MAUI — Casera Silva, an eighth grade student, topped a field of 37 other junior paniolo to emerge as the State Champion All Around Cowgirl at the Hawaii High School State Junior High School Rodeo contested at the Kaonoulu Ranch in Makawao, Maui over the weekend.
In addition to gaining the state all around honor, Silva’s steed, Tazzle Dazzle was named the American Quarter Horse Association Horse of the Year. Silva also topped the barrel racing competition to bring home a buckle in the event.
Silva was one of four competitors representing the Kauai High School Rodeo Association at the state rodeo, the other three participants including Kaena Gracie, a seventh grader, Kahinu Palama-Soares, an eighth grader, and Lono Kaneko, a seventh grade student.
During the barrel racing competition, Silva topped all three go’s, nailing the first go on a 17.149 go, topping the second go on a 17.091 run, and breaking 17 seconds in the short go on a 16.931 ride to earn the buckle.
Silva teamed with Kaneko to finish third in ribbon roping.
She teamed with Gracie in the team roping competition where the duo finished fifth, overall.
Gracie, participating in the state rodeo for the first time, finished by accumulating the most points after placing eighth in the breakaway roping, fourth in goat tying, and seventh in pole bending. Her performance earned her the State Champion Cowgirl Rookie of the Year.
Palama-Soares, finishing the Kauai Keiki High School Rodeo Association season as the All Around Cowboy, finished the state rodeo with a fifth place in breakaway roping, eighth place in goat tying, and seventh place in chute dogging.
Silva finished the KKHSRA season as the All Around Cowgirl, Gracie was named the KKHSRA Reserve All Around Cowgirl, and Kaneko was named the KKHSRA Reserve All Around Cowboy.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
