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Cuesta College Rodeo Club kicks up its heels 

Rodeo Club

Cuesta College Rodeo Club students at work. Photo by Ritchie Bermudez, Cuesta College.

The newly created Cuesta College Rodeo Club is combining athletics and academics as its members train to compete in their first competition. The club, which was formed this semester via the Associated Students of Cuesta College, consists of 19 members who are both passionate about rodeo and dedicated to their education; each member is a full-time Cuesta College student.

“The goals for the Cuesta College Rodeo Club are to motivate our student athletes to excel in the classroom and the rodeo arena,” said volunteer coach Clint Pearce. “There are many talented and highly competitive rodeo athletes who attend Cuesta and this organized club will allow them to compete in the sport they’re so passionate about, while maintaining good grades and staying fully engaged in their collegiate experience in order to stay eligible to compete.”

The club is an organized effort to establish a National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) team for the college, allowing the team to compete against colleges and universities across California and the United States. The first competition is scheduled for September 26-28 in Susanville, CA.

“The club members will do their very best to be great representatives of Cuesta College and exhibit good sportsmanship to both fellow competitors and the animals,” said Pearce.

The club is overseen by faculty advisor Dr. Anthony Koeninger and brings a new level of diversity to the college.

“I believe that our team brings together a group of people at Cuesta who live in the tradition of the Central Coast,” said Rodeo Club President Taylor Howell. “From being on the rodeo circuit promoting a western heritage, to having an agricultural lifestyle, the rodeo team is a great club for Cuesta to offer.”

Additionally, the club has forged a partnership with Cal Poly; members practice at the Cal Poly rodeo arena alongside the university’s rodeo club members.

“This will be a great partnership for years to come, allowing Cuesta rodeo athletes a facility to practice,” said Cal Poly Rodeo Team Coach Ben Londo. “Working closely, we can do all we can to help create a strong team at Cuesta and provide all the opportunities to open doors to the Cal Poly Rodeo program and hopefully funnel top rodeo athletes into our program here.”

Cuesta last had a rodeo club in 2007. For more information, please contact the ASCC office at (805) 546-3289. Here is a link to the results of the club’s first competition that occurred a week or so ago.

Rodeo-Club-Cuesta

Two of Cuesta College’s Rodeo Club members, Mikael Bernadette and Kyle Brown. Photo by Ritchie Bermudez, Cuesta College.

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About the author: Publisher Scott Brennan

Scott Brennan is the publisher of this newspaper and founder of Access Publishing. Follow him on Twitter, LinkedIn, or follow his blog.