Posted: March 20, 2017Written by: Lauren Milbourne

Tags: 2017, featured, press release

The Cuesta College Rodeo Club Men’s Team currently sits at number one in the nation as it advances toward the national intercollegiate competition in June. Seventeen rodeo student athletes – nine men and eight women – recently competed in the fifth and sixth regional rodeo competitions of the 2016-17 season; the results, combined with the cumulative season points, placed the men’s team at the top spot in the nation and number one in the West Coast Region.

“This is only our third year of having an organized Rodeo Club at Cuesta College and to be number one in the nation right now is just so exciting,” said Cuesta College Rodeo Club Head Coach Clint Pearce.

“Competing at regional competitions is a great way to showcase the amazing athletic ability of our student athletes, and having a points team that is sanctioned by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association really allows us to shine on that national stage.”

The current full list of Cuesta College’s standings in the nation (the Women’s Team is 5th in the region):

-        1st Place: Men’s Team Competition

-        1st Place: Men’s All Around Competition, William Centoni

-        1st Place: Men’s Bull Riding Competition, William Centoni

-        1st Place: Men’s Team Roping Header Competition, Tristan Ruffoni

-        2nd Place: Men’s Team Roping Heeler Competition, Dalton Pearce

-        5th Place: Men’s All Around Competition, Sterling Humphry

-        7th Place: Men’s Saddle Bronc Riding Competition, William Centoni

-        9th Place: Men’s Steer Wrestling Competition, Sterling Humphry

The Rodeo Club, which was formed during the fall 2014 semester via the Associated Students of Cuesta College, consists of approximately 30 members who are both passionate about rodeo and dedicated to their education; each member is a full-time Cuesta College student. The club works closely with Cal Poly’s Rodeo Team and many club members ultimately transfer to the university.

“We are building the strongest rodeo team that we can here at Cuesta College, and the program is also designed to help these student athletes take courses that will increase their chances of successfully transferring to Cal Poly and onto their Rodeo Team. It’s really exciting because it’s working – we are sending more of our rodeo athletes to Cal Poly each year,” said Pearce, who noted that last year approximately five Rodeo Club students transferred to Cal Poly; this year, the number will be closer to nine. “Our plan is really bearing fruit. At the end of the day, this is all about getting a great education.”

Cuesta College’s Rodeo Club will return to the arena in the upcoming regional competitions at Cal Poly during the Poly Royal Rodeo April 6 - 8.  The College National Finals Rodeo will take place in Wyoming in June 2017. Last year, the Cuesta College Rodeo Club placed 19th in the nation.

For more information on the Rodeo Club, contact the Associated Students of Cuesta College (ASCC) office at (805) 546-3289.