PAGE 20 ROPERS SPORTS NEWS MAY-JUNE 2024 By Brody Gill Special To Ropers Sports News COTTONWOOD, CALIF. – Weather has always been a concern around the time of Broc’s roping. The unknown causes great uncertainty with the weeks leading up to the event with, “Will Four Star’s Arena be dry enough?” “Where will everyone be able to park?” “If the roping can’t be at Four Star, where is it going to be?” This year was no different. A large spring storm added over an inch to the already vast amount of rain Northern California received over the winter and spring. Many of Broc’s friends and family worked alongside the Davis family to try to prepare the arena for the storm. However, as the cattle ranchers and farmers in the area blessed the spring shower, it caused Four Star Arena’s silty dirt to turn to a brown pond. On Monday (April 15), the day prior to the roping, Broc’s family and friends announced the roping would be moved to the Bobby Jones Arena, home to the Cottonwood CCPRA Rodeo, thanks to the hard work of Cody Jones. This was not just a sand arena that could handle the rain, Broc had grown up high school rodeoing and amateur rodeoing in this arena prior to taking his talents to the PRCA. In the 12 years of Broc’s Roping, it had only been held away from Four Star’s beautiful ranch one other time where it was held at the Tehama County Fairground’s Pauline Davis Pavilion in 2017. Although the weather always has a question mark surrounding it leading up to Broc’s Roping, it is an amazing feat that the third Tuesday in April has only been wet one other time. As the morning of the roping came, trucks and trailers of professional and amateur team ropers alike poured into the Bobby Jones Arena to get ready for the special day. The anticipation of what professional team roper each person entered in the Pro/Am might draw, is a staple of the event. “It’s a pretty good draw pot” is the buzz phrase as the eagerness builds as each of the amateurs wait in line for their pick. The Pro-Am got underway with the amateur heelers getting to try their two steers behind their professional header counterparts. Spencer Mitchell and Ryan Wheatley took the first round and Hayes Smith and Zane George took the second round win. After the top 20 short round teams were an12th Annual Team Roping ‘Forever. Always.’ – Broc Cresta Memorial Becky Moore, Mandy Staley and Stephanie Andrews presenting a buckle to Chet Nelms. – Photo by Crystal Amen Matt Burgess was a Dummy Roping buckle winner. Mandy Staley presenting. – Photo by Crystal Amen Dummy Roping buckle winner was Clay Stokes. Mandy Staley presenting. – Photo by Crystal Amen nounced, the amateur headers got to spin two for their Professional Heelers where Rylee George and Cody Cowden and Cole Green and Russell Cardoza won rounds one and two respectively. Prior to starting either of the Pro-Am short rounds, the annual live auction took place where donations including a Priefert Roping Chute, Smarty Roping Dummy, Wrangler Box Pads signed by all the professionals and several other items were sold with all the money going to the Broc Cresta Memorial Scholarship Fund. The 2024 scholarship recipients were also announced in front of the surrounding crowd of patrons and contestants. $7,500 was dispersed to Zane George, Claire Boles, Johnny Padilla, Colton Suther, Kenna Stratton and Syndey Oilar. The short round started with the Pro-Am Headers top 20 teams. It was a narrow race to the finish with less than three seconds between first and twentieth high call. Colt Piazza and Denton Dunning bested the field on the first two steers and as high call, made a 7.29 second run to take home the top prize package which included a Coats saddle, Skyline buckles and over $7,000 for the team. Next came the Pro-Am Heelers short round. The second high call team of Riley Minor andColby George smoked a short round fast time of 5.92 to beat the field by over two seconds and received a Coats saddle, Skyline buckles and over $6,000 dollars to the team. The Broc Cresta Memorial Roping has forever held the tradition of honoring Broc prior See BROC CRESTA MEMORIAL On Page 21 Open champs were Brayden Schmidt (third from left) and Logan Moore (second from left). Presenting awards are the roping producers Mandy Staley (l) and Justin Davis (r). Also presenting are Broc’s mother Kelline Balistreri and brother Brent Cresta. – Photo by Crystal Amen Pro-Am Heeling champion was Colby George (second from left) who drew pro Riley Minor (c) as his partner. Presenting are Mandy Staley, Kelline Balistreri and Justin Davis. – Photo by Crystal Amen FRONT PAGE: Brayden Schmidt and Logan Moore teamed up for the win of the Broc Cresta Memorial Open Roping. They each won $13,000 plus Coats saddles and Skyline buckles. Brayden also won third with Denton Dunning for an additional $7,500 to his day’s cash total. – Photo by Crystal Amen
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