Two members of the Cuesta College Rodeo Club placed seventh in the team roping competition at the 2015 College National Finals Rodeo held in Casper, Wyo., in June.
Dalton Pearce of San Luis Obispo and Tristan Ruffoni of Arroyo Grande took home the honors in Cuesta College’s first time participating in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association or NIRA.
“It is amazing that Cuesta College, in its first year of having a rodeo club, placed seventh out of 42 teams that competed for the national title in team roping,” said Cuesta coach Clint Pearce. “This just shows the world-class quality of our competitors and the dedication they have to the sport of rodeo.”
Four Cuesta students participated in the rodeo — three in team roping — with Lane Lowery taking 21st place. A fourth student cowboy,, Jacob Gardner, was 14th in bull riding.
Each placed in the top three of their event over the course of the 2014-15 season in the West Coast Region of NIRA, which includes California and Nevada. Over 400 students from more than 100 universities and colleges participated in this year’s national competition.
The Cuesta Rodeo Club was formed in the fall 2014 semester via the Associated Students of Cuesta College. It has 19 members and each is a full-time Cuesta student. According to Pearce, who volunteers his time, team membership could double in fall 2015 due to its popularity. For more information on the Rodeo Club, call the student body office at 546-3289.
