Silva finds gold at state rodeo

Casera Silva of the Kauai Keiki and High School Rodeo Association earned buckles in the Goat Tying and girls breakaway roping competitions last week at the Hawaii High School State Junior High School rodeo contested at Parker Ranch on the Big Island.

Silva, a seventh-grade student, was one of four competitors from Kauai, the others being Alohi Blackstad, an eighth-grade student, Kahinu Palama-Soares, a seventh-grade student, and Makena Maruyama, an eighth-grader. The rodeo included a field of 48 paniolo from throughout the state.

Silva was entered in six events, including barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, team roping, and ribbon roping, and following her work from a field of 29 cowgirls, earned gold in goat tying.

Clocking a 12.514 seconds in her first go, Silva improved on her second run to an 11.864 go. The short go stopped the clock at 5.490 for a total of 16.542 over three go’s for the buckle.

Jumping aboard her steed, Silva topped the field of 17 cowgirls in the rodeo in the girls breakaway roping, stopping the clock at 5.540 in the first go before improving to 5.512 in the second go. Her short go time ended at 12.960 for a total of 37.338 over three go’s to earn the championship buckle.

Silva rounded out her tour with a fourth finish in the barrel racing.

Silva’s performance bested Blackstad who finished fifth in the goat tying event. She went on to finish seventh in barrel racing after capturing third place in the pole bending event.

Palama-Soares finished fifth in goat tying and seventh in breakaway roping, and Murayama rounded out the Kauai contingent with a fifth place in breakaway roping.

These four paniolo represented the top of the Kauai Keiki and High School Rodeo Association after Murayama was named the All Around Cowboy for the KKHSRA with Palama- Soares settling into the Reserve All Around Cowboy spot.

Silva copped All Around Cowgirl honors with Blackstad being named Reserve All Around Cowgirl.