Scouts Troop #23001
as they host an indoor
campout.
As part of the free activ-
ities during SAGE Satur-
day, the event is Saturday,
May 11 from 10 a.m. to
1 p.m. at the SAGE Center,
101 Olson Road, Board-
man. Children and their
parents are invited to deco-
rate a wood chip necklace,
listen to stories and sing
songs around the “camp-
fi re.” Also, participants
are encouraged to tour
URGENT CARE
Sports & Dot Physicals • Minor Injuries • Family Care • Minor Surgeries
We accept Medicare & some Advantage Medicare plans
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
541-567-1137
Gabe Cach of Hanford
shot a 66, helping the Fal-
cons to the team title in the
fi nal Mid-Columbia Con-
ference match Monday at
Zintel Canyon Golf Course
in Kennewick.
Hanford fi nished with
a team score of 287, fol-
lowed by Kamiakin (289),
Richland (309), Kenne-
wick (316), Southridge
(330), Hermiston (340),
Walla Walla (349), Chi-
awana (354) and Pasco
(375).
For Hermiston, Gar-
rett McClannahan, Blue
Blackhurst and Kaleb
Crafton led the way with
matching 84s, while Cody
Thacker had an 88 and
Ryne Andreason a 92.
McClanahan and Black-
hurst qualifi ed for the Dis-
trict 8 tournament Monday
and Tuesday at Sun Wil-
lows Golf Course in Pasco.
Girl Scouts take over SAGE Saturday
HERMISTON FAMILY MEDICINE &
HOURS: Mon.-Sat.
7:30am-7:00pm
Golf
236 E. Newport, Hermiston
(across from U.S. Bank)
the exhibits. Free admis-
sion is offered to everyone
on SAGE Saturday from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The SAGE — Sus-
tainable AGriculture and
Energy — Center is an
interactive visitor’s cen-
ter. It provides information
about technology within
the Port of Morrow and
beyond. Regular hours are
Monday through Satur-
day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information,
call 541-481-7243 or visit
www.visitsage.com.
Eye Health & Vision Care
Robert D. Rolen , O.D., LLC
Optometric Physician
115 W. Hermiston Ave. Suite 130
541-567-1837
LET US BE THE ONE THAT HELPS!
Call Today!
• Adult, Child and Family Therapy
• Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment
• Mental Health and Crisis Services
• Confidential and Professional Care
LIFEWAYS PENDLETON Crisis Phone: LIFEWAYS HERMISTON
541-289-5433
331 SE 2nd St.,
595 NW 11th St.,
866-343-4473
Pendleton, OR 97801
Hermiston, OR 97838
Office: 541-276-6207 WWW . LIFEWAYS . ORG Office: 541-567-2536
1060 W. Elm, Suite #115,
Hermiston, OR
(across from Good Shepherd Medical Center)
www.apd4kidz.com
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm