I was in Arizona the week of Feb. 18-22, and saw all four seasons. Some of the days were good for roping and golf or any other outdoor activity you wanted to do, but there were a few days that were miserable.
There is not a shortage of ropers or barrel racers in Arizona this time of year and for the most part they can find some sort of competition seven days a week within a 100-mile radius. It is amazing and each year it seems to be getting more popular with folks from out of state. It is the place to be for about three to four months.
This year the weather played more of a part than in years past, with some of the ropings or barrel races being cancelled due to weather. That wasn’t the case with this year’s Mike Cervi Jr. Memorial Pro Classic Team Roping held in Casa Grande, Ariz. The morning started out okay for the Pro Am Roping, just being a little cold, and then the Open Roping started and the weather wasn’t all that bad either, other than also being cold. After most of the first round, which had 138 teams who put put $300/man a run, the rain started to fall and then hail and a touch of snow. It got flat-out miserable but the ropers did not weaken.
I have seen quite a few ropings in my time, but never have I seen the cowboy up attitude displayed any more than I did on this day of the Cervi. These guys just kept on roping and roping good in order to have a crack at the big bucks provided by this roping through fees and sponsors.
When it was all said and done, Erich Rogers and Cory Petska roped five steers in a time of 30.48, which is a 6-second average, to win the roping and $22,594 for their efforts. Right behind them in second place were Clay Tryan and Travis Graves with a time of 30.96 on five – another team with a 6-second average under some terrible conditions. The headers had to ride in the box with their heads turned sideways to keep from getting pelted by the hail and then would give a peek sideways to see if the steer was somewhat straight in the chute so they could nod. My Resistol’s off to all of the ropers for never weakening and for the most part all gave it their best.
The management and crew did all they could do to keep the arena in the best conditions they could under the circumstances. Congratulations to all who stuck it out. This is a great roping and has found a good home in the city of Casa Grande. May they have many more good years in the sunshine. See related story for complete results on the front page of this issue.
After the roping, I was able to meet up with my old roping partner, J.B. Getzwiller and his wife for a night of catching up after not seeing them for some time. J.B. cut his thumb and the tip of a finger off last fall just prior to the World Series Roping in Las Vegas. I’m glad to report that he is getting along good and is adapting to the new “claw” (as he calls it) just fine. He didn’t leave any of the thumb to worry about ever getting in the dally again. He and Butch Morgan could be a team.
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The big bonus to the winners – David Key and Paul Eaves – was a gift certificate for their fees to this year’s BFI in Reno on June 24. That was worth $5,000 plus they got a check for $12,080 for winning the roping. Check out all the results in this issue on page 48.
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I am making my plans as you should to attend the Broc Cresta Memorial Roping to be held in conjunction with the Red Bluff Round-Up on April 16. See ad on page 51 of this issue for more details about the event.