West Hills Rodeo team earns spot in national finals

The team finished the regular rodeo season ranked second in the West Coast Region following a second-place win at the regional finals in Nevada. They will compete as a team and in their individual events at the 2017 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) June 11 to June 13 in Casper, Wyoming.

“The CNFR is the pinnacle of the rodeo season and we are one of the favorites for the competition,” said Justin Hampton, WHCC Head Rodeo Coach. “I think this group has a real shot at the national championship and I’m excited to see where it goes.”

The students will compete in a range of individual events and as a team and face off against over 400 competitors from 11 other regions and over 100 universities and colleges at the finals.

To earn their second-place regional spot, the team outperformed teams from across California and Nevada, including Cal Poly, Cuesta College, and the University of Nevada- Las Vegas.

The six team members—Jacob Lees; Brushton Minten; Edgar Machado; Cash Robinson; Finn Costa; and Kolby Bravos— will participate in a variety of events at the CNFR in June including team roping, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding and steer wrestling.

All of the individual team members are heading to the CNFR highly ranked regionally in their individual events.

Lees is advancing to the national finals ranked number one in the West Coast Region in Bareback Riding while Brushton Minten is ranked 2nd in team roping.

Machado is currently ranked 1st in the region in steer wrestling while Cash Robinson is 3rd regionally in saddle bronc riding, and third in bull riding. Finn Costa is ranked 3rd regionally in bareback riding and Bravos is ranked 8th in team roping.

To view a full list of the current regional standings visit, http://www.collegerodeo.com/standings/2014-2015-west-coast-region-standings/

For more information about the WHCC rodeo program, contact Justin Hampton at (559) 934-2702.