LIHUE — Coryssa Silva, earlier named the All Around Cowgirl for the Kauai Keiki and High School Rodeo Association, will be heading to Rock Springs, Wyoming as part of Team Hawaii to compete in the National High School Finals rodeo.
The Kauai cowgirl, scheduled to compete in Barrel Racing and Breakaway Roping, will be joined by 16 other Hawaii contestants as they join more than 1,650 contestants from 43 states at the world’s largest rodeo for national honors that will take place in July.
Silva finished the Kauai Keiki and High School division 2018 as the All Around Cowgirl and was joined by Maile Fernandez as the Reserve All Around Cowgirl. In the keiki division, Makena Murayama earned All Around Cowboy honors with Raine Youn getting the Reserve All Around Cowboy accolades.
This earned Silva eligibility to the state rodeo which was held at the Parker Ranch Arena on the Big Island during the second weekend in June. She headed to the Big Island scheduled to compete in six events, including barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, team roping, cutting and reining cow horse.
The high school senior finished the Big Island rodeo by claiming the state championship buckle for barrel racing after logging a 17.471-second go in her first outing. She improved on that initial run by stopping the clock at 17.371 in her second go, and 17.401 in the short go.
Adding to the championship buckle, Silva pocketed a third finish in cutting, and fifth place finishes in breakaway roping, reining cow horse, and pole bending.
She finished the Hawaii rodeo with a National High School Rodeo Association scholarship for $1,000 based on her academic achievements while attending King’s Christian Academy. Additionally, her horse, Bet On Chita, also known as Diesel, was named as the American Quarter Horse Association Horse of the Year.
Her mother, Elise Parraga Silva, said fundraising efforts are underway to help Coryssa get to the national rodeo. Contributions can be made by using PayPal “Send money to a friend,” emailing eppagasilva@yahoo.com, or by physically mailing a donation to Coryssa Silva, P. O. Box 645, Kalaheo, Hawaii 96741.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
