Despite some top finishes, like Blane Strohn’s 10th-place spot
in tie-down roping and Megan Melton’s 13th-place finish in goat
tying, each of the seven competitors from San Benito County fell
short of earning a national bid at last week’s California High
School Rodeo Association State Finals in Bishop.
HOLLISTER
Despite some top finishes, like Blane Strohn’s 10th-place spot in tie-down roping and Megan Melton’s 13th-place finish in goat tying, each of the seven competitors from San Benito County fell short of earning a national bid at last week’s California High School Rodeo Association State Finals in Bishop.
With only the top four placers in each event advancing to the National High School Finals Rodeo — scheduled to start July 18-24 in Gillette, Wyo. — Strohn’s 10th-place finish in tie-down positioned him the closest of qualifying among San Benito’s seven competing cowboys and cowgirls.
Strohn clocked times 16.14, 13.6 and 15.25 seconds through his first three go-rounds, and a time of 14.15 seconds in the short go to take 10th place with an average of 59.14 seconds. He compiled 18 points in the process, but fell short of Jordan Warrack of District 8, who earned the fourth and last qualifying spot to nationals with 42 points.
Strohn also teamed up with Doyle Thomas Hoskins in team roping, and the two finished in 15th place.
Megan Melton, meanwhile, also compiled 18 points in goat tying after she recorded times of 9.97, 8.28 and 11.33 seconds through her first three go-rounds, and an 11.00 in the short round for an average of 40.58 seconds. She missed the top-four cut, however, as Katie Rice of District 3 lassoed the last qualifying spot with 44 points.
Dylan Pierce managed to garner a fifth-place spot in bareback riding with 10 points, although the event only drew six competitors and advanced only three to nationals as a result.
San Benito competitors Tawne Haynish (pole bending, barrel racing), Kristy Melton (goat tying, breakaway roping, team roping), Blaire Strohn (goat tying, breakaway roping) and Megan Ford (barrel racing, queen’s contest) also competed at the state finals, while both Megan Melton (pole bending, breakaway roping, team roping) and Blane Strohn (team roping) competed in additional events.
To view complete results from the state finals in Bishop, log on to: www.chsra.org
California High School Rodeo Association State Finals
Tie-down Roping
Blane Strohn — 10th, 18 points
Bareback Riding
Dylan Pierce — 5th, 10 points
Team Roping
Blane Strohn/Doyle Thomas Hoskins — 15th place, 13 points
Kristy Melton/Megan Melton — 32nd, 8 points
Barrel Racing
Tawne Haynish — 31st, 8 points
Megan Ford — 39th, 6 points
Breakaway Roping
Blaire Strohn — 20th, 12 points
Kristy Melton — 30th, 9 points
Megan Melton — 33rd, 8 points
Goat Tying
Megan Melton — 13th, 18 points
Kristy Melton — 20th, 9 points
Blaire Strohn — 38th, 7 points
Pole Bending
Megan Melton — 25th, 9 points
Tawne Haynish — 36th, 7 points
