HERMISTON — For the first time since joining the Mid-Columbia Conference, Hermiston beat Chiawana on the wrestling mat.

The Bulldogs, who improved to 6-0, won five matches by fall to beat the Riverhawks 46-14 on Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Dawg House.

“It was awesome,” Hermiston coach Kyle Larson said. “The boys were fired up for sure. It’s rewarding. They see why we do what we do. Why we preach showing up and doing things the right way.”

The win put the Bulldogs (6-0) in the driver’s seat for the MCC title. They have conference duals with Hanford and Kennewick left on their schedule.

“This has been something we have worked toward,” Larson said. “We have two more duals, but we can’t count our chickens before they hatch. We have to finish it out and get it done. Both teams have some tough kids.”

The Riverhawks (5-1) won the first two matches at 285 and 106, but Hermiston dominated from there, winning seven consecutive matches.

Brodie Favorite got the Bulldogs’ started with a 6-4 overtime win over Emilio Hinojosa at 113, and Jacoby Rodriguez followed with a 1:15 pin of Alexander Lopez at 120.

Freshman Aidan Larson pinned Adrian Shima in 3:08 at 126, and Jaysen Rodriguez continued the streak with a pin of Victor Luna in 3:10 at 132.

Isaac Ramirez Ruiz picked up a major decision at 138, Daniel Garza won by decision at 144, and Hayden Larson won by fall at 150 to give the Bulldogs a 34-6 lead with five matches remaining.

Chiawana picked up wins at 157 and 165, but Hermiston finished off the match with a trio of wins.

At 175, Ben Larson earned a 5-1 decision over Tayten Cissne, Ami Tuia posted a 7-2 decision over Pablo Lara at 190, and Joseph Gutierrez pinned Landon Bolton in 4:31 at 215 to end the match.

“Even when we didn’t get falls, we got decisions,” Larson said. “Even if we lost, we didn’t get pinned. Two years ago, we’d have gotten turned. Those Cissne boys are gamers. They want to win every time they step on the mat. Ben did a good job of being really greedy. He didn’t give him anything.”

The Riverhawks lost two team points with two unsportsmanlike penalties during the match.

“They got frustrated,” Larson said. “Their community put a lot of butts in the seats. Our student section was after it all night. It helped. I hope they want to come back. Kids do not want to lose in front of their friends. It matters when people care about you.”

Girls wrestling

Hermiston topped Chiawana 43-42 in Mid-Columbia Conference action, but the drama wasn’t limited to the mat.

With the score tied 42-42 after the match, officials had to go to the 10th tie-breaker criteria to declare a winner.

“At some point in time, the control you did have during the match you gave away, so you sit and wait,” Hermiston coach Al Davis said. “Luckily we came out on top. It was crazy. What it comes down to, is we turned people one more time than they did.”

According to the high school dual meet tie-breaking criteria, the 10th criteria is the team having the greater number of points for near falls.

Exactly two years ago to the day, the Bulldogs and Riverhawks were tied 42-42 at the end of their match and had to go to the seventh tie-breaking criteria (greatest number of technical falls) to determine the winner, which was Hermiston.

Davis said the Riverhawks (5-1 MCC) mostly dominated the lower weight classes, while the Bulldogs had the advantage in the upper weights.

Hermiston (5-1) made inroads in the lower weights as Elena Flores pinned Soleil Olivera in 56 seconds at 135 pounds. Flores has more than 100 career wins.

“Elena will be the all-time leader for wins, and the all-time pins leaders,” Davis said. “It’s a huge accomplishment. One hundred wins is the gold standard for boys and girls. That she was able to do it in COVID times shows how hard she worked.

At 130, Hermiston’s first-year wrestler, Briana Beas, pinned Chiawana’s Akissa Avalos in 1:53.

“That was huge for us,” Davis said of Beas’ win. “Chiawana is a good team. Someone has to win, and someone has to lose.”

Hermiston’s Tuta Sepeni picked up a forfeit at 235 to open the match, then Chiawana won the next six matches to take a 36-6 lead.

Beas stopped the Riverhawks’ onslaught, followed by Flores and Carley Rangel-Tucker at 140, who pinned Liliana Torres in 1:42.

Chiawana got the win at 145, but that would be it for the Riverhawks.

From there, Hermiston’s Laura Meyers pinned Georgia Sanchez in 3:26 at 155, Jorgia McKin pinned Zoe Almaguer at 190, and Kaiomi Morris pinned Tamina All at 190.

Morris’ pin tied the match at 42-42, sending the officials to sort out the tie-breaking criteria.

Bowling

HERMISTON 1,694, HANFORD 1,519 — Lily Fields rolled a 191, and the Bulldogs won their second match in a row, beating Hanford at Desert Lanes.

Hermiston won both regular games, and the teams split their baker games as the Bulldogs won by 175 pins.

Kaitlyn Crowther rolled a 164 for Hermiston, while Samantha Martinez led the Falcons with a 172.

Girls basketball

TROUT LAKE/GLENWOOD 48, IONE/ARLINGTON 36 — The Cardinals suffered their first Big Sky League setback with a loss to the Mustangs on the road.

The Mustangs had a small advantage all game, leading 14-9 after the first quarter and 26-19 at the half.

Vicki De La Torre led the Cardinals (8-5 overall, 4-1 BSL) with 12 points, while Najiah Knight added 10, and Calli Troutman eight.

Violette Anderson and Nancy Painter each had 16 points for the Mustangs (12-2, 5-0).

Boys basketball

IONE/ARLINGTON 58, TROUT LAKE 40 — Azriel Borghese poured in 24 points to lead the Cardinals to a Big Sky League road win over the Mustangs.

The Cardinals (3-9 overall, 1-3 BSL) got out to a 17-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, and their lead ballooned to 34-19 at the half.

Colt Gronquist scored six of his eight points in the third quarter as I/A took a 46-26 lead.

Ryder Stewerd added 15 points for the Cardinals, which snapped a two-game losing streak.

Dylan North led the Mustangs (5-9, 1-4) with 17 points, while Rowen Huff added 12.