Hi Everyone,
Welcome to Spring. March 20th officially marked the first day of the new season. It is always an exciting time. The spring season brings warmer temperatures, longer days, blooming flowers, and bright green hillsides. Well, the green hillsides are something we hope for, but in some parts of the country the lack of rain isn’t really supplying much color to the landscape. Anyway, it always brings a fresh feeling and one of joy. I know the longer days sure are nice for everyone’s roping schedules too.
At Cal Poly, we just wrapped up the Winter Quarter’s Final Exams. Spring Break is upon us. It is always a nice feeling to tie up the loose ends on all the classes and check them off.
Growing up with high school rodeo in California, Challenge of the Champions always really marked the spring for me. It is for the top three contestants in each event for all nine districts in the state. It takes place in Plymouth, this weekend. I enjoyed going every year, to get to see my buddies from other districts and catch up. To everyone competing this year, I wish you the best of luck. Enjoy the experience, no matter what. I hear it is supposed to be good weather this year, but I don’t remember a year I was there that we didn’t rodeo in the mud. But that never took from the great time I had. The highlight for me every year was the ‘Special Rodeo.’ To see the joy on all those kids’ faces is something that will stick with me forever. It was always a grounding experience. So, for everyone headed to Plymouth, take it all in. Give everything you’ve got in the arena, but measure you’re true success by the people you have the opportunity to meet. I still talk to friends I made there on a weekly basis. It is also a great way to evaluate things you need to work on in order to be competitive against the best in the state when State Finals rolls around in June.
Spring also marks the movement of the majority of the ProRodeos out west from Texas. The bigger arenas, longer scores. The 1st Annual Broc Cresta Memorial Roping is going to take place out here on April 16th in Cottonwood or Red Bluff, depending on the weather. Thank you to all the people and sponsors that are making that event possible, in order to keep Broc’s legacy alive. It will consist of an Open Roping, as well as a Pro-Am. The Pro-Am is a pre-enter roping. Call (530) 975-4993 to enter.
On April 23, star actor James Pickens Jr., along with his wife Gina, will host their 4th Annual James Pickens Jr. Foundation Charity Open Roping at the historic Tejon Ranch in Lebec, CA. It is a great open roping, with great hospitality. I am lucky enough to announce that roping for the 4th time this year. I enjoy going down there every year, to watch the greatest ropers in the world and call the action.
I’ve got another neat announcing opportunity on May 4th in Paso Robles, CA with Steve Goadert. He’s been a great friend to me, so I’m looking forward to it. We will be announcing the Largest, Aged-Bucking Bull Event in the state. The futurity bulls will buck all day, with the bull riding happening that night. It should be a lot of fun.
I am sorry to hear about 2-Time World Champion Chad Masters’ injury in the steer wrestling at the Timed Event Championship earlier this month. In all, he had a left knee patellar tendon rupture, ACL tear, MCL tear, medial and lateral meniscus tears, and iliotibial band aviation. Wishing him a speedy recovery.
Congratulations to California’s Daniel Green on winning his third Timed Event Championship this year. Cody Cowden did a great job as Daniel’s helper in the heading and heeling.
California’s Dugan Kelly also won the George Strait Team Roping Classic with Garrett Tonozzi. Each earned $131,060 cash and both received their own dually truck and new trailer. Tonozzi also won second with York Gill for another $52,425 per man. Tonozzi had a great year in one day. Lance Brooks (Former Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Header and California Native) and 7-Time WNFR Heeler Kyle Lockett won third for $36,040 a man. It’s so cool to see guys from your area do well in the “real world” of roping.
Some new teams in the world of team roping include Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill, Kaleb Driggers and Travis Graves, Arky Rogers and Jhett Johnson, and Matt Sherwood and Caleb Twisselman.
I am headed to Clovis, CA for a college rodeo this weekend. Then planning to spend a few days over there enjoying spring break with Jordan Ketscher. Some roping and golfing are in the cards.
Well, enjoy the new season. Live for the moment, because you can’t get any time back. Hope this finds all of you doing well at whatever you are in the midst of. Enjoy life. Thanks for checking this blog out at Roperssportsnews.com.
It’s my journey, and your experience.
Lane Santos-Karney