HERMISTON, Ore.-The Hermiston High School Men’s Wrestling Team brought a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) State Championship back to Oregon on February 21.
The Bulldogs dominated Mat Classic XXXVII at the Tacoma Dome, securing the team title, as well as three individual state titles won by Jacoby Rodriguez, Aidan Larson, and Jayden Martinez.
“It feels great,” said Hermiston Head Coach Kyle Larson, of bringing home the championship. “It’s been ten years since our last one, and it’s our first in the WIAA. We now have wrestling championships in both Oregon and Washington, and that matters.”
After finishing second the past four years, Hermiston secured the team state championship with a score of 280.5, over sixty points better than University, the runner-up with 219.5 points.
“It was just a belief we had,” said Larson, of his team winning the title after coming so close the past few years. “Enough guys believed, it was an attitude, and at state you could tell they were dialed in.”
In addition to the individual state titles, Hermiston wrestled consistently up and down its roster, with several grapplers securing top ten finishes.
Hayden Larson took second at 175 pounds, Brayden Harrison and Drayson Lathim finished fifth and seventh, respectively at 106 pounds, Brayden Medelez took fourth at 126 pounds, Alexis Lujano finished sixth at 120 pounds, Mason Miracle took sixth at 113 pounds, and Seth Reeve took seventh place at 285 pounds.
“This team worked hard and they deserved to win,” said Larson. “You can’t say that every year, but it was their approach, they worked hard from day one, and they put the pressure on other teams.”
Hermiston’s state wrestling championship is the 11th in program history and the first since joining the WIAA in 2017.
Individual state titles
Jayden Martinez
“After making weight the first day at state I felt good, like I could show what I’m capable of,” Martinez said of competing at state.
Martinez, a sophomore, capped off a 42-5 season on the mat by beating Kent-Meridian’s Luke Garza 11-6 for the state title.
“I’m glad I could make everyone proud, but state was just another tournament for me,” said Martinez. “I’ve got to keep going, there’s still a lot to prove.”
Aidan Larson
For Aidan Larson the individual state title, his second as a Bulldog, continues not only a Hermiston tradition, but a family legacy, as his father (head coach Kyle Larson) won three state titles for Hermiston.
“It feels awesome,” Larson said of the state title. “I lost to the kid I beat for the championship last year, so it’s a good feeling.”
Larson went 46-4 as a junior and brought home a state title by earning a 10-8 decision over Tavarre Lee of Lincoln High at 138 pounds.
“The legacy is on the wall, the goal is to make it there,” said Larson. “It’s an amazing feeling to wrestle where I was born and raised and to be part of the culture of Hermiston wrestling.”
Jacoby Rodriguez
“The year went really good and I finished on top for the first time,” said Rodriguez, a senior, who finished his high school career with a state title at 144 pounds.
Rodriguez met Patrick Halpin of Capital in the championship match and dominated en route to an 8-0 decision.
“I knew going in I had a shot,” said Rodriguez. “A state title feels pretty good.”
