Garner, DeForest aim for state rodeo titles

Two Mid-Valley cowboys have their eyes set on the all-around title, when the annual state high school rodeo begins Monday.

Live Oak's Josh Garner, the two-time California High School Rodeo Association District 3 all-around champion, and Wheatland's Chant DeForest have high aspirations of doing well at Bishop.

"I'm doing every event I can," said Garner, who will compete in five events — steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, boys cutting and bull riding.

"I'd like to place in all of my events," said DeForest, who will compete in four events — the same as Garner except for bull riding.

Cowboys will compete in three go-rounds in each event. The top 15 finishers advance to the short-go, the final round that determines the champion.

The top four finishers in each event qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo, which will be held in Farmington, N.M., on July 19-26. The fifth through 10th-place finishers in each event qualify for the Silver State Rodeo on June 30 to July 5 in Fallon, Nev.

Garner is the defending state steer wrestling champion and he believes he has an excellent shot at repeating.

"The key is keeping my head on straight, stay focused," Garner said, adding he can't afford to not rope any steers. "I need to catch all my steers."

Besides winning the District 3 steer wrestling title, Garner also won the district team roping crown with Preston Vandeburgh of Cottonwood.

While Garner has been nails as the header in team roping, Garner admitted tie-down roping is probably his weakest event.

"I've never been that good at calf roping," he said, pointing out he finished third in District 3 in tie-down roping this year.

He also finished third in boys cutting. Garner competed in just one bull riding event this season, winning it in the last District 3 rodeo of the year.

DeForest comes into the event as the District 3 tie-down roping champion.

"I've really been working hard at it," DeForest said, noting he failed to qualify for tie down roping at last year's state rodeo after making it to the junior high state rodeo in the event the season before.

DeForest added he has been putting in some extra time practicing steer wrestling as well, admitting that is probably his most difficult event.

Finding the time to practice has been tough, DeForest said.

"I'm the varsity football quarterback at Marysville High," and the Indians have been holding spring football drills, DeForest said.

DeForest added he would love to finish in the top three or four in each of his four events.

Contact sports reporter Richard Myers at 749-4714 or rmyers@appeal-democrat.com.