Mitchell advances to college rodeo finale in Wyoming

By Marty James

NOTES AND QUOTES for a Wednesday in the Napa Valley:

Tyler Mitchell, a freshman at West Hills Community College in Coalinga, recently qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo.

Contestants compete all year in one of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s 11 regions for a chance to rope or ride at the CNFR. The top three students in each event qualify for the CNFR. Over 400 cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges advance to the CNFR in Casper each year.

Mitchell, who rodeos in the West Coast Region for the Coalinga Falcons, placed third overall in the region for saddle bronc riding.

Other West Coast region schools include Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly Pomona, Fresno State, Feather River College of Loomis, Cuesta College of San Luis Obispo, UNLV and Lassen College of Susanville.

The CNFR runs from June 14-20. Mitchell will have the chance to compete on four broncs during the seven-day event. 

Mitchell is a West Hills honor roll student and a 2008 Justin-Siena High School graduate.

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Vintage High defensive coordinator Dylan Leach and several players from the football program recently took part serving dinner to senior citizens at the City of Napa Senior Center’s annual spring social.

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Kyleigh McAhren, a Justin-Siena graduate who plays volleyball for Bucknell University, will travel to Italy and Austria this summer with a group from USA Athletes International.

It’s an invitation-only volleyball team, made up of players from around the country. They will be playing six international matches, from June 1-11.

USA Athletes International, Inc., is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving amateur athletes and coaches the opportunity to participate in international Olympic-style sporting events throughout the world, while also allowing them to broaden their educational and cultural knowledge of the world through the experience.

McAhren was named as the Patriot League Baden Rookie of the Week for Bucknell, located in Lewisburg, PA, in November.

At Justin-Siena, McAhren was twice selected to the all-Napa County First Team. She also received the all-Academic Scholastic Team Championship Award in volleyball and basketball as a senior.

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Napa Sheriff’s Activities League boxers had a good showing at Saturday’s “Fiesta Days” boxing show, hosted by the Vacaville Police Activities League.

Competing in only his second bout, 10-year-old Omar Cisneros, weighing 77 pounds, lost a split 2-1 decision in a close match to Vacaville’s Mathew Behnania (age 10, 72 pounds).

Mason Thomas, a student at Napa Valley College, enjoyed more success in his match. Thomas, 19, defeated an opponent from Contender’s gym in Mountain View.

Jesus Perez, 14, who goes to Silverado Middle School, lost a decision to a member of Fairfield PAL.

Napa SAL’s two more experienced boxers, Brandon Trejo and Joel Alvarez, brought two more wins to the local squad, which finished the night with a 3-2 record.

Brandon Trejo, a student at Phillips Edison Elementary who weighed 90 pounds, was able to control his three-round contest against Isaac Aguilar of Oregon (age 12, 90 pounds) with his jab.

In what SAL coach Oscar Ortiz said was an “action-packed” three-round contest, it was Alvarez’s body attack that swayed the judges and the Napa boxer edged out the victory in a 2-1 split decision over Vacaville’s Ivan Vergara (age 12, 80 pounds).

Alvarez (age 12, 77 pounds) attends Harvest Middle School.

Both Alvarez and Trejo have won several local and regional championships and will be busy traveling to tournaments this summer.

The boxing team trains at the Napa SAL gym, located on the Napa State Hospital grounds, Monday through Friday, from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, call Napa SAL at 224-5005.

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Robert Exum of Napa deadlifted 600 pounds and took first place at the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters Capital City Bench Press and Deadlift Championships Saturday. The contest was held at the Marriott Hotel in Rancho Cordova.

Exum narrowly missed making 639 pounds on his last attempt. Exum competed in the masters 40-46 age group/242-pound weight class.

E-mail Executive Sports Editor Marty James at mjames@napanews.com or call 256-2223.

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