Led by girls All-Around champion Kristy Melton, as well as
All-Around runner-up Cortnee Bowers and boys runner-up Blane
Strohn, San Benito County will once again be well represented
during the California High School Rodeo Association’s State Finals
rodeo in Bishop next week, where only the top five qualify and only
the top four advance to nationals. Figuring into the top four in
any event is proven to be difficult when the field is whittled down
to roughly the top 300 cowboys and cowgirls in the state, though.
But a total of 11 San Benito County residents will try their hand,
nonetheless.
HOLLISTER
Led by girls All-Around champion Kristy Melton, as well as All-Around runner-up Cortnee Bowers and boys runner-up Blane Strohn, San Benito County will once again be well represented during the California High School Rodeo Association’s State Finals rodeo in Bishop next week, where only the top five qualify and only the top four advance to nationals.
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Figuring into the top four in any event is proven to be difficult when the field is whittled down to roughly the top 300 cowboys and cowgirls in the state, though. But a total of 11 San Benito County residents will try their hand, nonetheless.
Leading the field will be Melton, who two years ago advanced to the championship go-round in goat tying at the Fifth Annual Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo in Gallup, N.M. The now-incoming junior will compete in goat tying next week, too, as well as breakaway roping, cutting and team roping, as a heeler.
During the regular season, while competing within District 4, which includes the counties of San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, Contra Costa, Alameda and San Francisco, Melton finished fifth in goats, second in breakaway, third in cutting and third as a heeler.
Combined, it equaled first place in the All-Around standings. Melton compiled 708 points to edge fellow county resident Cortnee Bowers by just 23 points.
Bowers, of Aromas, will compete in three events next week, including cutting, goat tying and breakaway roping, which she is finished first in during the District 4 regular season. Bowers was also second in cutting and fourth in goats.
Paicines resident Cheyenne Rey, who competes in District 7 and who last year was named All-Around champion in the Junior High Rodeo Division at the California State Finals in Plymouth, will advance to next week’s state finals in Bishop in breakaway roping, goat tying, pole bending and team roping.
The boys side will be led by Blane Strohn and Cash Robinson, each of whom will be competing in two events each.
Strohn was tops in District 4 in both of his events, too, taking first in tie-down roping and first in the heeling category for team roping. Strohn will advance to state with partner Wyatt Witt.
Robinson, meanwhile, will advance to state in team roping as well — he finished second as a heeler with partner Dane Lybbert-Browning — and will also compete in bull riding, where he finished fifth.
Strohn’s sister, Blaire, will compete in three events at state, including goats, breakaway and as a header in the team roping event with partner and fellow county resident Wyatt Naccarato. Blaire finished first in the year-end standings in goat tying, meanwhile.
Other local competitors at next week’s state finals include Megan Ford (barrel racing), Tommy Ford (bareback), Mikael Bernadette (goat tying) and Taylor Prichard (barrel racing). Local Tawne Haynish is an alternate in barrel racing, while Taylor Rae Wood qualified in pole bending, but is not expected to be attending.
The CHSRA State Finals will run from June 13-18 in Bishop. For updated results, go to: www.chsra.org
