Richland Bomber named Player of the Year in 2 sports + Pasco dance team dominates WIAA
Pasco dominated the 4A Dance/Drill State Championships over the weekend in the Yakima Valley SunDome.
The Bulldogs earned three titles, winning in Hip Hop, Pom, and Show.
Pasco scored 296.10 points in Hip Hop to defeat 16 other schools.
Pasco scored a 293.70 to take the Show category, and the Bulldogs had 284.20 to win in Pom.
All scores received Superior Ratings.
Richland placed fifth out of 17 schools in the Dance category, scoring 259.60 points to earn an Exceptional Rating.
In the smaller classifications, Hermiston came home with several trophies.
The Bulldogs placed first in the Dance category for Class 1A/2A/3A, scoring a 295.40 for a Superior Rating.
Hermiston also finished second in 3A Hip Hop with a Superior Rating score of 279.20 points; and the Bulldogs also finished first in 3A Show with 272.80 points, another Superior Rating.
Meanwhile, Royal grabbed a first-place finish in 1A/2A Military competition, scoring 263.60 points for an Exceptional Rating score.
Othello finished second in 1A/2A Hip Hop with a 278.80 Superior Rating score. The Huskies also placed third in 1A/2A Pom, scoring 249.40 for an Exceptional Rating score.
Boys basketball
Richland dominated the major awards for Mid-Columbia Conference boys basketball, as senior Josh Woodard was selected by the conference’s coaches as Player of the Year. Senior Luke Westerfield was named Defensive Player of the Year, while the Bombers’ Earl Streufert was named Coach of the Year.
For Woodard, he becomes the first player in recent memory to be named a Player of the Year in both football and basketball. He was Richland’s quarterback this past season.
Woodard and Westerfield were both named first-team all-conference, and they were joined by Kamiakin senior Peter Dress, Hermiston senior Grant Olsen, and Southridge senior Jesse Tijerina.
Woodard and Westerfield also were all-defensive selections, as was their teammate, senior Jack Forbes. Joining them are Walla Walla senior Dane Gardea and Kamiakin senior Tayson Wagar.
College track and field
Hermiston grad Caden Hottman earned two first-place finishes for WSU at the 18th Sam Adams Classic outdoor track and field meet at Whitworth University in Spokane on March 16.
Hottman won the men’s hammer throw with a toss of 197 feet, 2 inches; and he won the men’s discus title with a mark of 154 feet, 6 inches.
There were other Mid-Columbia winners.
Lewis-Clark State College’s Geraldin Correa (Kennewick) finished first in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2 minutes, 15.89 seconds.
Eastern Washington University’s Madelyn Knight (Walla Walla) won the women’s 400-meter hurdles final in a time of 1 minute, 1.52 seconds. Knight also ran a leg in EWU’s winning 4x400 relay final. The Eagles’ time was 4:00.92.
In that relay race, Gonzaga’s women placed second in 4:05.06, and Richland High grad Bailee Carr ran a leg for the Bulldogs. Carr also placed second in the women’s 1500 meters with a time of 4:34.82.
Kamiakin graduate Devyn Chelin placed second in the women’s javelin throw, as the Whitworth standout had a mark of 125 feet, 4 inches.
Southridge graduate Abdelrahim Abdelrahim — competing unattached for Spokane Community College, finished second in the men’s triple jump. He leaped 45 feet, 3 inches.
Finally, Whitworth’s Eddie Vu (Walla Walla) placed third in the men’s shot put with a toss of 46 feet, 5 inches.
Prep softball
This Mid-Columbia Conference softball race could be fun this spring.
Just one week into conference play, there are three teams with 3-0 MCC records — Chiawana, Kamiakin and Richland.
Hanford is right behind at 1-0, while Southridge sports a 2-1 conference record.
Key games this week: Southridge visits Richland in a single contest starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26; Chiawana plays at Hanford in a 4 p.m. doubleheader start on Friday, March 29.
Prep baseball
It’s early, but it looks like the usual suspects — Kamiakin, Kennewick and Richland — are manning the top spots in the Mid-Columbia Conference baseball standings.
Both Kamiakin and Richland are 3-0 in MCC play, as well as 7-0 overall. Kennewick is a half-game back at 3-1 MCC, 7-1 overall.
Hanford is right there too, sitting with a 2-0 MCC record, 3-2 overall.
Key games this week: Kennewick visits Richland for a single game at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 26. The two teams met last week, with the Bombers winning 7-4.
On Friday, Richland visits Hanford for a doubleheader that starts at 4 p.m.
Girls basketball
Chiawana junior Malia Ruud was named Mid-Columbia Conference Player of the Year for girls basketball recently.
Kamiakin’s Emaunii Smith and Aubrey Herrin shared MCC Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Kamiakin’s Lane Schumacher was named Coach of the Year.
Joining Ruud on the first team are Kennewick senior Haylee Johnson, Hanford senior Lynnea Moran, and two Kamiakin players — Smith, a sophomore, and senior Nicole Wertenberger.
Joining Smith and Herrin (a junior) on the all-defensive team are Chiawana sophomore Baylee Maldonado, Hanford’s Moran, Walla Walla senior Madison Reibel, and Richland junior Mackenzie Schulz.
College wrestling
Chiawana grad Darion Johnson was named second-team All-American after placing second at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I men’s national wrestling championships a few weeks ago in Iowa.
Johnson, wrestling for Western Wyoming, placed second at 184 pounds, losing 7-3 to Northwest College’s Aziz Fayzullav.
Johnson, a sophomore, finished the season with a 36-12 record.
Jeff Morrows is former sports editor of the Tri-City Herald.
