Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 2019)
SPORTS B2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAy, NOvEMbER 20, 2019 Hermiston welcomes basketball, football events and $5 for students. Burns and Santiam Chris- tian will kick things off at 11 a.m. in a 3A state semifi- nal game. The Hilanders and Eagles are both 11-0 on the season. Adrian/Jordan Valley will take on Crane at 2:15 p.m. in the 1A state semifinals. The Antelopes are 11-0, while the Mustangs are 10-1, with their lone loss to Adrian/Jor- dan Valley (42-36) in High Desert League play Sept. 13. The final game of the day is a 4A state semifi- nal between La Grande and The Dalles at 5:30 p.m. The Tigers are 10-0, while the Riverhawks are 7-4. Kennison Field will host 3 state football playoff games Saturday By ANNIE FOWLER STAFF WRITER The city of Hermiston will nearly double in size this weekend as 110 AAU basketball teams invade the town, and Hermiston High School hosts three high school football playoff games at Kennison Field. “We have a contract with the OSAA, and it’s worth it for the amount of money it puts back into our commu- nity,” Hermiston athletic director Larry Usher said. “We have hosted several events before. The OSAA looks to us because we have nice facilities.” Hermiston, with the help of Echo and Stanfield, will host the Autumn Kickoff Classic. Basketball games will be played Saturday and Sun- day in every available gym in all three towns. “If there is another event that brings an economic boon to our economy like the AAU tournaments, I’d like to know what it is,” said Usher, who noted that AAU events also will be held in December, January and February. “All of that money stays in our commu- nity. It’s easily $300,000 per weekend.” Add in the three football games, and that amount will go up. “It’s awesome for our community,” Hermiston Chamber of Commerce CEO Kimberly Nevil said Golf HH file photo Teams from Boise, Idaho, and Richland, Washington, play a game Jan. 26, 2019, at Sunset Elementary School. The teams came to town for the Best of the West AAU basketball tournament, which used gyms in Hermiston, Echo and Stanfield. Another tournament is set this weekend. “IF THERE IS ANOTHER EVENT THAT BRINGS AN ECONOMIC BOON TO OUR ECONOMY LIKE THE AAU TOURNAMENTS, I’D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. ALL OF THAT MONEY STAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT’S EASILY $300,000 PER WEEKEND.” Larry Usher, Hermiston athletic director of the upcoming events. “It’s great for our hospital- ity industry, restaurants and other businesses. I think our community does well to support things like this.” A check of local hotel websites shows no vacan- cies at some properties, while others have any- where from one to five rooms available. “The amount of hotel rooms determines what events we can bring to town,” Nevil said. “That’s the cool thing about Herm- iston — it’s not just one week a year. We have wel- comed events that make Hermiston a wonderful community.” If sports are not your thing, the Hermiston High School marching band will have a Christmas bazaar Saturday at West Park Ele- mentary School in the main commons, and the drama department is performing “Hamlet Thrill-ma-geddon” at the high school Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. Football The nice thing about hosting a day of football, is that one ticket will get you a seat for all three games. Admission is $10 for adults Four Hermiston football players earn MCC honors Hermiston offensive lineman Chase Bradshaw earned first-team Mid-Co- lumbia Conference foot- ball honors for the second year in a row. The 6-foot-5, 275- pound senior, had a grade of 92 percent on the sea- son for his blocking execution. “It’s always a good feeling when opposing coaches recognize your play, and you as a player,” Bradshaw said. Bulldogs wide receiver Garrett Walchli, and punter Trevor Wagner were named to the sec- ond team, while senior offensive lineman Dustyn Coughlin earned honor- able mention honors. Walchli, a senior, had 49 catches for 634 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games. He finished the season with 1,099 all-pur- pose yards, and was sixth in MCC scoring with 72 points. “I’m excited and hum- bled,” Walchli said. “The MCC is one of the hardest leagues in the state. I am grateful, but I am never satisfied.” Wagner, a junior, aver- Wagner Walchli Coughlin Bradshaw aged 33.9 yards per punt this season. He had 34 punts that covered 1,153 yards. The 6-6, 300-pound Coughlin was name to the honorable mention team for the second year in a row. Kamiakin running back Tuna Altahir was named Offensive Player of the Year by the league coaches, while Chi- awana defensive line- man Bridger Feldman was named Defensive Player of the Year. Baylor McElroy of Kennewick was voted Lineman of the Year, and Pasco’s Des Licon was the Special Teams Player of the Year. Chiawana’s Steve Graff was named Coach of the Year, after leading the Riverhawks to an 8-0 record during the regular season. Poker tournament The annual Hermiston High School Sports Boosters poker tournament is Satur- day at John Walchli Farms. The buy-in is $100, and offers players the chance to win $2,400 in gift cards. The social starts at 5 p.m., with tournament play at 6:30 p.m. If you just want to go for dinner and drinks, the cost is $25. You can register for both on the booster club website. Swimming Continued from Page b1 Offensive lineman Chase bradshaw earns first-team honors By ANNIE FOWLER STAFF WRITER The annual Turkey Shoot will be Saturday at Big River Golf Course. The annual event is a fundraiser for the high school and youth golf programs. Entry fee is $50 per player. You can register the day of the event, or contact Pat Kerrigan at 541-571- 0166 to sign up. Carts are not included, but can be reserved by call- ing 541-922-3006. Photo courtesy of Sara Sargent/East Oregonian Hermiston juniors Georgia Stevenson (left) and Abigail Sharon pose for a photo at the WIAA 3A girls swimming state championships on Friday in Federal Way, Wash. backstroke. “They push each other quite a bit,” their coach, Sargent, said. “It’s nice to see them together. There’s always a little competition between them there. They do everything I ask of them. When it came to districts, they laid it all out there.” Sargent took on head coaching duties for the Bull- dogs’ girls swim team the same year Hermiston joined the WIAA. “The team as a whole has made huge improvements. We’ve grown so much,” Sar- gent said. While their teammates did not get the opportunity that Stevenson and Sharon did last weekend, the two Hermiston swimmers have had their eyes on a trip to state since the beginning of the season. “I’ve had the idea that I could make it to state,” Sha- ron said. “That mentality kept me going and pushed me even harder.” She needed that kind of mentality to hit the water against some of Washing- ton’s best swimmers, which Stevenson said she knew would be “a lot faster.” Stevenson and Sharon have both been on the swim team since they started high school. Stevenson has been swimming since was 5, and Sharon since she was 8. “I love being in the water,” Sharon said. “It just came naturally to me.” Now their sights are set on a repeat state appearance for their senior seasons next year. MID-COLUMBIA CONFERENCE FOOTBALL HONORS FIRST TEAM Defensive back — Kelen Rutz, sr., Kamiakin; Des Licon, jr., Pasco; Aiden Mason, jr., Chiawana; Dion Lee, sr., Chiawana. Linebacker — Riley Cissne, sr., Chiawana; Cameron Breier, jr., Chiawana; Roy Colvin, sr., Chiawa- na; Luis Salgado, so., Kamiakin. Defensive line — Jagger Childs, sr., Kennewick; Bridger Feldman, sr., Chiawana; Tanner Sullins, sr., Kamiakin; Isaiah Anderson, so., Chiawana. Offensive line — Baylor McElroy, sr., Kennewick; Baiden McElroy, sr., Kennewick; Casey Moddrell, sr., Hanford; Tanner Sullins, sr., Kamiakin; Chase Bradshaw, sr., Hermiston. Wide receiver — Woodley Downard, jr., Kamiakin; Ben Fewel, jr., Richland; Des Licon, jr., Pasco; Kelen Rutz, sr., Kamiakin. Quarterback — Easton Wise- Hyde, jr., Hanford. Running back — Myles Mayovsky, so., Kennewick; Tuna Altahir, jr., Kamiakin. Punter — Seamus Hall, jr., Walla Walla. Kicker — Xavier Uvalle, jr., Hanford. Returner — Des Licon, jr., Pasco. SECOND TEAM Defensive back — Arnaldo Cabrera, sr., Kennewick; Aarloh Valdovinos, jr., Chiawana; Elijah Rodriguez, so., Richland; Simeon Howard, so., Kennewick. Linebacker — Konner Oberman, sr., Hanford; Cody LaFontaine, sr., Kennewick; Kaleb Stevenson, sr., Kennewick; Nathan Torres, jr., Pasco. Defensive line — Sam Stanfield, sr., Richland; Cole Schmidt, sr., Walla Walla; Bryson Knapik, sr., Kennewick; Isaiah Arline, jr., Pasco. Offensive line — Cole Schmidt, sr., Walla Walla; Michael Chvedov, sr., Hanford; Austin Schoffstall, sr., Kennewick; Nic Gutierrez, sr., Pasco; Payten Collins, sr., Hanford. Wide receiver — Dion Lee, sr., Chiawana; Dylan Ashbeck, sr., Walla Walla; Jaxon Farrah, jr., Hanford; Garett Walchli, sr., Hermiston. Quarterback — Henry Mercado, so., Kamiakin. Running back — Kamari Durmas, sr., Hanford; Gabe Schilz, sr., Chiawana. Punter — Trevor Wagner, jr., Hermiston. Kicker — Francisco Valle, jr., Pasco. Returner — Simeon Howard, so., Kennewick. HONORABLE MENTION Defensive back — Hunter Polley, sr., Walla Walla; Kamari Durmas, sr., Hanford; Tuna Altahir, jr., Kamiakin; Aidan Leonard, sr., Kamiakin; Gabe Martinez, sr., Hanford. Linebacker — Gerardo Alonso, so., Chiawana; Camron Ball, jr., Richland Gilbert Marquez, jr., Kamiakin. Defensive line — Josh White, sr., Richland; Omar Cruz, jr., Walla Walla; Lucas Martin, jr., South- ridge. Offensive line — Wyatt Eller, sr., Hanford; Dustyn Coughlin, sr., Hermiston; Jackson Owen, sr., Walla Walla; Jaiden Anderson, sr., Chiawana; Aaron Tano, so., Kamiakin. Wide receiver — Simeon Howard, so., Kennewick; Gabe Martinez, sr., Hanford; Messiah Jones, jr., Kamiakin; Caleb Harvey, jr., Hanford. Quarterback — JP Zamora, so., Chiawana; Blaine Chavez, sr., Kennewick. Running back — Jakob Hum- phrey, so., Walla Walla. Punter — Simeon Howard, so., Kennewick. Kicker — Evan Dawes, sr., Chi- awana. Returner — Josiah Wik, sr., Walla Walla.
