Coleby Payne Leaves The 2024 Cervi with $31,655!

A cloudless sky arced over the Casa Grande Arizona Rodeo Grounds on February 21 for the annual Mike Cervi Jr. Memorial Pro Classic, greeting the best team ropers around with record turn out of 263 teams and a record amount of money in the pot. High stakes and superb arena conditions were certainly factors in teams laying down blistering times throughout the 4 progressive rounds and into the short go.

“After some challenging weather over the last three years, we finally could offer the kind of great winter days Arizona is famous for,” commented roping producer George Aros. “And the guys put on a helluva show for the fans in the stands and for folks at home watching the Live Stream on X Factor Roping. We saw 4 second runs, we saw 5 second runs,” continued Aros. “The score was challenging and the steers ran strong throughout the whole roping.”

The short round was an exciting finish under the lights with a tightly bunched field that separated high call and 20th place by only 4 seconds. A handful of heart wrenching misses opened opportunities for other teams. No one was leaving without giving all they had.

Bubba Buckaloo and Little Michael Calmelat made the short go in the 16th position. They stopped the clock at an almost unimaginable 4.93 vaulting them into a lead that they held through the next few runs.

Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira sat in the 7th call back position and finished their evening with a 5.83, shifting the leader board once again and putting pressure on the remaining teams. The Bray brothers, Paden and Wyatt saw their hopes crushed with a no time. Fifth team back of Luke Brown and Cade Passig delivered a 5.65 with ease to move them into the lead.

Coming back at number 4 was last year’s champion Jake Long with heeler Dusting Egusquiza. They would need a 5.91 to take the lead but instead a no time knocked them out of the running. Coleby Payne was sitting in the third call back position with Bubba Bukaloo, but a 7.02 lost them some ground. Clint Summers and Hunter Koch’s steady performance all day landed them in the second call back spot needing an easily attainable 6.27 to take the lead. A front leg in the loop dashed their chances with a no time.

It was all down to 2X World Champion Clay Smith and his 25 year old partner Coleby Payne. A 6.72 would keep them on top for the win, a time longer than they had been all day. A smooth, well executed run stopped the clock at 6.41 and earned them $40,000. Their Cervi payday was only 2 weeks after their $20,000-a-man win at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, making a solid start to their season. Payne was also the high money earner for the day, adding a fourth place finish with Bubba Buckaloo for another $11,655. Luke Brown and Cade Passig earned $33,300 for their second place finish.

In all, three ropers won two checks. Kaleb Driggers picked up $14,150 with Junior Nogueira in the third hole and another $4,165 for his 7th place finish with Wesley Thorp. In addition to Bubba Buckaloo’s second place, he was also in the money with Calmelat in 8th where they each picked up $1,665. Aros commented, “Little Micheal won money in last year’s Cervi, this year’s Cervi and in the Open Cervi pre-roping on Tuesday, and he’s only 15! He’s making a lot of noise in the open jackpots across the country and has made believers of just about everybody.”

Another big winner of The Cervi is Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. “We raised over $17,000 for them this year,” said Aros. “Mel Potter started the fund raising aspect of this roping as soon as it became the Mike Cervi Jr. Memorial. It’s as much of an event to raise money for them as it is a jackpot for the pros. To date, we’ve raised well over $300,000.”

While the Cervi is riddled with the names of elite pros, it has also been a place where up and coming teams dream of making their mark on a grand stage. This year’s incentives encouraged 78 lower number teams to take a shot at breaking into the money. The fees were discounted $100 a man for #15 or lower teams. Additionally, there was a $5,000 reward waiting for the top placing #15 or under team on 5 head and the second place team split $2,500. So if they made the final but didn’t place, a team could still go home with some extra cash in their pockets. Three incentive teams made it back to the short round. This year’s first place incentive team was Mike Grant and 2X World Champion Walt Woodard, who at 69 proved he’s still formidable. Bodie Baize and Ryon Tithel picked up the second place incentive money.

The Pre Ropings on Tuesday also saw a swell in entries. The day started with a #13 that saw 68 teams and a record payout of $5,100 to first place team of Mayson Millett and TJ Bowler, with 36.76 seconds on four head.

Super 15 has become a very popular event on the pre roping schedule with a record 101 teams. This year’s payout was $15,400 for first. Canadian Tee McCleod roping with Casa Grande local Porter Bryant had 28.19 on four head to take the top spot. Levi Schmidt and Sid Sporer won $10,740 for second with 28.37.

Tuesday’s Open hosted a record 160 teams and paid 7 monies. It saw every superstar who was entered in the Cervi Pro Classic and gave everyone a first look at the fresh cattle for the Cervi.  Manny Egusquiza and Evan Arnold, tallied 26.72 seconds on four head and won $11,740. Jake Cooper Clay and Trey Yates were second with 27.03, earning $8,220.

Aros has managed to bring fresh steers every year since he started the roping 42 years ago. This year’s top shelf cattle, provided by The Roping Company, was no exception. “It’s always exciting to see how truly great these guys are when they are roping on fresh steers. You not only have to rope good, you have to be real careful how you handle them. You don’t do it right, the steer’s going to go down or otherwise get into a mess.”

Many top pros helped out with another successful Cervi Pro Am event. They donate their time to run three rounds with an amateur with all proceeds going to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. All Around header and heeler winners received a champion Gist buckle and go round buckles were also awarded.  All the Amateurs also receive an embroidered Wrangler jacket and team photo. Edgardo Esquer was the Champion Pro Am Heeler roping with Cody Snow. After 3 rounds, it was Roland Warren’s 22.49 with Brock Hansen that won the Champion Heeler title.

Aros always acknowledges the efforts of his whole team for producing a top quality event.”We always appreciate the support of the of City of Casa Grande, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Posse. “I want to give a shout out to Tony Ybara and crew for outstanding job preparing the arena,” said Aros. “The chute help from Central Arizona College were outstanding and worked really had to keep everything moving right along. Also I want to thank the office crew, Joyce Sewel, Sanna Boan, Vicky Munyo and Kelsey Munyo who keep everything running efficiently and write all those checks. And we are always honored to have Reed Flake in the announcer’s booth.

It also takes generous sponsors to produce this caliber of roping with big payouts and still have the ability to raise money for Justin Crisis Fund. “We have Julie Vigna to thank for working so hard to bring on new sponsor partnerships,” added Aros. “And we have had Kristen Spinning handling our marketing and social media for many years.”

After the largest payout in its history, The Cervi just keeps getting stronger. There is no doubt that even bigger things are in store for next year.

Cervi Final Results

Clay Smith, Coleby Payne $40,000

Luke Brown, Cade Passig $33,300

Kaleb Drigers, Junior Nogueira $28,300

Bubba Buckaloo, Colbey Payne $23,310

Levi Simpson, Denim Ross $18,310

Ketch Kelton, Dakota Kirchenschager $13,320

Kaleb Driggers, Wesley Thorp $8,330

Bubba Buckaloo, Little Michael Calmelat $3,330

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Mike Cervi Jr. Memorial Pre Ropings Results:

Open – Four Head

1. Manny Egusquiza and Evan Arnold, 26.72, $11,740
    2. Jake Cooper Clay and Trey Yates, 27.03, $8,220
    3. Ketch Kelton and Denton Dunning, 27.87, $6,260
    4. Jeff Flenniken and JR Dees, 28.55, $4,700
    5. Jeff Flenniken and Junior Nogueria, 28.61, $3,520
    6. Brayden Schmidt and Little Michael Calmelat, 28.85, $2,740
    7. Jake Orman and Tyler McKnight, 29.45, $1,960

Fast Time: Grady Quam and Tyce McLeod, 7.05 seconds, $1,500

Super 15

1. Tee McLeod and Porter Bryant, 28.19 seconds on four head, $15,400
 2. Levi Schmidt and Sid Sporer, 28.37, $10,740
 3. Spencer Whipple and Chase Tryan, 28.77, $7,940
 4. Roland McFadden and Howdy Jackson, 29.32, $5,600
 5. Murray Linthicum and Denim Ross, 29.73, $4,200
 6. Bode Baize and Ryon Tittle, 30.47, $2,800

Fast Time: Aaron Velazquez and Alex Velazquez, 6.42 seconds, $600

#13

1. Mayson Millett and TJ Bowler, 36.76 seconds on four head, $5,100
 2. Thomas Braman and Kole Roberts, 36.89, $3,650
 3. Wyatt Smith and Cooper Olson, 38.31, $2,770
 4. Kory Bramwell and Maverick Franks, 42.62, $2,040
 5. Dylin Ahlstrom and Blake Bowler, 44.66 $1,020

Fast Time: Travis Ericsson and George Aros, 9.26 seconds, $300