By Tracey Scott
Special To Ropers Sports News
PLYMOUTH, CA – It was a special year this year at the CHSRA Challenge of Champions. Thanks to the tireless work of its producer, Craig Williams, it celebrated 20 years of great high school competition at the Amador County fairgrounds. Craig started this event when the Jr. Cow Palace moved their event to the fall and discontinued the rodeo 21 years ago. He approached the now headliner sponsor, Jackson Rancheria, and it has been a perfect event to showcase the top three in all events in each district prior to the state finals held in June.
This year one thing was missing, rain. In a year of record rain, the sun was shining all weekend March 17-19, which was a joy for all those contestants who have spent most of their year competing in mud. The foothills were beautiful green and the families enjoyed the local amenities too.
The competition was fierce in the arena with a substantial amount of freshmen qualifying this year and a record amount of contestants at 211. Andee Poole of District 6 set an arena record of 1.9 in the breakaway, when asked how did it feel, “Setting the record was so exciting. I’m really thankful for the opportunity to be the new record holder and to hopefully have a few more opportunities to break it myself.” 321 Action Video was livestreaming the entire event and Student Vice President Hannah Steagall and Miss CHSRA Bailee Poole conducted live interviews with the event champions Sunday. CHSRA took a moment to thank Craig for his time and service over the last 20 years. His commitment to the students is inspiring.
The 2017 all around champions each receive a $500 scholarship, sponsored by Cargill and since it was a tie for the boys the CHSRA scholarship foundation will match the second scholarship. Those went to Wyatt Hansen, Oakdale and Chance Ruffoni of Santa Maria. The girls all around champion was Payton Schoeppach of Lincoln. Boys Cutting was won by Jason Anderson, Salinas, and girls Payton Scalzo of Temecula.
In the roughstock, Bull Riding champion was Conner McClure, Grass Valley; Saddle Bronc, Lefty Holman of Visalia; and Bareback, Karson Montijo of Bakersfield. Girls timed event champions were, Barrels, Kelsey Cadwell, Oakdale; Goats, Payton Schoeppach, Lincoln; and Breakaway, Andee Poole of Clovis.
Boys timed events: Tie Down, Cole Dodds, Sanger; Steer Wrestling, Tucker Allen of Oak View; and Team Roping was won by Wyatt Hansen and Layton Oswald, both of Oakdale.
BAREBACK RIDING
1. Karson Montijo, 6 115
2. Cauy Pool, 1 109
Barrel Racing
1. Kelsey Cadwell, 5 33.318
2. Payton Schoeppach, 3 33.675
3. Payton Bladow, 8 33.883
4. Hailey Finnegan, 2 33.93
5. Haylie Stelling, 4 34.058
6. Karli Huguenard, 7 34.131
7. Erin Shipley, 6 34.251
8. Alea Cunningham, 7 34.8
9. Madison Bauté, 9 38.124
10. Kelsey Dickens, 5 38.623
Breakaway
1. Andee Poole, 6 5.06
2. Makayla Farkas, 9 6.41
3. Cori Burdett, 8 6.53
4. Lynnde Cole, 7 7.44
5. MacKenzie Parker, 8 7.82
6. Kaiden Ayres, 6 21.49
Bull Riding
1. Conner McClure, 3 76
2. Blake Shepard, 1 62
Boys Cutting
1. Jason Andersen, 4 299
2. Riley Bishop, 4 296
3. Quintin McWhorter, 2 292.5
4. Chance Ruffoni, 7 291
5. Justin Schuette, 3 288
6. Lefty Holman, 6 283
7. Chance Collins, 2 281
8. George Becker, 3 278
9. Michael Jennings, 3 268
10. Payson Holman, 6 145
Girls Cutting
1. Payton Scalzo, 8 296
2. Taylor Strohl, 6 294.5
3. Hunter Morgan, 3 294
4. Savanna Morgan, 3 291
5. Madison Deardorf, 5 290
6. Joleen Summers, 6 289
7. Faith Mahallati, 5 282
8. Jessica Alosi, 1 281
9. Frankie Hawkins, 2 276
10. Kaitlyn Andersen, 4 216
Goat Tying
1. Payton Schoeppach, 3 14.54
2. Ryley Asbell, 8 15.26
3. Payson McGill, 3 15.46
4. Kaiden Ayres, 6 16.43
5. Masey Minton, 1 17
6. Mallory Bush, 9 17.45
7. Sierra Stelling, 4 17.59
8. Payton Scalzo, 8 17.65
9. Lauren Hopkins, 7 17.78
10. Darbie Pond, 7 18.79
Pole Bending
1. Lilla Bell, 4 40.403
2. Brianna Leslie, 8 41.482
3. Andee Poole, 6 41.640
4. Madison Bauté, 9 42.591
5. Sydney Mayer, 5 42.710
6. Ava Evans, 3 43.128
7. Madison Camozzi, 4 46.141
8. Allison Inderbieten, 9 46.430
9. Hannah Dickson, 8 47.524
10. Lyndsay Luster, 2 52.588
Saddle Bronc
1. Lefty Holman, 6 142
2. Caden Grisedale, 6 136
3. Reed Neely, 6 131
4. Ronan Hice, 5 56
Steer Wrestling
1. Allen Tucker, 6 13.37
2. Lane Wheeler, 5 16.43
3. Ethan Usher, 7 17.33
4. Grant Peterson, 5 19.54
5. Taite Stickler, 7 20.51
6. Jake Frenceschi, 3 26.96
Team Roping
1. Layton Oswald and Wyatt Hansen, 5, 15.65. 2. Cole Bunting and Bailey Small, 1, 18.87. 3. Cutter Machado and Chance Ruffoni, 7. 19.98. 4. Rhett Varian and Blaize Twisselman, 7, 27.85. 5. Wilson Redfeairn and Karson Mebane, 6, 34.22. 6. Kimberly Kearns and Leland King, 4, 35.05. 7. Cobie Dodds and Cole Dodds, 6, 45.75.
TIE DOWN ROPING
1. Cole Dodds, 6 22.16
2. Wyatt Hansen, 5 23.24
3. Chance Collins, 2 23.34
4. Jason Andersen, 4 25.19
5. Cobie Dodds, 6 25.87
6. Chance Ruffoni, 7 30.84
7. Corte Smith, 1 31.22
8. Hector Dukes, 8 41.26
All Around Cowgirl Peyton Schoeppach. – Photo by Larry Smith/PhotoFast
Wyatt Hansen of District 5 tied for the Boys All-Around championship. – Photo by Larry Smith/PhotoFast
Craig Williams was recognized for 20 years of producing the CHSRA Challenge of Champions. Presenting are Miss CHSRA Bailee Poole (l) and CHSRA 3rd Vice President Tracey Scott. – Photo by Larry Smith/PhotoFast