He was named after a Hall of Fame running back, yet his prowess seems to be in the arena instead of the football field. Marcus “Allen” Shimogawa, a 7th grader at Waimea Canyon School earned the awards of Wrangler All-Around
He was named after a Hall of Fame running back, yet his prowess seems to be in the arena instead of the football field.
Marcus “Allen” Shimogawa, a 7th grader at Waimea Canyon School earned the awards of Wrangler All-Around Cowboy Reserve Champion and the Wrangler Rookie of the Year.
The State Wrangler Junior High School Rodeo Finals were held at Oskie Rice Arena in Makawao, Maui, from May 19-21 in unlikely weather conditions.
The contestants arrived with competition in their veins even if Mother Nature was not on their side, but Kaua‘i was well-represented. Shimogawa, Kelli and Cory Carveiro, and Shawn “Kalani” Grace arrived on the scene to “Get ‘er done,” and all four of these fearsome competitors earned a spot on the National Jr. High School Rodeo Team, which competes for a national title at Gallup, N.M.
“Scrappy, fearsome, fun to rope with, an enjoyment,” were some of the words used by event announcer Chuckie Medeiros, to describe the Kaua‘i team.
Medeiros was impressed with Grace’s competitive spirit and he said Shimogawa’s antics were “outrageous,” when he got up and stood on his horse’s back, sliding down her rump and walking between her legs, clowning around with the announcer for some showmanship.
The sweetheart of the show was none other than Kelli Carveiro. Medeiros referred to her as a “true competitor” and “one to watch for.” The Kaua‘i competitors were on a mission and out to claim a spot on the prestigious “Hawai‘i Team” to not only represent Kaua‘i but represent the state in Gallup, N.M., from July 9-15 at nationals.
Here are the results:
Shimogawa tied his last goat in the boys goat-tying event in a screaming 13.03, sealing his chances to win the event with a wrap and a hui. He then went on to be the only one to catch three calves for the boys breakaway, stopping the clock on his third calf with a 4.56.
Cory Carveiro got ‘er done for the boys breakaway in go #3 by placing third with an 11.55.
Shawn “Kalani” Grace and his partner from the Big Island teamed up for the lone catch in the ribbon roping, clocking in at 27.79. Grace, a “scrappy competitor,” as referred to by the announcer was the only one to throw a steer in the chute-dogging event with 19.71.
Carveiro tied her goat in 15.79, a respectable time that any cowgirl would want and she ran an awesome barrel racing run on her 3rd go of 19.31, placing second and sealing her chances to qualify for New Mexico. Full results of the event will be published at a later date.
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
