The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s West Coast Region wrapped up its regular season with two big bangs—the 74th annual Poly Royal Rodeo, held April 10-12 at Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo, and the NIRA West Coast Regional Finals Rodeo, which was held April 25-26 at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas.
Cal Poly won the Men’s Team Title at Poly Royal, and Feather River won the Poly Royal Women’s Team Championship. Cal Poly Captain Lane Santos-Karney was awarded the Poly Royal Men’s All-Around Saddle, and Fresno State’s Billie Holman won the Women’s All-Around at Poly Royal. Poly Royal event champions included Feather River’s Grant Denny, bareback riding; Fresno State’s Uruhu Adem, saddle bronc riding; Lassen’s Dalton McMurtrie, bull riding; Feather River’s Kyle Davilla, who won his second straight Poly Royal bulldogging buckle; Cal Poly’s Lane and Taylor Santos-Karney, team roping; Lassen’s Chant DeForest, tie-down roping; West Hills’ Tegan Turner, barrel racing; Lassen’s Lucy Lawson, breakaway roping; and Feather River’s Bailey Bidwell in the goat tying.
Several regional crowns came down to the wire at the West Coast Regional Finals in Las Vegas, including the team titles. When it was over, the Cal Poly Mustangs took the Men’s Team Title, and the Feather River Golden Eagles came out on top for the Women’s Team Trophy. Cal Poly brothers Taylor and Lane Santos-Karney, who are also ranked 1-2 in the nation heading into the June 15-21 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., were 1-2 in the West Coast Region Men’s All-Around Race. Feather River’s Courtney Wood is the 2014 West Coast Region Women’s All-Around Champion. Freshmen Taylor Santos-Karney and Courtney Wood are also the West Coast Region Men’s and Women’s Rookies of the Year.
The 2014 NIRA West Coast Region Event Champions include Feather River’s Grant Denny, bareback riding; Feather River’s Telden McLain, saddle bronc riding; West Hills’ Thor Hoefer, bull riding; Cal Poly’s Lane Santos-Karney, steer wrestling; Lassen team ropers Case Hirdes and T.J. McCauley, who are also leading the nation heading into the CNFR; Lassen’s Chant DeForest, tie-down roping; West Hills’ Danielle McCants, barrel racing; Feather River’s Kara Kohutek, breakaway roping; and Feather River’s Courtney Wood, goat tying.
Cal Poly Rodeo Coach Ben Londo, who’s in his first year at the helm of the program, was named the 2014 West Coach Region Coach of the Year. Kara Kohutek’s buckskin breakaway horse Cisco is the 2014 West Coast Region Women’s Horse of the Year, and Kyle Davilla’s bulldogging horse Murdoch was voted the West Coast Region Men’s Horse of the Year.
Final 2014 NIRA West Coast Region Standings:
Men’s Team Standings:
1. Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, CAPSLO, 7,050.50; 2. Feather River College, FEATHR, 6,780.50; 3. University of Nevada – Las Vegas, UNVLV, 4,819; 4. Lassen College, LASSEN, 4,427.50; 5. West Hills College, WHILLS, 3,097; 6. California State University – Fresno, FRESNO, 2,902
Women’s Team Standings:
1. Feather River College, FEATHR, 3,165.16 points; 2. Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, CAPSLO, 2,882; 3. West Hills College, WHILLS, 2,240.16; 4. University of Nevada – Las Vegas, UNVLV, 1,704.50; 5. California State University – Fresno, FRESNO, 1,309.33; 6. Lassen College, LASSEN, 507.50
Men’s All-Around:
1. Taylor Santos-Karney, CAPSLO, 2,423 points; 2. Lane Santos-Karney, CAPSLO, 2,335; 3. T.J. McCauley, LASSEN, 1,513.50; 4. Brandon Mackenzie, FEATHR, 1,312; 5. Tyler Forsberg, FRESNO, 1,060.50; 6. Chant DeForest, LASSEN, 1,024; 7. Dane Lybbert Browning, FEATHR, 1,017; 8. Cody Ellis, WHILLS, 967; 9. Fabian Scotto, UNVLV, 898; 10. Dylan Marks, UNVLV, 860; 11. Blake Sofich, UNVLV, 857; 12. Quincy Crum, FEATHER, 817
Women’s All-Around:
1. Courtney Wood, FEATHR, 1,336.16 points; 2. Brooke Hirschy, CAPSLO, 925.50; 3. Kaley Wilson, FEATHR, 798.50; 4. Lily Bertelsen, CAPSLO, 716.50; 5. Billie Holman, FRESNO, 672.83
Saddle Bronc Riding:
1. Telden McLain, FEATHR, 1,183.50 points; 2. Uhuru Adem, FRESNO, 871; 3. Tyler Baeza, UNVLV, 586.50; 4. Justin Lawrence, FRESNO, 461.50; 5. Sam Harper, FEATHR, 456; 6. Quincy Crum, FEATHR, 386; 7. Nolan Brennan, WHILLS, 286; 8. Laramie Collins, WHILLS, 263; 9; Tim Ditrich, CAPSLO, 135.5; 10. John Giacone, FRESNO, 77; 11. Brandon Mackenzie, FEATHR, 40
Bareback Riding:
1. Grant Denny, FEATHR, 1,541 points; 2. Chase Bowen, CAPSLO, 1,229.5; 3. Wade Brown, CUESTA, 492.5; 4. Cody Ellis, WHILLS, 425; 5. Sam Oliver, FEATHR, 214; 6. Jordan Spears, FEATHR, 188; 7. Garrett Brown, CAPSLO, 110
Bull Riding:
1. Thor Hoefer, WHILLS, 551; 2. Cody Ellis, WHILLS, 542; 3. Dalton McMurtrie, LASSEN, 467; 4. Dustin Marberry, WHILLS, 397; 5. C.J. Cash, FEATHR, 145; 6. Jordan Spears, FEATHR, 126
Tie-Down Roping:
1. Chant, DeForest, LASSEN, 797; 2. Taylor Santos-Karney, CAPSLO, 732.50; 3. Tyler Forsberg, FRESNO, 665; 4. Colton Farquer, CAPSLO, 469; 5/6. Lane Santos-Karney, CAPSLO and Luke Malcomb, UNVLV, 467; 7. T.J. McCauley, LASSEN, 409.5; 8. Erik Vela, UNVLV, 402; 9. Dane Lybert Browning, FEATHR, 307; 10. Brandon Mackenzie, FEATHR, 292; 11. Blake Sofich, UNVLV, 228; 12. Fabian Scotto, UNVLV, 189; 13. Case Hirdes, LASSEN, 161; 14. Clayton Brown, CAPSLO, 152; 15. Dylan Marks, UNVLV, 140.5
Steer Wrestling:
1. Lane Santos-Karney, CAPSLO, 986; 2. Taylor Santos-Karney, CAPSLO, 808.5; 3. Brandon Mackenzie, FEATHR, 740; 4. Fabian Scotto, UNVLV, 488; 5. Dane Lybbert Browning, FEATHR, 470; 6. Dylan Marks, UNVLV, 453; 7. Blake Sofich, UNVLV, 362.5; 8. Kelly O’Day, CAPSLO, 276; 9. Justin Ramsey, WHILLS, 210; 10. Kyle Davilla, FEATHR, 172; 11. Jordan Siminoe, UNVLV, 167; 12. T.J. McCauley, LASSEN, 157; 13. Erik Vela, UNVLV, 148; 14. Clayton Brown, CAPSLO, 145; 15. Jose Machado, WHILLS, 126
Team Roping Header:
1. Case Hirdes, LASSEN, 947 points; 2. Lane Santos-Karney, CAPSLO, 882; 3. Quincy Crum, FEATHR, 431; 4. Allie Berryessa, CUESTA, 322; 5. Wayne Robinson, LASSEN, 275; 6. Dylan Marks, UNVLV, 266.5; 7. Dane Lybert Browning, FEATHR, 240; 8. Fabian Scotto, UNVLV, 221; 9. Clayton Brown, CAPSLO, 220; 10. Chant DeForest, LASSEN, 214; 11. Walt Hoyt, FRESNO, 207; 12. Jordan Sparrowk, CAPSLO, 187; 13. Jordan Mevius, UNVLV, 166; 14. Austin Alvernaz, FEATHR, 160; 15. Luke Malcomb, UNVLV, 158
Team Roping Heeler:
1. T.J. McCauley, LASSEN, 947 points; 2. Taylor Santos-Karney, CAPSLO, 882; 3. C.J. Cash, FEATHR, 431; 4. Jordan Siminoe, UNVLV, 297; 5. Tyler Forsberg, FRESNO, 285.5; 6. Todd Robbins, LASSEN, 275; 7. Blake Sofich, UNVLV, 266.5; 8. Brandon Mackenzie, FEATHR, 240; 9. Kyle Brown, CUESTA, 220; 10. Sterling Twisselman, CAPSLO, 214; 11. Colton Farquer, CAPSLO, 187; 12. William Ritchie, FEATHR, 177; 13. Hunter Reaume, CAPSLO, 175; 14. Dakota Freeman, FEATHR, 160; 15. Wyatt Thomas, UNVLV, 158
Barrel Racing:
1. Danielle McCants, WHILLS, 973.5 points; 2. Tegan Turner, WHILLS, 585; 3. Emily Cary, CAPSLO, 483; 4. Stormie Shores, MENDOC, 468; 5. Kayla Nichol, CAPSLO, 438.16; 6. Billie Holman, FRESNO, 391.50; 7. Jasmine Perez, WHILLS, 359; 8. Ashley Martinkus, FEATHR, 296. 9; Courtney Wood, FEATHR, 278.66; 10. Brooke Hirschy, CAPSLO, 267.50; 11. Rachel Lenson, CAPSLO, 246; 12. Kaley Wilson, FEATHR, 227; 13. Katelyn Amarant, MERCED, 191; 14. Jordan Mevius, UNVLV, 188; 15. Tyla Treasure, UNVLV, 130
Breakaway Roping:
1. Kara Kohutek, FEATHR, 612.5 points; 2. Quin Hundsdorfer, FEATHR, 561.5; 3. Alexa Karkula, CAPSLO, 476.5; 4. Dakota Freeman, FEATHR, 474; 5. Brooke Hirschy, CAPSLO, 305; 6. Hanna Hundsdorfer, FEATHR, 280.5; 7. Coral Alberi, FEATHR, 261.5; 8. McKenzie Hale, WILLOW, 232.5; 9. McKena Treasure, UNVLV, 222.5; 10. Lucy Lawson, LASSEN, 214.5; 11. Lily Bertelsen, CAPSLO, 212; 12. Chelsea James, UNVLV, 208; 13. Kenzie Williams, WHILLS, 207; 14. Kayla Johnson, KAPLAN, 202.5; 15. Tyla Treasure, UNVLV, 166.5
Goat Tying:
1. Courtney Wood, FEATHR, 903.5 points; 2. Bailey Bidwell, FEATHR, 639.5; 3. Kaley Wilson, FEATHR, 571.5; 4. Kayla Norcutt, FEATHR, 495.3; 5. Morgan Boyer, FRESNO, 486.5; 6. Lily Bertelsen, CAPSLO, 454.5; 7. Katherine Rice, CAPSLO, 427.5; 8. Tyla Treasure, UNVLV, 315; 9. Brooke Hirschy, CAPSLO, 248; 10. Billie Holman, FRESNO, 231.3; 11. Leia Pluemer, UNVLV, 214; 12. Alexa Karkula, CAPSLO, 187; 13. Rachel Dewar, CAPSLO, 172; 14. Kattie Wemple , LASSEN, 145; 15. Tegan Turner, WHILLS, 133.5
Taylor and Lane Santos-Karney finished the regular season 1-2 in the NIRA West Coast Region Men’s All-Around Standings, and also are ranked 1-2 in the nation heading into the 2014 College National Finals Rodeo. Both of the Santos-Karney brothers qualified for this year’s CNFR in all three timed events. Cal Poly Rodeo Coach Ben Londo, center, is the 2014 West Coast Region Coach of the Year.
Lassen’s Case Hirdes and Cal Poly’s Lane Santos-Karney finished 1-2 in the NIRA West Coast Region Team Roping Standings on the heading side. Hirdes is also No. 1 in the nation riding into the 2014 CNFR in Casper, Wyo. Hirdes and Santos-Karney are third-generation family friends.
