Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Andy Guzman of Mesalands Community College finished fourth in bull riding overall Saturday at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming.
Guzman also earned men’s Rookie of the Year honors.
Guzman, a freshman who was California’s state champion bull rider in high school, was in third place going into the finals.
He scored a 77 1/2 for second place during the first round and an 80 for second place on the second round but failed to complete a ride during the third round.
He also failed to stay on his ride for the requisite eight seconds on Saturday during the championship short round. He wasn’t alone: Bulls shook off six other riders that day.
Casey Roberts of Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was the only bull rider to make a successful ride on Saturday, scoring an 82 1/2 points and totaling 239 1/2 points during the week, to win the title.
Mesalands coach Matt Hughes said Guzman was capable of winning the title but wasn’t sure how well the freshman would handle the pressure.
“I was expecting him to ride the short-round bull, but I think the freshman nerves got to him,” Hughes said.
Regardless, Guzman’s finish was the highest ever at the national level for a Stampede athlete during Hughes’ tenure.
Hughes attributed Guzman’s no-score during the third round to “a really bad draw” with a bull.
“He did everything he could do, but it was a horrible bull to get on,” he said.
In other CNFR events, Mesalands saddle bronc rider Wyatt Wells scored a 65 during the opening round but failed to log successful rides in the next two, keeping him out of the short round.
Mesalands bareback bronc rider Cooper Filipek scored a 60 in the opening round, a 72 in the second round and a 70 in the third but failed to qualify for the championship event.
Hughes said Filipek and Wells have a year of eligibility remaining with the Stampede.
“That something to look forward to,” Hughes said. “Now we’ve got (CNFR) experience for next year.”
As a team, Mesalands finished with 215 points, good for 21st place overall. Tarleton State University won the national team title with 900 points.