Red Bluff, Calif. (April 19, 2015) – They are friends in and out of the rodeo arena, and when they win a little money together, well, that just makes the friendship that much better.
Erich Rogers and Cory Petska won the 2015 Red Bluff Round-Up team roping title on Sunday with a time of 22.4 seconds on four runs.
The team, ranked fourth in the nation, added a nice check of $3226 to their pocketbooks, and the money makes everything a little better. “It makes things a lot easier,” Rogers said. They’ve had a good winter so far, winning checks in Logandale, Utah, Tucson, Ariz., San Angelo, Texas, and Scottsdale, Ariz., among others.
This is the third year they’ve been roping together, and it’s a good relationship. “He’s a good partner,” said Rogers. “He’s a good friend outside the arena, too. I hang out with him twenty-four/seven. I live with him at his place.” Petska and his wife live in Marana, Ariz.
When the two paired up, Rogers, age 28, was relatively new to the pro rodeo world, and Petska, age 35, was the veteran. “It helped me as a roper. When I first started, I didn’t know where I was going, or what I was doing. I knew hardly anybody out here on the rodeo trail. Being around him and his previous (team roping) partners, they know quite a bit.”
Petska, who has qualified for eleven Wrangler National Finals Rodeos, agrees. “We have a good chemistry together. We have fun in and outside the arena, and that makes rodeo fun. As soon as we get the flag (after their run is completed), we’re always grinning and talking.”
Petska even cares for Rogers’ horses when he’s not home. “He takes care of my horses when I’m out goofing around, and he takes care of them like they’re his. He takes care of me pretty danged good,” Rogers said. “It’s been outstanding.”
Rogers, who spends the off-season at his home in Round Rock, Ariz., has qualified for four Wrangler National Finals.
Tyler Waguespack won the steer wrestling title at the Red Bluff Round-Up with a total time of 21.6 seconds on four head. It was the first time the 24 year old cowboy had competed at Red Bluff, and it was at the urging of his good friend and fellow steer wrestler Jason Thompson. “My buddy Jason talked me into coming out here this year,” he said. “This is a great rodeo, and he got me hooked. I will be coming back.”
Thompson, who worked as a hazer for Waguespack, rode the same horse that was used to haze for the 2014 Red Bluff steer wrestling champion Ty Erickson. The hazer’s job is to make sure the steer runs straight, giving the cowboy a chance to catch and throw him.
Thompson’s family has owned that hazing horse since he was a colt, and he was trained by Thompson’s parents. In Thompson’s opinion, the horse is good, because “he’s a bigger, stronger, longer stride horse, and with these fresh cattle, I can hang back when I want to and go in and close the gap pretty easy for (the steer wrestler).” Thompson, who lives in Benton, Ark., also competed at Red Bluff but did not win a check.
Other Red Bluff champions include three bareback riders who each scored 82 points: Clint Laye, Cochrane, Alb., Joe Gunderson, Gettysburg, S.D., and Jessy Davis, Power, Mont. Three saddle bronc riders also share the 2015 title: South Dakota cowboys Troy Crowser (Whitewood), Chuck Schmidt (Keldron), and Cort Scheer from Elsmere, Neb. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla. won the tie-down roping title, and Ann Scott, Canyon Country, Calif., was the barrel racing winner. Bull rider Wesley Silcox, Santasquin, Utah, clenched his event with an 89 point ride on Friday night.
The Sunday performance was the rodeo’s annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign. A bonanza package was auctioned off during the rodeo and was won by Jan Sutherland and Les Shank. The package included a custom-made Judd Miller Saddlery Chaps autographed by pro rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, a silver buckle and spurs designed by Skyline Silversmith, Justin Boots, Wrangler Jeans, a Resistol cowboy hat, a case of Purple Cowboy Wine, and a $200 gift certificate to the Boot Barn. The package, which sold for $31,000 was bought by Jan Sutherland and Les Shank. Wrangler donated another $2500 check to the cause. The monies raised go to breast cancer treatment at the St. Elizabeth Imaging Center.
Next year’s Red Bluff Round-Up will be held April 15-17, 2016. For more information on the rodeo, visit RedBluffRoundup.com.
Results, Red Bluff Round-Up, April 17-19, 2015
Bareback Riding – 2015 Red Bluff Champions – Clint Laye, Cochrane, AB, Joe Gunderson, Gettysburg, SD and Jessy Davis, Power, MT
1 tie Clint Laye, Cochrane, AB 82 points on Four Star Rodeo’s Black Ice, Joe Gunderson, Gettysburg, SD 82 points on Rosser Rodeo’s Silver Tip and Jessy Davis, Power, MT 82 points on Growney Bros. Raggedy Ann; 4. Anthony Thomas, Kimberley, Australia 81; 5. Steven Peebles, Redmond, OR 80; 6. (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, WY, Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, IA and Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, TX 79 each;
Steer Wrestling 2015 Red Bluff Champion – Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA
First round: 1 Tanner Milan, Cochrane, AB 4.5; 2 Jason Thomas, Benton, AR 4.6; 3 Wyatt Smith, Rexburg, ID 4.8; 4 Brad McGilchrist, Marysville, CA 5.1; 5 tie Dakota Eldridge, Elko, NV and Nick Guy, Sparta, WI 5.3 each.
Second round: 1 Olin Hanum, Malad, ID 4.4; 2 Clayton Morrison, Heppner, OR 4.7 3. (tie) Cole Fulton, Miller, SD and Ty Erickson, Helena, MT 5.1; 5. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA 5.2; 6. Trevor Knowles, Mt Vernon, OR 5.3
Third round: 1. Tanner Milan, Cochrane, AB 4.5; 2. Bray Armes, Ponder, TX 4.6; 3. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA 4.8; 4. Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, LA 4.9; 5. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, CA 5.1; 6. Olin Hannum, Malad, ID 5.4.
Finals: 1. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, NV 5.3; 2. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA 5.7 seconds; 3. Clayton Morrison, Heppner, OR, 6.2; 4. (tie) Nick Guy, Sparta, WI and Ty Mitchell, 7.3 each.
Average: 1. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA 21.6 on four head; 2. Tanner Milan, Cochrane, AB 22.8; 3. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, NV 22.9; 4. Clayton Morrison, Heppner, OR 25.6; 5. Ty Mitchell, 26.1; 6. Olin Hannum, Malad, ID 28.0.
Saddle bronc riding 2015 Red Bluff Champions – Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, SD, Troy Crowser, Whitewood, SD and Cort Scheer, Elsmere, NE
- (tie) Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, SD 83 points on Growney Bros. Rodeo’s Holy Hoppin Hell, Troy Crowser, Whitewood, SD, 83 points on Flying Diamond Rodeo’s Handsome, and Cort Scheer, Elsmere, NE, 83 points on Rosser Rodeo’s Blackhawk Blaze; 4. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, TX, Wade Sundell, Colman, OK and Spencer Wright, Milford, UT 80; 6. (tie) Taos Muncy, Corona, NM, Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D. and Andy Clarys, 79 each.
Tie Down Roping 2015 Red Bluff Champion – Blair Burk, Durant, OK
First round: 1 Jesse Clark, Portales, NM 8.3 seconds; 2 Jared Ferguson, Cottonwood, CA 8.5; 3 JC Malone, Roy, UT 8.8; 4 Caleb Smidt, Bellville, TX 9.0; 5 Blair Burk, Durant, OK 9.4; 6 Cody Quaney, Cheney, KS 9.6.
Second round: 1 Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, Texas 8.1 seconds; 2 Randall Carlisle, Athens, LA 8.5; 3 Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas 8.8; 4 tie Tyler Thiel, Greeley, Colo. and Timber Moore, Aubrey, L 9.1 each; 6 Cade Swor,, Winnie, TX 9.2.
Third round: 1. Blair Burk, Durant, OK 9.7 seconds; 2. Tyson Durfey, Savannah, MO 10.1; 3 Monty Lewis, Hereford, TX 10.3; 4. Cody Quaney, Cheney, KS 10.4; 5. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, UT 10.5; 6. Clayton Hass, Terrell, TX 10.7
Finals: 1 Blair Burk, Durant, OK 10.0 seconds; 2. Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, TX 10.2; 3. Clayton Hass, Terrell, TX 11.9; 4. Cody Quaney, Cheney, KS 14.6.
Average: 1. Blair Burk, Durant, OK 40.6 seconds on four head; 2. Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, TX 41.4; 3. Clayton Hass, Terrell, TX 44.7; 4. Cody Quaney, Cheney, KS 49.3; 5. Cade Swor, Winnie, TX 51.3; 6. Monty Lewis, Hereford, TX 30.2.
Team Roping 2015 Red Bluff Champions – Erich Rogers, Round Rock, AZ (header) and Cory Petska, Marana, AZ (heeler)
First round: 1. Bubba Buckaloo, Caddo, OK/Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, OR 5.0 seconds; 2 Joel Bach, Mt Vernon, TX/BJ Campbell, Aguila, TX 5.3; 3 tie Case Hirdes, Turlock, CA/Jared Hixon, Bakersfield, CA and Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, AZ/Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, AZ 5.4 each; 5 Charly Crawford, Prineville, OR/Shay Carroll, La Junta, CO 5.5; 6 Luke Brown, Stephenville, TX/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, OK 5.6; 7 tie Garrett Rogers, Baker City, OR/Jake Minor, Ellensburg, WA and Clay Smith, Broken Bow, OK/Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, NM 5.8 each.
Second round: 1 Levi Simpson, Ponoka, AB/Jeremy Buhler, Abbotsford, BC 4.3 seconds; 2 Ty Blasingame, Ramah, CO/JW Borrego, Weston, CO 4.4; 3 Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, MT/Paul Eaves, Lonedell, TX 4.5; 4 tie Chant DeForest, Wheatland, CA/Bronc Boehnlein, Norco, CA and Manny Egusquiza, Jr/Marianna, FL/Monty Jo Petska, Turlock, CA and Jake Cooper, Monument, NM/Tyler McKnight, Wells, TX 4.6 seconds each; 7 Clay Smith, Broken Bow, OK/Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, NM 4.7; 8 tie Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, CA/Cody Cowden, Atwater, CA and Blake Hirdes, Turlock, CA/Joseph Shawnego, Oakdale, CA 4.9 each.
Third round: 1 Riley Minor, Ellensburg, WA/Brady Minor, Ellensburg, WA 4.2 seconds; 2. Bubba Buckaloo, Caddo, OK/Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, OR 4.4; 3.Turtle Powell, Stephenville, TX/Dakota Kirchenschlager, Morgan Mill, TX 4.7; 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, MT/Jade Corkill, Fallon, NV 5.1; 5. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, AZ/Cory Petska, Marana, AZ 5.2; 6. Levi Simpson, Ponoka, AB/Jeremy Buhler, Abbotsford, BC 5.4; 7 (tie) Joel Bach, Mt Vernon, TX/BJ Campbell, Aguila, TX and Jake Cooper/Monument, NM/Tyler McKnight, Wells, TX 5.7 each.
Finals: 1. (tie) Riley Minor, Ellensburg, WA/Brady Minor, Ellensburg, WA and Clay Smith, Broken Bow, OK/Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, NM 4.5 seconds each; 3. Clay Tryan, Billings, MT/Jade Corkill, Fallon, NV 5.1; 4. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, AZ/Cory Petska, Marana, AZ 5.4; 5. Luke Brown, Stephenville, TX/Kollin Von Ahn, Blanchard, OK 6.5; 6. Jake Cooper, Monument, NM/Tyler McKnight, Wells, TX 8.2.
Average: 1. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, AZ/Cory Petska, Marana, AZ 22.4 seconds on 4 head; 2. Jake Cooper, Monument, NM/Tyler McKnight, Wells, TX 24.5; 3. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, OK/Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, NM 25.7; 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, MT/Jade Corkill, Fallon, NV 25.8; 5. Luke Brown, Stephenville, TX/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, OK 28.5; 6. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, WA/Brady Minor, Ellensburg, WA 28.7; 7. Levi Simpson, Ponoka, AB/Jeremy Buhler, Abbotsford, BC 31.2; 8. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, TX/Mickey Gomez, Holland, TX 32.5.
Barrel racing – 2015 Red Bluff Champion – Ann Scott, Canyon Country, Calif.
First round: 1 Megan McLeod, Marsing, ID 17.18 seconds; 2 Romany Gordon, Kaufman, TX 17.23; 3 Callie DuPerier, Boerne, TX 17.29; 4 Andrea Cline, Springtown, TX 17.35; 5 Sammie Bessert, Grand Junction, CO 17.42; 6 Carley Richardson, Pampa, TX 17.43; 7 Ann Scott, Canyon Country, CA 17.47; 8 tie Kali Parker, Wendell, ID and Victoria Cook, Willows, CA 17.48 each; 10 Meghan Johnson, Deming, NM 17.52;
Second round:
- Shelby Janssen, Coleman, OK 17.14; 2. Ann Scott, Canyon Country, CA 17.27; 3. (tie) Cindy Woods, Newburg, OR and Deb Guelly, Okotoks, AB 17.30 each; 5. Rachel Dice, Livermore, CA 17.32; 6. Pamela Capper, Cheney, WA 17.34; 7. Christina Richman, Glendora, CA 17.35; 8. Marty Warren, Deer Park, WA 17.36; 9. Erin Parsons, Marana, AZ 17.38; 10. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, OR 17.39.
Average: 1. Ann Scott, Canyon Country, CA 34.74 seconds on two runs; 2. Erin Parsons, Marana, AZ 34.91; 3. Sammi Bessert, Grand Junction, CO 34.94; 4. Victoria Cook, Willows, CA 34.95; 5. Christina Richman, Glendora, CA 34.99; 6. Carley Richardson, Pampa, TX 35.00; 7. Rachel Dice, Livermore, CA 35.03; 8. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, OR 35.05; 9. Cindy Woods, Newberg, OR 35.06; 10. Romany Gordan, Kaufman, TX 35.07.
Bull Riding 2015 Red Bluff Champion – Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah
- Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, UT 89 points on Rosser Rodeo’s Hash Tag; 2. Reid Barker, Comfort, TX 87; 3. (tie) Howdy Cloud, Kountze, TX, Cody Campbell, Summerville, CA and Steve Woolsey, Payson, UT 84 each; 6. Justin Rickard, Nuevo, CA 80; 7. Kaycee Rose, Clovis, CA 79; 8. Kody DeShon, Helena, MT 77.
** All results are unofficial. For more information, visit RedBluffRoundup.com. For complete rodeo results, visit ProRodeo.com.
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