Photo by Kari DeCastro, courtesy of Rancho Rio.
Team Ropers Come Together to Support Family in Need at Title Fights in Arizona
The Title Fights is an annual event produced by Yost Events and held at Rancho Rio in Wickenburg, Ariz. Ropers plan to attend the event for months in advance and travel far and wide for the chance to win big money and earn their qualification to the World Series of Team Roping Finale at the end of the year.
Rancho Rio is known to be a mecca for team roping and hosts every level of roper year-round for some of the largest payouts the sport has to offer. The venue sits on 55 acres of desert land, with two outdoor arenas, and hosts over 30,000 team roping teams annually, in addition to the other Western sports events it will host. Being that the arenas our outdoor, it does leave the events at the mercy of unpredictable weather conditions.
The original dates of the Title Fights, Feb. 7-10, brought unfavorable and extreme weather forecasts, and the tough decision was made to postpone the event by one week. A schedule change at short notice leads to much uncertainty for the producers and ropers, but this change ended in a huge help for a family experiencing a recent tragedy.
Leigh and Cole Sherwood, mother and son of San Tan Valley, Ariz., were headed home from roping on Feb. 14 when their vehicle was hit head-on by another driver. Both were life-flighted to Mesa, Ariz., with life-threatening injuries and have a long road to recovery ahead. The beloved family received a huge outpouring of support from the rodeo community from all fronts, and the support continues to flow in with each day.
On the final day of the Title Fights, Rancho Rio and Yost Events decided to use their event to give back to the Sherwood family. In doing so, a Block Calcutta was put together to take place before the Open, which was the final roping of the weekend. Ropers would be auctioned off to the highest bidder in groups of five, and all proceeds would go to benefit the family in need.
Community members and team roping fans were invited out to participate in the auction and enjoy the roping to support a great cause. The Calcutta raised over $9,000, including cash donations, to go towards any expenses incurred during these trying times. Although a weather delay was inconvenient for most, a bigger plan proved to be in place.
Since the accident, multiple producers have added a benefit portion to their events, and individuals have stepped up to do their part to support the family. A GoFundMe was set up to aid in medical expenses as well and is just shy of $14,000 from its $50,000 goal.
In addition to the support shown to the family, the Title Fights paid out huge numbers to ropers from the Open down to the #7, which made the inconvenience of travel time and schedule changes well worth it for all involved.
Title Fights XIV Full Results
#15.5 Add-on Average Results
1. 29.77 on 4, Devon McDaniel & Garrett K Jepson, $19,320
2. 30.61 on 4, Brayden Schmidt & Jaydon Warner, $13,100
3. 31.28 on 4, Jon Peterson & Whitt Crozier, $10,360
4. 33.46 on 4, Roland McFadden & Grady Quam, $7,600
5. 33.59 on 4, Jake Pancost & Cole Cooper, $6,200
6. 34.38 on 4, Denim Ross & Tee McLeod, $5,520
7. 35.23 on 4, Javier Celaya & Medina Ivan Carranza, $4,140
8. 37.04 on 4, Levi Schmidt & Little Michael Calmelat, $2,760
Fast Time - Short Go
1. 12.01, Tanner Baldwin & Daniel Castorena $1,800
#14.5 WSTR Qualifier Average Results
1. 30.18 on 4, Mayson Millett & Dylin Ahlstrom $26,640 2. 30.25 on 4, Devon McDaniel & Porter Bryant $19,680 3. 30.49 on 4, Bodie Mattson & Jade Espenscheid $13,900 4. 30.58 on 4, Mayson Millett & Denton Dunning $11,580 5. 30.66 on 4, Tanner Baldwin & Brit Bradford $10,420 6. 30.87 on 4, Garrett Hershberger & Whitt Crozier $9,260 7. 31.49 on 4, Caroline Taylor & Little Michael Calmelat $6,940 8. 31.51 on 4, Braxton Hughes & Chance Moldenhauer $5,800 9. 31.61 on 4, Tee McLeod & Kody Potts $4,620 10. 32.37 on 4, Mike Grant & Tel Schaack $3,480 11. 32.85 on 4, Shawn Sullivan & Logan Cullen $3,480
Fast Time - Short Go
1. 7.44, Cameron Handy & Arye Espenscheid $1,800
#13.5 WSTR Qualifier Average Results
1. 31.94 on 4, Colt Cowden & Stoney Boy Joseph $25,860
2. 31.99 on 4, Colt Cowden & Colby Smith $19,120
3. 32.05 on 4, Thomas Braman & Bubba Buckaloo $13,500
4. 32.08 on 4, Jason Williams & Travis Ericsson $11,240
5. 32.28 on 4, Bobby Marsh & Cody Mirabal $10,120
6. 32.61 on 4, Wyatt Hershberger & Joe Burk Higgins $9,000
7. 33.11 on 4, Chilly Hernandez & Pony Hernandez $6,760
8. 33.71 on 4, Reed Boos & Santos Martinez $5,620
9. 34.03 on 4, Choc Westcott & Sterling Thomas $4,500
10. 34.49 on 4, Nano Urias & Ivan Carranza $3,360
11. 36.77 on 4, Brady Black & Chase Mitchell $3,360
Fast Time - Short Go
1. 12.48, Chad Mathis & Tater Lux $1,800
#12.5 WSTR Qualifier Average Results
1. 33.43 on 4, Jeff Schneider & Larry Harris $32,420
2. 33.95 on 4, Dusty Beene & Ty Russell $25,060
3. 34.38 on 4, Denim Fletcher & Stran Pollitt $17,680
4. 34.81 on 4, Kelsi Bramwell & Cody Mirabal $13,260
5. 35.09 on 4, Jessica M Small & Dalton Pearce $11,800
6. 35.29 on 4, Vicente Rivera & Ale Rivera $10,320
7. 35.31 on 4, Matt Lister & Wyatt Lloyd $8,840
8. 35.41 on 4, Travis Reay & Kody Potts $7,380
9. 35.52 on 4, Kevin Poteete & Bubba Buckaloo $5,900
10. 35.57 on 4, Dani Dowton & Jake Ruby $5,900
11. 35.71 on 4, Bailey Kretschmer & Zanga Schutte $4,420
12. 36.76 on 4, Chance Bernall & Chad Turner $4,420
13. 37.17 on 4, Colby Smith & Stoney Boy Joseph $4,000
14. 40.15 on 4, Avery Gonzales & Reno Eddy $4,000
Fast Time - Short Go
1. 12.93, Jason Williams & Bubba Reynolds $1,800
#11.5 WSTR Qualifier Average Results
1. 33.10 on 4, Frankie Westcott & Logan Westcott $36,000
2. 34.35 on 4, Wade Woodbury & Daren Austin $27,820
3. 34.53 on 4, TJ Bowler & Paul Tierney $19,640
4. 35.76 on 4, John Harshbarger & Blair Wheatley $14,740
5. 37.14 on 4, Travis Ericsson & Will Mitchell $13,100
6. 37.74 on 4, Cayle Lazor & Dustin Darling $11,460
7. 38.28 on 4, Craig Register & David McCallister $9,820
8. 38.98 on 4, Ty Truchan & Dale Sorge $8,180
9. 40.54 on 4, Chuck Henderson & Jake Rodriguez $6,540
10. 40.65 on 4, Brady Black & Sy York $6,540
11. 41.24 on 4, Travis Regensberg & Clayton Torres $4,900
12. 41.39 on 4, Alonso Lopez & Cruz Valenzuela $4,900
13. 41.80 on 4, LaRae Branham & Joey Martin $4,000
14. 43.21 on 4, Joe Thompson & Karlis Yazzie $4,000
15. 43.33 on 4, Zane Taylor & Jason Boegle $4,000
16. 46.11 on 4, Mikey Ortiz & Tristan Wright $4,000
Fast Time - Short Go
1. 7.71, Frankie Westcott & Logan Westcott $1,800
#10.5 Legends Average Results
1. 39.32 on 4, Tammy Ellerman & Joey Martin $20,660
2. 42.75 on 4, Roy Haught & Lyman Tenney $14,020
3. 44.04 on 4, Jimmy Longino & Doug Schmidt $11,080
4. 45.15 on 4, Barrie Smith & Zane Williams $8,120
5. 48.06 on 4, Brady Williams & Shane Wilson $6,640
6. 48.09 on 4, Vince Walker & Dan Osadczuk $5,900
7/8. 48.74 on 4, Miguel Martinez & Lyman Tenney $3,690
7/8. 48.74 on 4, Jeanne Gieck & Gary Nybo $3,690
Fast Time - Short Go
1. 19.46, Brady Williams & Cass Gebbers $1,800
#10.5 WSTR Qualifier Average Results
1. 35.99 on 4, Zach Vu & Dylan Nelson $33,400
2. 36.59 on 4, Grant Gomez & Jake Orris $25,800
3. 37.50 on 4, Jamie McElhaney & Jason Richardson $18,220
4. 37.67 on 4, Nicky Delgado & Nathan Wagner $13,700
5. 37.88 on 4, Tallon Ham & Matt Silva $12,100
6. 38.87 on 4, Brad Santucci & Tony D Graham $10,620
7. 39.40 on 4, Jessica Gunsch & Don DePaoli $9,120
8. 40.15 on 4, Travis Regensberg & Robert Rita $7,600
9. 40.22 on 4, Brooke Howell & Joe Zabawa $6,080
10. 40.73 on 4, Jim Compton & Reed Rider $6,080
11. 40.81 on 4, Kody Chapman & Nick Kalivas $4,580
12. 41.11 on 4, Dylan Orr & Gary Nybo $4,580
13. 42.26 on 4, Greg J Baker & Justin Solomon $4,000
14. 42.37 on 4, Bailey Beall & Chance Stevie $4,000
15. 42.48 on 4, Jerry Christensen & Clem McNaney $4,000
16. 45.84 on 4, Bailey Gettman & Charlie Scolari $4,000
Fast Time - Short Go
1. 18.66, Reno Eddy & Ron McDaniel $1,800
#9.5 WSTR Qualifier Average Results
1. 37.04 on 4, Jay Varela & Emilio Garcia $37,440
2. 37.30 on 4, Clint Brost & Wyatt Smith $28,940
3. 39.32 on 4, Seth Williams & Connor Strong $20,420
4. 39.42 on 4, Jay Guerrero & John Guerrero $15,320
5. 40.21 on 4, Trent Pedigo & Lance Copeland $13,620
6. 41.02 on 4, Colin Gorr & Dave Johnson $11,920
7. 41.08 on 4, Brother Campbell & Shawn Aguiar $10,220
8. 41.74 on 4, Miles Werner & Jedd Christian $8,520
9. 41.79 on 4, Ty Moses & Gene Moses $6,800
10. 42.03 on 4, Clint Brost & Owen Schmitz $6,800
11. 42.07 on 4, Matt Bigler & Cameron Warner $5,100
12. 42.39 on 4, Clay Anderson & Hadley Holmes $5,100
13. 42.87 on 4, Stefani Lyman & Jim Randle $4,000
14. 43.47 on 4, Mike Potts & Jason Nearn $4,000
15. 43.66 on 4, Zach Vu & Hadley Holmes $4,000
16. 43.91 on 4, Randa Clabaugh & Kade Merritt $4,000
17. 44.37 on 4, Rene Vega & Emilio Garcia $2,000
18. 44.70 on 4, Marty Pope & Weston Sandmann $2,000
Fast Time - Short Go
1. 9.13 301 Dale Whitlow & Jerry Stutts $1,800
#8.5 WSTR Qualifier Average Results
1. 38.04 on 4, Greg Baker & Joe Talbott $53,560
2. 40.14 on 4, Britt Joseph & Jeremiah Kaiwi $41,400
3. 40.92 on 4, Shelby Dunning & Aaron Champneys $29,220
4. 42.02 on 4, Jim Marek & Levi King $21,920
5. 42.59 on 4, Tate Wells & Heath Johnson $19,480
6. 42.89 on 4, Art Tapia & Reyes Chavez $17,040
7. 43.16 on 4, Jace Pickett & Danny Eagerton $14,600
8. 44.11 on 4, John Kuban & Dan Wheeler $12,180
9. 44.12 on 4, Steven Ocana & Reyes Chavez $9,740
10. 44.63 on 4, Jamie McElhaney& Ryan Batdorf $9,740
11. 45.59 on 4, Jeff Hodge& Hector Uribe $7,300
12. 46.80 on 4, Britt Joseph & Tyler Masada $7,300
13. 48.01 on 4, Jay Meadows & Becky Cannizzaro $4,000
14. 48.33 on 4, Wayne Herron & Glen Roshau $4,000
15. 49.05 on 4, Dave Zunino & Cody Christensen $4,000
16. 49.81 on 4, Brandi Hunter & Burke Smith $4,000
17. 50.33 on 4, Devan Kelly & Kevin Kelly $2,000
18. 50.52 on 4, Gina Hall & Andy Joffer $2,000
19. 51.63 on 4, Clay Garley & Auston Vigil $2,000
Fast Time - Short Go
1. 16.74 Jace Pickett & Marty Okamura $1,800
#7 WSTR Qualifier Average Results
29.91 on 3, Renea Bolling & Trevor Saylor $27,200
31.19 on 3, Chris Herren & Shelly Holliday $20,100
33.10 on 3, Jonathan Gonzalez & Chip Roberts $14,180
34.77 on 3, Clyde Lawson & Harold Barnes $11,820
36.24 on 3, Raymond Morse & Brandon Morse $10,640
36.35 on 3, Molly Sparrowk & Clayton Smith $9,640
37.60 on 3, Talan Nielson & Zeb Pearce $7,100
38.99 on 3, Poyo Mora & Hector Uribe $5,900
39.85 on 3, Kay Miller & Kenny Knudson $4,720
41.39 on 3, Norm Kreiss & Devan Kelly $3,540
41.57 on 3, Chris Bengoa & Rich Pickett $3,540
Fast Time - Short Go
1. 8.91 Clyde Lawson & Harold Barnes $1,800
Open WSTR Qualifier Average Results
1. 28.73 on 4, Bubba Buckaloo & Cory Petska $14,820
2. 29.46 on 4, Jeff Flenniken & Jake Minor $10,600
3. 31.11 on 4, Delon Parker & Mason Trollinger $8,040
4. 31.92 on 4, Chaz Kananen & Tyler Whitlow $5,940
5. 32.69 on 4, Jade Stoddard & Jaylen Eldridge $2,960
Fast Time - Short Go
1. 7.05 Delon Parker & Jared Bilby $600
