By Luke Hegdal

Staff writer

HERMISTON Randy Larson, a senior at Hermiston High School, signed a letter of intent to wrestle for Boise State University on Wednesday. One of Hermiston’s top wrestlers, Larson has accumulated a 116-27 career record, and placed third in State last year.

Larson was first intrigued by Boise State during a summer team camp held in Spokane, though his final decision came only a month ago. His decision was based partly on his assessment of the coaching staff, which was favorable.

“I just went there and decided that’s where I want to go,” Larson said. “They’ve got a tough team.”

Larson also said that signing on with Boise State will take some of the pressure off his final year at Hermiston High, especially next spring when other students are scrambling to finish college applications.

“Just wrestling, that’s all I have to worry about now,” Larson said.

As a single-sport athlete, Larson isn’t kidding, and his parents, Reta and Harry Larson, said that their son has been wrestling ever since they can remember.

“He’s always been in the wrestling room,” said Reta Larson.

In fact, wrestling is something of a family tradition in the Larson family. Harry Larson wrestled in high school, and all three of his sons, Jeremy, Kyle, and now Randy, have continued their wrestling career in college.

“As a family we just used wrestling as a way to teach work ethic,” Harry Larson said, equating the sport to real life. “You can go as far as you want to go.” His son agreed.

“You’re never done getting better,” Randy Larson said.

Reta Larson isn’t indifferent to the sport either, and is a staunch supporter of her three sons.

“I love wrestling,” she said. “Every guy I dated in high school was a wrestler. I married a wrestler.”

Randy Larson is looking forward to the upcoming season, and will wrestle in the 171-pound weight class this year.