YAKIMA – Abraham Rodriguez, Hermiston’s state champion from three weeks ago, went to the Washington state championships last weekend. He not only won first place at the 7-8-year old, 65-pound bantom class, but earned the Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament trophy. Rodriguez is a member of the Hermiston Kids Wrestling Club.

The Hermiston Kids Wrestling Club took more than 50 youth to Pendleton to take on Eastern Oregon’s toughest competitors March 1. For many it was their first competition of the season and for some their first medal of their wrestling careers.

“They proved to their coaches, their parents and themselves that the techniques they are learning really do work out on the wrestling mat. We were proud of each of them,” noted team spokesman Travis Hancock.

In the Pee Wee (age 6 and under) division, placing were Lian Tarver at 40 pounds, Sidney Dirckson, Tyler Wadekamper and Gavin Woods first at 45, Brock McDonough and Preston Peterson second at 45, Dyllon Zimmerly third at 45, T.J. Hancock first at 55, Aaron Long third at 55 and Michael Gossler first at 65.

In the Bantoms (ages 7-8) Gavin Woods was first at 45, Tyler Duran placed at 45, Bryson Boyd and John Pederson were third at 55, Issac Bishop finished second at 65, Lesar Lopez was third at 65 and Garrett Whitsett took first at 70.

In the Midgets (9-10), C.J. Dirkson was second at 55, Isaac Delgado placed third at 55, Sidney Britt and Tanner Butler placed at 55, Sidney Britt was first at 60, Trevor Hancock and Joe Delgado finished first at 65, Michael Pederson placed at 65, Nathan Bishop and William Hardy placed at 70 and Bryce McMahon was first at 75.

In the Novice (11-12), Jaylee Britt was first in the 65-pound class, Fabian Scotto placed at 80, Abraham Lopez was third at 90, Zachary Bishop placed at 90, Curtis Berger was first at 95 and Shaun Milbrodt was first at 105.

In the Schoolboy class (13-14), Ben Jorgenson was first at 70, Cody Britt third at 70, Wyatt Harris fourth at 70, R.J. Hillard second at 90, Ethan Parks second at 105, Weal Lloyd placed at 105, Andy Adams and A.J. Almaguer placed at 115, Marty Britt was third at 120, Ryan Barton and Bryce Fritz placed at 125, Randy Larson was first at 140, Michael Ramirez placed at 140 and Garrett Later was first at 195.

In the Cadets (15-16), Brent Parks was first at 120, Keith Saucillo placed second at 120, Tye Schaffeld placed at 150 and Nicholas Keely placed at 160.