Ryan ChartrandThe Cal Poly men’s and women’s rodeo teams finished in the top 10 out of 63 colleges and universities at the College National Finals in Casper, Wyo.
The men’s team finished No. 9 overall and the women’s placed No. 8. Individual team members were also able to place in the top 10 in their events.
“Anytime you place in the top 10 back there (Casper) you are doing good,” team member Ben Londo said.
Each event had around 40 competitors, and coach Frank Mello said the competition seemed a bit stronger than last year.
Londo was able to take home the award for the men’s all-around for the second consecutive time.
In order to be in the chase for the all-around, a contestant has to compete in two events or more. Londo competed in the bareback riding and the saddle bronc riding. He finished No. 4 in the saddle bronc, and in the top 30 in the bareback riding.
Bareback riding is usually one of Londo’s best events but he had a tougher time at the finals this year. The construction management senior was unable to score on one of his three horses making the goal of men’s all around a little harder to reach.
“I didn’t think I had a chance to win it especially after I missed the average in the bareback riding,” Londo said.
Contestants compete in one performance and two sections of slack for a total of three times. The combined total of three scores or times is what constitutes the average; from there, the top 12 competitors in each event are able to compete in the final round.
Ted Burt finished No. 10 in the steer wrestling and No. 8 in the bull riding.
Kalli Collins finished No. 9 in the goat tying, she came in first in one of her performances.
Other team members that placed in the top 10 individually were Kelsey Johnson and Sadie Myers. Johnson placed No. 6 and No. 4 in two separate performances and Myers placed No. 7.
Dallas Osburn and Joseph Clarot both competed in the team roping. Osburn placed No. 5 in one performance and Clarot also placed fifth in another performance.