By Christopher Halsey

Herald Sports Editor

PORTLAND A new chapter has been written in the Hermiston High School athletic history book and it makes for exciting reading.

The Hermiston Bulldog wrestling team won the schools first team championship in the OSAA/U.S. Bank tournament. Four members of the 11-member state team claimed individual titles, doubling the total number of individual wrestling champions from Hermiston.

Jed Lowe and Orlando Perez ended their Bulldog careers with championships and juniors Bryan Medelez and Jeremy Larson will return next year on a team that will likely give the competition fits again at the state tournament.

Lowe defeated Byron Woods of South Salem for the 189-pound championship. Perez got the best in the 140-pound title match of Haydn Reece of Crook County. Bryan Medelez became the 125-pound champion with a win over Sean Bolin of Lakeridge. Larson won the 152-pound title with a win against Redmonds Kyle Hartzell.

Their stellar efforts in the finals were coupled with a third place finish by Kyle Larson and a fifth place showing by Ryan Medelez at 130-pounds. Sophomore Nick Gutierrez at 112-pounds, senior Dallin Hendrickson at 119-pounds, senior Caleb Beehler at 145-pounds, junior Andrew Reed at 171-pounds and sophomore Tyler Hartsteen at 275-pounds also took part in the tournament. Hermiston won going away with 160 team points, besting 3-time defending champion Crater by 12 points. Eagle Point was third at 141.5 points and Newberg was fourth with 137. Canby was fifth at 133, Oregon City was sixth with 120.5, West Linn was seventh with 109.5 and Crook County was eighth with 102.5. Sprague placed ninth with 91 points while Redmond, Glenco and Thurston shared 10th place with 64 team points.

(For complete covereage, see Feb. 27, 2001 edition of The Hermiston Herald)