High school rodeo opens chutes to new season
They mounted up over the weekend for the first competition of the season - this year's group of cowboys and cowgirls looking to make names for themselves in high school rodeo.
Some familiar names from seasons past as well as some newcomers took part in the California High School Rodeo Association's first District 1 rodeo of the season in Cottonwood.
Lily Bertelsen of Los Molinos kicked the year off in a big way by winning All-Around Cowgirl with 109 points. Red Bluff's Chelsey Bushnell was reserve all-around, finishing with 80 points.
Wyatt Brown, riding out of Red Bluff, was the second runner-up in the boys all-around with 57 points. Colton Campbell of Klamath Falls, Ore., was the winner with 73.
Bertelsen won breakaway roping with a time of 7.31 seconds. Cara Hencratt, from Red Bluff, rode away with the top showing in pole bending with a time of 43.18; and Bushnell set the pace in barrels with a 36.55.
Top-10 finishers from the tri-county area were: Barrels - Bertelsen, 37.89 (8th) and Michelle Woolbert, Gerber, 37.97 (9th); breakaway - Bailey Bean, Gerber, 4.16 (3rd) and Bushnell, 5.63 (9th); goat tying - Bertelsen, 20.13 (2nd) and Bean, 21.53 (5th); cutting - Bertelsen, 145 points (2nd), Bean, 130 (4th) and Bushnell, 129 (5th).
Cowboys earning top-10 finishes included: Tie-down roping - Jesse Brewer, Los Molinos, 37.35 (5th), Wyatt Spencer, Corning, 12.66 (9th) and Brown, 14.19 (10th); cutting - Chase Alvernaz, Williams, 129 points (2nd) and Brown, 128 (4th).
Brown teamed up with Brushton Minton of Witter Springs to take first in team roping with a time of 23.17.
Berteslen and Bode Robbins of Cottonwood paired for a 13.85/1 (7th); Alvernaz (ghost) with Kaylynne Kirkland, Cottonwood scored a 15.64/1 (8th; and Brewer and Spencer's time of 22.62/1 was good for 10th.
The next rodeo will be Nov. 3-4 in Cottonwood, and District 1 was invited to the Fall Classic, being hosted Oct. 12-14 by District 3 in Lincoln.
Girls winners
All-Around - Lily Bertelsen, Los Molinos, 109
Barrel racing - Chelsey Bushnell, Red Bluff, 36.55
Breakaway roping - Bertelsen, Los Molinos, 7.31
Pole bending - Cara Hencratt, Red Bluff, 43.18
Goat tying - Taylor Herman, Tulelake, 20.07
Cutting - Jesse Stratton, Palo Cedro, 145
Boys winners
All-Around - Colton Campbell, Klamath Falls, Ore., 73
Tie-down roping - Sterling Humphry, McArthur, 18.41
Steer wrestling - Cameron Jones, Cottonwood, 32.63
Saddle bronc - Quincy Crum, Little Valley, 72/1
Bull riding - Bobby Vaughan, Dorris, 79/1
Cutting - Campbell, Klamath Falls, Ore., 145.5
Team roping - Wyatt Brown, Red Bluff/Brushton Minton, Witter Springs, 23.17
