San Benito County will be represented seven times over at next
week’s California High School Rodeo Association’s State Finals in
Bishop, where Tawne Haynish, Megan Melton, Kristy Melton, Blaire
Strohn, Blane Strohn, Dylan Pierce and Megan Ford will try their
hand at a top-four spot in their respective events.
HOLLISTER
San Benito County will be represented seven times over at next week’s California High School Rodeo Association’s State Finals in Bishop, where Tawne Haynish, Megan Melton, Kristy Melton, Blaire Strohn, Blane Strohn, Dylan Pierce and Megan Ford will try their hand at a top-four spot in their respective events.
Only the top four in each event advances to the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo., slated for July 18-24.
National bids won’t be easy to come by, though, as some 300 contestants will be on hand at the state finals in Bishop, with as many as 45 contestants in any single event.
Representing District 4, the seven local riders will compete in a multitude of events, with Megan Melton having qualified in five, including goat tying, pole bending, breakaway roping and team roping.
Melton is a header in team roping, while her heeling partner is none other than her sister Kristy Melton, who will also compete in goat tying and breakaway roping.
Both Blaire and Blane Strohn will try their hand as well in two events each. Blaire Strohn will compete in goat tying and breakaway roping, while Blane Strohn will compete in tie-down roping and team roping, where he is a heeler.
Dylan Pierce, meanwhile, advanced to the state finals in bareback riding, and Tawne Haynish did the same in pole bending and barrel racing.
Megan Ford will also compete in barrel racing, as well as the queens contest after the San Benito High student was recently crowned the queen of District 4.
For updated results from state finals, visit: www.chsra.org
