HERMISTON, Ore.-The Hermiston wrestling team is off to an undefeated start in the Mid-Columbia Conference (MCC) this season, as the Bulldogs continue a tradition of dominance on the mats.
The Bulldogs’ early season success includes wins over Sunnyside, Pasco, Southridge, and an 80-0 takedown of Sageview on December 16.
Starting Strong
Hermiston opened the season in Seattle against some of the top schools in the State.
“We got a look at some Westside teams, the top five in the state were all there, and we came home with a fourth-place finish,” said Hermiston Head Coach Kyle Larson.
For Coach Larson, starting the season against schools and opponents they won’t see again until the postseason is a good measuring stick for where the Bulldogs are, and the strength of competition sets them up for success throughout the season.
The Bulldogs also wrestled in the Wild West Showdown, a dual meet in Toppenish, WA, on December 13, and brought home a second-place finish.
“We’re off to a good start, we wrestled in quite a few competitions early,” said Larson. “We don’t want to drag our feet, some of the things we preach are staying in shape, attacking and scoring points.”
A Tradition of Excellence
It can be said that tradition never graduates, and the success of Hermiston wrestling is a testament to alumni and the foundation built by club wrestling in Hermiston.
“We have alumni coming back now, watching meets, getting involved, or their own kids are wrestling,” said Larson. “Hermiston also has a thriving youth program with 150-175 club wrestlers from beginner to elite; that’s one hundred percent why our program is where it’s at.”
Larson won three state titles during his own Hermiston wrestling days, and his current squad of Bulldog grapplers includes his son Aidan, and nephew Hayden.
“I’m coaching the kids of guys I went to school with or wrestled with,” said Larson. “Those kids know and understand the expectations, culture and history of Hermiston wrestling.”
With wrestlers competing from an early age, Hermiston’s proud wrestling heritage has continued, with the Bulldogs collecting ten state titles since 2001 and finishing second at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) State Meet the past four years.
Getting Over the Hump
With several wrestlers returning who finished at state last season, Hermiston’s roster is tough from top to bottom and is talented enough to break through and claim a state title this season.
According to Larson, impact wrestlers back this season include Brayden Harrison, who sets the tone for meets, wrestling at 106 pounds, followed by Mason Miracle at 120 pounds, Brayden Medelez at 132, Jayden Martinez at 138, Aidan Larson at 144, and Hayden Larson at 175.
The challenges for Hermiston this season include a tough MCC schedule, featuring perennial 4A powerhouse Chiawana, as well as a Richland team that is expected to contend.
The current Bulldogs have embraced the tradition and history of Hermiston wrestling and now must handle the weight of the expectations that come with that.
“This has nothing to do with wrestling, but it shows up on the mat,” said Larson, of managing expectations and keeping his team hungry. “Going to class, not being tardy, training, staying in shape, being positive and supporting each other, doing the small things right counts.”
Hermiston will also continue to challenge itself by competing in regional tournaments, such as the Tri-State in Coeur D’ Alene, one of the toughest in the Pacific Northwest, with an eye toward ultimately being ready for the postseason.
The Bulldogs will also have the opportunity to claim a dual meet State Championship this season, when the WIAA offers that title for the first time in late January, before the individual Championships in February. Hermiston will compete against 10-12 and possibly as many as 16 teams in a win-and-advance tournament format.
“Wrestling is special and we want to win,” said Larson. “Our number one goal, though, is to help these kids become good quality people that will enter the real world and give back.”
