Author: KRDO

Mackenzie Stafford

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – Greg Haas, an EMT and firefighter medic with 26 years of experience, is currently responding to the intense “Aspen Acres” fire. Here, he has served in multiple roles and is grappling with the physical and emotional toll the fire takes.

Haas emphasized the demanding nature of wildfire response, noting the diverse medical incidents encountered, from scorpion stings to more serious illnesses. He says he initially served as a night medical unit leader on the “Aspen Acres” fire.

He staffed the medical unit and coordinated medical responses for incidents on the fire line and within the camp itself.

After his initial role, Haas was deployed to the fire line due to a ‘critical need’. He supported falling operations south of Beulah, using his background in sawing activities to help clear roads. He says being out on the front lines, he can help to immediately respond to injuries that crews may face.

“Firefighters are my family and that’s a big deal for me,” said Haas. “So that’s actually where I really think that’s the biggest influence in keeping me in the medical field is care about these people. It’s a really small, tight-knit community.”

The medic explained that once committed, the profession is difficult to leave. He says you really have to have a heart to be out in the field fighting fires.

“Fire gets in your blood,” Haas said. “It’s it’s, a passion. You know, it takes a certain type to do this, but once you get into that family and into that group and into that environment, it grabs hold. And it’s it doesn’t let go.”

Haas explained that the Aspen Acres fire has been particularly challenging.

“The fire dynamics on this one were incredibly intense. You know, we see a lot of fire, but people who have been here 40, 50 years are saying they’ve never seen fire behavior like this,” explained Haas.

The fire is also making its way into more treacherous territory, according to fire officials. When trying to respond to those areas on the front lines, Haas explained it’s no light load they hold on to.

Haas says his medical pack alone weighs about 40 pounds. With water and lunch, his pack can reach 55 pounds. Additionally, he says medics often carry a large rescue stretcher, adding another 20 pounds, bringing their total load to between 50 and 70 pounds.

“There’s a lot of weight on our medics, they carry a burden I don’t think most people recognize,” Haas said.

Haas also shared how difficult it’s been in this specific response after recently losing a friend who was a firefighter. He received the news while walking into an operations meeting for the “Aspen Acres” fire.

“Timing was rough. You know, you find out walking into an operations meeting is when I found out that I had lost a friend. Shock. You know how that is? That initial shock, you know, like, wow. Did this really happen?” recounted Haas.

He explained how his friend always had a smile and a positive attitude. He said his friend loved firefighting, and they had met when doing sawing operations in Montana.

The loss of a colleague deeply impacts the firefighting community, Haas shared.

“It’s a really tight-knit community in the fire world,” Haas explained. “So when we have a loss, we take it really hard. And you don’t have to be best friends with these people to take it that way. You know, we lost a pilot here recently a K-MAX that went down on one of the nearby fires. Just as devastating,” shared Haas.

He says the emotional toll also extends to witnessing the destruction of homes.

“You see crews running out with big, serious faces, but you don’t see the tears,” Haas stated. “They cry when that house burned, the one that they tried to save. So I think that’s the biggest message I’d like to see people see is understand these people care, you know, whether we succeed or not.”

The community’s support has been a significant factor, with residents offering donations, displaying signs of gratitude, and stopping firefighters to thank them and offer to pay for their meals, shared Haas

He recounted an instance where two young girls gave him an Otter Pop and thanked him for his work, even though he was unsure of whether their own home had survived.

“It’s been an incredible interaction with the community itself, especially given the loss that they’ve had,” Haas said.

A lot of work remains to be done on the “Aspen Acres”” fire. Firefighters will continue to engage the fire in tough and dangerous terrain until it is 100% contained.

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Heather Skold

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — For military families, making meaningful connections with others in the same situation is crucial to thriving amidst a demanding career. 

For leaders at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic, facilitating those connections is one of their specialties. 

Each quarter, the behavioral health clinic hosts free social gatherings for military families; this month was the “Carnival and Cinema” event at Icon Cinema, where families could participate in face painting, corn hole games, and watch a screening of Toy Story 5. 

“The process of deployment or the process of having to PCS to a different community, where you haven’t been able to make those community relationships yet.  You also have service members who have transitioned out, and they’re trying to figure out what this new transition looks like,” said Amy Moore, Steven A Cohen Military Family Clinic Director.  “This is a great way for the family to come together and just enjoying something together.”

The Cohen clinic also provides mental health counseling for the whole family.  

“Military families deserve to know they are unique and deserve to be treated as such,” Moore said.  

To explore more military family gatherings, contact the Cohen Clinic. 

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The latest phase in the ongoing series of upgrades on South Academy Boulevard will close a half-mile from Friday evening until midday Monday.

The closure begins at 7 p.m. between Astrozon Boulevard and Hancock Expressway, and is scheduled to end at noon Monday.

An hour later, the west side of the South Academy/Astrozon intersection will close for approximately three weeks.

The closures are necessary because crews are installing a water line, and will finish paving and striping.

Businesses and a shopping center front the segment of South Academy to be closed this weekend, but access to the businesses remains open; for more information, visit: https://coloradosprings.gov/AcademyBlvdImprovements.

Much of the utility work has closed the east side of South Academy, squeezing northbound and southbound traffic onto the west side and decreasing lanes from six to four.

The overall improvements project will ultimately stretch from Fountain Boulevard to Jet Wing Drive, just north of Milton E. Proby Parkway; construction began on the south end and has advanced north to El Morro Road.

For many drivers and pedestrians, the project has been inconvenient — coping with occasional lane closures, changes on walking paths and at city bus stops, and significant construction activity.

The project is also an adjustment for adjacent businesses, but the frequent closures are by design because the city wants to avoid the negative impacts experienced during the earlier South Academy project between Bijou Street and Airport Road.

In that project, the city learned that doing the South Academy work in smaller segments would be less impactful than doing it in larger segments with closures lasting weeks or months.

According to the city, the overall project marks the first rebuilding of South Academy since 1969 and is expected to cost more than $100 million.

It’s the boulevard’s first major reconstruction since 1969; it will relocate existing utility lines, install new utility lines, improve intersections, build new curbs, gutters, ramps, and sidewalks, and repave the boulevard.

Workers started the Bijou to Airport phase in early 2023 and finished in late 2024.

Preliminary work on the second phase began during that time but didn’t ramp up until earlier this year, after officials took a break to meet with neighbors about how to avoid the earlier negative impacts.

The project originally was to end this year, but delays due to groundwater infiltration and the break to connect with nearby residents mean it won’t be completed until 2028.

When the city finally does finish the project, most of the south end of the boulevard from Bijou to Interstate 25 will have been upgraded by either the city or El Paso County.

Many citizens hope that completing the project will lead to an economic revitalization along the corridor, which has many vacant storefronts.

    

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Bradley Davis

LARKSPUR, Colo. (KRDO) – The live performers with the Colorado Renaissance Festival joined KRDO 13’s Bradley Davis bright and early for some live interviews to show off their talents and medieval costumes.

Tune into Good Morning Colorado to catch Davis and the cast jump back in a time machine inside the castle gates.

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Rob Namnoum

BAREBACK RIDING POOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Garrett Blackwell – T Yeso, NM DB 831 Mud Slide 83 $3,000.002 Donny Proffit – MS Diamondville, WY RM 0110 Butterscotch 81 $2,250.003 Jacek Frost – S Browns Valley, CA PK 1608 Cap Pistol 79.5 $1,500.004 Clay Jorgenson – BL Watford City, ND DB 6F0 Red Face 75 $750.00POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1 Donny Proffit – MS Diamondville, WY HL L09 Deacon 84.5 $3,000.002 Clay Jorgenson – BL Watford City, ND SA 429 Wise General 83 $2,250.003 Trevar McAllister – M Ronan, MT PK 471 Boot Barn’s Night Delta 81 $1,500.004 Colton Clemens – CR Blackfoot, ID PK 9908- Scorching Fire 80.5 $750.00POOL B 1ST GO WINNERS1 Roedy Farrell – MS Thermopolis, WY CP 350 Ranch & Co Time 87 $3,000.002 Mason Yancy – W Fruitland, ID PK 8971 Red Dawn 85.5 $2,250.003 Luke Thrash – SE Stephenville, TX PK 106- Night Star 85 $1,500.004 Tanner Aus – GL Granite Falls, MN PK 9504- Scarlett Belle 82 $750.00ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Donny Proffit – MS Diamondville, WY2 Clay Jorgenson – BL Watford City, ND3 Colt Eck – P Redfield, KS

SADDLE BRONC RIDINGPOOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Kade Bruno – CR Challis, ID SA 979 Great Reflection 86 $3,000.002 Reed Neely – S Clovis, CA SA 602 Speak Easy 82 $2,250.003 Ira Dickinson – MS Rock Springs, WY SA 977 Range Delivery 80.5 $1,500.004 Ross Griffin – T Tularosa, NM PR -92 Miss Marvelous 80 $750.00POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1-2 Weston Patterson – P Waverly, KS DB 447 Capone 86.5 $2,625.001-2 Sage Newman – M Melstone, MT DB 014 Rip Cord 86.5 $2,625.003 Ross Griffin – T Tularosa, NM BB -502 Heart N Soul 85 $1,500.004-4 Kole Ashbacher – ML Arrowwood, AB HL 202 Fort Concho 82 $375.004-4 Eastan West – BL New Underwood, SD DB 54 Hard Drive 82 $375.00POOL B 1ST GO WINNERS1 Chase Brooks – LS Deer Lodge, MT SR 61 Blue Canyon 86 $3,000.002 Joe Farren – FF Cottondale, FL PK 1708 Watch The Night 82 $2,250.003 Ryder Sanford – SE Sulphur, LA HR W6 Wolverine 81.5 $1,500.004 Spur Montag – GL Belmont, OH SR -718 Sunday Drive 76 $750.00ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Kade Bruno – CR Challis, ID2 Ross Griffin – T Tularosa, NM3 Weston Patterson – P Waverly, KS

BULL RIDINGPOOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Hayden Welsh – MS Gillette, WY DB 94 Redneck Lot Lizard 84.5 $3,000.002 Cole Hill – CR Klamath Falls, OR DL 54E Carlos Danger 82.5 $2,250.003 Gavin Knutson – M Polson, MT HL 202 Mathew 79 $1,500.004 *$250 in ground money to each *POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1 Gavin Knutson – M Polson, MT BR 0199 Splitting Tens 87.5 $3,000.002 Jestyn Woodward – BL Custer, SD RM 235 Dirty D 80.5 $2,250.003 Caelan Reynolds – T Marana, AZ BB 117 Canadian Outlaw 78.5 $1,500.004 Hayden Welsh – MS Gillette, WY PK 206 Frosty 73 $750.00POOL B 1ST GO WINNERS1 Jake Gardner – ML Fort St. John, BC GP 1624 Rise Up 84 $3,000.002 Ramon Fiorini de Souza – LSDecatur, TX CT 12H Orbit 79 $2,250.0034 * $1125 in ground money to each *ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Gavin Knutson – M Polson, MT2 Hayden Welsh – MS Gillette, WY3 Cole Hill – CR Klamath Falls, OR

TIEDOWN ROPING STEER WRESTLINGPOOL A 1ST GO WINNERS POOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Luke Potter – CR Maple City, KS 8.8 $3,000.00 1 Cody Devers – P Perryton, TX 3.3 $3,000.002 Mason Stueve – P Newton, KS 9.7 $2,250.00 2 Ty Erickson – M Helena, MT 4.1 $2,250.003 Tate Talkington – MS Scottsbluff, NE 9.8 $1,500.00 3-4 Jesse Brown – CR Baker City, OR 4.5 $1,125.004 Tom Crouse – S Gallatin, MO 10.1 $750.00 3-4 Grant Peterson – S Livermore, CA 4.5 $1,125.00POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1 Tom Crouse – S Gallatin, MO 8.4 $3,000.00 1 Scott Guenthner – ML Consort, AB 3.2 $3,000.002 Logan Bird – ML Nanton, AB 9.7 $2,250.00 2 Ty Erickson – M Helena, MT 3.8 $2,250.003 Pecos Tatum – T La Plata, NM 9.8 $1,500.00 3 Grant Peterson – S Livermore, CA 4.4 $1,500.004 Mason Stueve – P Newton, KS 11.0 $750.00 4 Cody Cabral – T Hilo, HI 4.5 $750.00POOL B 1ST GO WINNERS POOL B 1ST GO WINNERS1 Brushton Minton – S Witter Springs, CA 9.0 $3,000.00 1 Pacean Deleeuw – ML Athabasca, AB 4.3 $3,000.002 Riley Pruitt – MS Gering, NE 9.6 $2,250.00 2 Traver Johnson – CR Eltopia, WA 5.0 $2,250.003 Shad Mayfield – LS Clovis, NM 10.0 $1,500.00 3 Bray Armes – LS Stephenville, TX 5.3 $1,500.004 Shane Smith – ML Wimborne, AB 10.5 $750.00 4 Tad Williams – W Coalville, UT 6.4 $750.00ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Tom Crouse – S Gallatin, MO 1 Ty Erickson – M Helena, MT2 Luke Potter – CR Maple City, KS 2 Scott Guenthner – ML Consort, AB3 Mason Stueve – P Newton, KS 3 Grant Peterson – S Livermore, CA

BREAKAWAY ROPING BARREL RACEPOOL A 1ST GO WINNERS POOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Bradi Whiteside – ML Longview, AB 2.7 $3,000.00 1 Emily Beisel – P Weatherford, OK 17.32 $3,000.002 Taylor Munsell – P Alva, OK 3.7 $2,250.00 2 Megan McLeod-Sprague – CRMarsing, ID 17.45 $2,250.003 Taylor Engesser – BL Spearfish, SD 3.8 $1,500.00 3 Molly Otto – BL Grand Forks, ND 17.86 $1,500.004 *$250 in ground money to each * 4 Hayle Gibson-Stillwell – S Redcrest, CA 17.95 $750.00POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1 Millie Greenwood – CR Caldwell, ID 2.2 $3,000.00 1 Emily Beisel – P Weatherford, OK 17.11 $3,000.002 Taya McAdow – MS Fort Lupton, CO 2.7 $2,250.00 2 Megan McLeod-Sprague – CRMarsing, ID 17.30 $2,250.003-4 Taylor Engesser – BL Spearfish, SD 3.6 $1,125.00 3 Hayle Gibson-Stillwell – S Redcrest, CA 17.79 $1,500.003-4 Taylor Munsell – P Alva, OK 3.6 $1,125.00 4 Taylor Gardner – M Purple Springs, AB 17.86 $750.00POOL B 1ST GO WINNERS POOL B 1ST GO WINNERS1 Haiden Thompson – MS Yoder, WY 2.3 $3,000.00 1 Alyssa Urbanek-Wade – LS Stephenville, TX 17.27 $3,000.002 Jenna Dallyn – ML Nanton, AB 2.6 $2,250.00 2 Hailey Garrison Graham – CRGlen, MT 17.49 $2,250.003 Suzanne Williams – S Standish, CA 2.9 $1,500.00 3 Blake Molle – ML Chauvin, AB 17.53 $1,500.004 Braylee Shepherd – W Fitzhugh, OK 3.0 $750.00 4 Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi – MS Lampasas, TX 17.63 $750.00ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Taylor Munsell – P Alva, OK 1 Emily Beisel – P Weatherford, OK2 Taylor Engesser – BL Spearfish, SD 2 Megan McLeod-Sprague – CRMarsing, ID3 Millie Greenwood – CR Caldwell, ID 3 Hayle Gibson-Stillwell – S Redcrest, CA

TEAM ROPINGPOOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Cole Eiguren – CR Fruitland, ID & Breck Ward – CR Jerome, ID 6.0 $3,000.002-3 Bubba Buckaloo – P Kingston, OK & Joseph Harrison – PMarietta, OK 6.3 $1,875.002-3 Logan Olson – BL Flandreau, SD & Jade Nelson – BL Midland, SD 6.3 $1,875.004-4 Blake Hirdes – S Turlock, CA & Jake Edwards – S Fort Ann, NY 10.6 $375.004-4 Garrett Tonozzi – MS Lampasas, TX & Trey Yates – MS Pueblo, CO 10.6 $375.00POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1 Dillon Johnson – M Belt, MT & Colten Fisher – M Shepherd, MT 5.6 $3,000.002 Garrett Tonozzi – MS Lampasas, TX & Trey Yates – MS Pueblo, CO 5.7 $2,250.003 Cole Eiguren – CR Fruitland, ID & Breck Ward – CR Jerome, ID 6.1 $1,500.004 Bubba Buckaloo – P Kingston, OK & Joseph Harrison – PMarietta, OK 6.4 $750.00POOL B 1ST GO WINNERS1 Riley Minor – CR Ellensburg, WA & Brady Minor Ellensburg, WA 4.6 $3,000.002 Clay Tryan – LS Billings, MT & Ty Arnold – LS Midway, TX 4.9 $2,250.003 Jake Smith – W Broken Bow, OK & Nicky Northcott – W Stephenville, TX 5.5 $1,500.004 Kavis Drake – ML Moose Jaw, SK & Denim Ross – ML Botha, AB 6.1 $750.00ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Cole Eiguren – CR Fruitland, ID & Breck Ward – CR Jerome, ID2 Bubba Buckaloo – P Kingston, OK & Joseph Harrison – PMarietta, OK3 Garrett Tonozzi – MS Lampasas, TX & Trey Yates – MS Pueblo, CO

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Dylan Foreman

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Hayden Welsh is the kind of bull rider who can turn almost anything into a punchline.

The 20-year-old Wyoming native embraces his reputation as rodeo’s “wild child,” bringing plenty of energy and humor wherever he goes. But once he climbs into the chute, the jokes give way to the mental focus required to compete in one of the sport’s most dangerous events.

“It can get scary sometimes,” Welsh said. “You get a bull that’s pretty antsy or a little wild and starts trying to get in your head. At the end of the day, you’ve just got to stay home mentally.”

While Welsh is technically a rookie, he’s no stranger to the professional rodeo scene.

Last season, he competed on a permit and could have qualified for the National Finals Rodeo, but his earnings didn’t count toward the standings. This year, with full professional status, every dollar and every ride matter, and he’s already making an impact ranking near the top of the standings.

“When I get to the chute, it’s just that flow state of mind,” Welsh said. “If I’m making money, I’m going down the road. If I’m going down the road, I’m living the dream.”

That dream started early.

Welsh grew up around rodeo, idolizing his father, Bobby Welsh, a seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier. He attended NFRs as a young child and got on his first bull at just four years old.

“From the time I was three months old until I was about five, I went to all those NFRs with my dad,” Welsh said. “It was always something I looked up to. I got my first bull when I was four years old and I haven’t looked back since.”

Fueled by faith and a lifelong passion for rodeo, Welsh is now carving out a path of his own in arenas across North America.

“For now, I’m living the dream,” Welsh said. “And unfortunately, the dream doesn’t last forever.”

For Hayden Welsh, that’s all the more reason to enjoy every ride.

You can see Welsh buck at this year’s Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo where he will be in the short round on Saturday.

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Bradley Davis

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – 30 girls and women of all ages from southern Colorado learned from some of the best professional women in the world today as part of MasterCraft’s nationwide “Let Her Rip” campaign.

The program travels to six different lakes each year. On June 16, they were carving up the wake on the Pueblo Reservoir.

The program’s goal is to empower women and young girls on the water in a male-dominated field.

“This is the best part about being in the industry, just getting to meet new people, traveling to beautiful places like this reservoir. This is absolutely amazing. It’s what we live for, what we dream for. I can’t wait to see the girls rip,” World Champion athlete Ansley Pritchard said.

“We have women of all ages, all backgrounds come to these things, and so it’s just great whether it’s their first time or it’s their 15th time behind the boat. So just to see them either learn or just nail down a trick they’ve been working on forever is really inspiring,” said Ashton Domby with the MasterCraft marketing team.

Pritchard and Domby said they hope to grow the women’s confidence in all facets of watersports, from carving up the surf to feeling empowered to get their boating license.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Potholes have been a big priority for Mayor Yemi Mobalade since he took office three years ago.

And now, in the final year of his first term in office, he’s making good on his campaign promise to reduce the number of potholes on city streets.

Late Thursday morning, the city held a media briefing to release results of a pothole saturation patrol, or “surge,” that was announced in May.

Mobolade, who rode with The Road Warrior to a neighborhood pothole event earlier in the day, said that the surge resulted in 16,000 potholes filled.

“10,000 of them were in neighborhoods,” he revealed.

Mobolade went to Haverhill Place in the Pinecliff neighborhood where a longtime resident, Carl Peterson, regularly reports potholes to the city.

“Our streets are scheduled for repaving over the next few years, Peterson explained, “So pothole repairs will help a lot. “I think the response rate is better. You need to report a pothole, rather than curse it. Cursing potholes doesn’t fix them. I walk the neighborhood almost every day, I have a cell phone, and I report potholes.”

The mayor patched a pothole while he was there.

The five-week operation devoted more time and resources to patching potholes.

Included in the effort was the purchase of two pothole repair trucks to replace the two oldest trucks in the fleet; officials said that some of the 13-truck fleet breaks down occasionally because of frequent use.

The surge had three objectives.

One was to place two pothole-repair trucks in each of the city’s four public works districts to conduct “search and destroy” missions on any potholes they found.

The second was to perform maintenance paving: temporarily repaving streets with numerous potholes in a concentrated area, saving the time and effort of filling each pothole.

Streets chosen for maintenance paving are not part of this year’s 2C expanded paving program.

The surge’s third objective was gathering data to learn more specifics about the average response time for pothole complaints, as well as developing a “heat map” to show areas that are “hot spots” for potholes. 

Mobolade was asked if there will be future pothole surges.

“Definitely next year,” he responded. “Would I like to do a second one this year? Absolutely. I haven’t made that final decision yet. I’m assessing, weighing the risk. But in terms of next year, of course, I think this habit, this practice, feels right.”

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Rob Namnoum

BAREBACK RIDING POOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Garrett Blackwell – T Yeso, NM DB 831 Mud Slide 83 $3,000.002 Donny Proffit – MS Diamondville, WY RM 0110 Butterscotch 81 $2,250.003 Jacek Frost – S Browns Valley, CA PK 1608 Cap Pistol 79.5 $1,500.004 Clay Jorgenson – BL Watford City, ND DB 6F0 Red Face 75 $750.00POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1 Donny Proffit – MS Diamondville, WY HL L09 Deacon 84.5 $3,000.002 Clay Jorgenson – BL Watford City, ND SA 429 Wise General 83 $2,250.003 Trevar McAllister – M Ronan, MT PK 471 Boot Barn’s Night Delta 81 $1,500.004 Colton Clemens – CR Blackfoot, ID PK 9908- Scorching Fire 80.5 $750.00ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Donny Proffit – MS Diamondville, WY2 Clay Jorgenson – BL Watford City, ND3 Colt Eck – P Redfield, KS

SADDLE BRONC RIDINGPOOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Kade Bruno – CR Challis, ID SA 979 Great Reflection 86 $3,000.002 Reed Neely – S Clovis, CA SA 602 Speak Easy 82 $2,250.003 Ira Dickinson – MS Rock Springs, WY SA 977 Range Delivery 80.5 $1,500.004 Ross Griffin – T Tularosa, NM PR -92 Miss Marvelous 80 $750.00POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1-2 Weston Patterson – P Waverly, KS DB 447 Capone 86.5 $2,625.001-2 Sage Newman – M Melstone, MT DB 014 Rip Cord 86.5 $2,625.003 Ross Griffin – T Tularosa, NM BB -502 Heart N Soul 85 $1,500.004-4 Kole Ashbacher – ML Arrowwood, AB HL 202 Fort Concho 82 $375.004-4 Eastan West – BL New Underwood, SD DB 54 Hard Drive 82 $375.00ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Kade Bruno – CR Challis, ID2 Ross Griffin – T Tularosa, NM3 Weston Patterson – P Waverly, KS

BULL RIDINGPOOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Hayden Welsh – MS Gillette, WY DB 94 Redneck Lot Lizard 84.5 $3,000.002 Cole Hill – CR Klamath Falls, OR DL 54E Carlos Danger 82.5 $2,250.003 Gavin Knutson – M Polson, MT HL 202 Mathew 79 $1,500.004 *$250 in ground money to each *POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1 Gavin Knutson – M Polson, MT BR 0199 Splitting Tens 87.5 $3,000.002 Jestyn Woodward – BL Custer, SD RM 235 Dirty D 80.5 $2,250.003 Caelan Reynolds – T Marana, AZ BB 117 Canadian Outlaw 78.5 $1,500.004 Hayden Welsh – MS Gillette, WY PK 206 Frosty 73 $750.00ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Gavin Knutson – M Polson, MT2 Hayden Welsh – MS Gillette, WY3 Cole Hill – CR Klamath Falls, OR

TIEDOWN ROPING STEER WRESTLINGPOOL A 1ST GO WINNERS POOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Luke Potter – CR Maple City, KS 8.8 $3,000.00 1 Cody Devers – P Perryton, TX 3.3 $3,000.002 Mason Stueve – P Newton, KS 9.7 $2,250.00 2 Ty Erickson – M Helena, MT 4.1 $2,250.003 Tate Talkington – MS Scottsbluff, NE 9.8 $1,500.00 3-4 Jesse Brown – CR Baker City, OR 4.5 $1,125.004 Tom Crouse – S Gallatin, MO 10.1 $750.00 3-4 Grant Peterson – S Livermore, CA 4.5 $1,125.00POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1 Tom Crouse – S Gallatin, MO 8.4 $3,000.00 1 Scott Guenthner – ML Consort, AB 3.2 $3,000.002 Logan Bird – ML Nanton, AB 9.7 $2,250.00 2 Ty Erickson – M Helena, MT 3.8 $2,250.003 Pecos Tatum – T La Plata, NM 9.8 $1,500.00 3 Grant Peterson – S Livermore, CA 4.4 $1,500.004 Mason Stueve – P Newton, KS 11.0 $750.00 4 Cody Cabral – T Hilo, HI 4.5 $750.00ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Tom Crouse – S Gallatin, MO 1 Ty Erickson – M Helena, MT2 Luke Potter – CR Maple City, KS 2 Scott Guenthner – ML Consort, AB3 Mason Stueve – P Newton, KS 3 Grant Peterson – S Livermore, CA

BREAKAWAY ROPING BARREL RACEPOOL A 1ST GO WINNERS POOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Bradi Whiteside – ML Longview, AB 2.7 $3,000.00 1 Emily Beisel – P Weatherford, OK 17.32 $3,000.002 Taylor Munsell – P Alva, OK 3.7 $2,250.00 2 Megan McLeod-Sprague – CRMarsing, ID 17.45 $2,250.003 Taylor Engesser – BL Spearfish, SD 3.8 $1,500.00 3 Molly Otto – BL Grand Forks, ND 17.86 $1,500.004 *$250 in ground money to each * 4 Hayle Gibson-Stillwell – S Redcrest, CA 17.95 $750.00POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1 Millie Greenwood – CR Caldwell, ID 2.2 $3,000.00 1 Emily Beisel – P Weatherford, OK 17.11 $3,000.002 Taya McAdow – MS Fort Lupton, CO 2.7 $2,250.00 2 Megan McLeod-Sprague – CRMarsing, ID 17.30 $2,250.003-4 Taylor Engesser – BL Spearfish, SD 3.6 $1,125.00 3 Hayle Gibson-Stillwell – S Redcrest, CA 17.79 $1,500.003-4 Taylor Munsell – P Alva, OK 3.6 $1,125.00 4 Taylor Gardner – M Purple Springs, AB 17.86 $750.00ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Taylor Munsell – P Alva, OK 1 Emily Beisel – P Weatherford, OK2 Taylor Engesser – BL Spearfish, SD 2 Megan McLeod-Sprague – CRMarsing, ID3 Millie Greenwood – CR Caldwell, ID 3 Hayle Gibson-Stillwell – S Redcrest, CA

TEAM ROPINGPOOL A 1ST GO WINNERS1 Cole Eiguren – CR Fruitland, ID & Breck Ward – CR Jerome, ID 6.0 $3,000.002-3 Bubba Buckaloo – P Kingston, OK & Joseph Harrison – PMarietta, OK 6.3 $1,875.002-3 Logan Olson – BL Flandreau, SD & Jade Nelson – BL Midland, SD 6.3 $1,875.004-4 Blake Hirdes – S Turlock, CA & Jake Edwards – S Fort Ann, NY 10.6 $375.004-4 Garrett Tonozzi – MS Lampasas, TX & Trey Yates – MS Pueblo, CO 10.6 $375.00POOL A 2ND GO WINNERS1 Dillon Johnson – M Belt, MT & Colten Fisher – M Shepherd, MT 5.6 $3,000.002 Garrett Tonozzi – MS Lampasas, TX & Trey Yates – MS Pueblo, CO 5.7 $2,250.003 Cole Eiguren – CR Fruitland, ID & Breck Ward – CR Jerome, ID 6.1 $1,500.004 Bubba Buckaloo – P Kingston, OK & Joseph Harrison – PMarietta, OK 6.4 $750.00ADVANCING TO FINAL ROUND1 Cole Eiguren – CR Fruitland, ID & Breck Ward – CR Jerome, ID2 Bubba Buckaloo – P Kingston, OK & Joseph Harrison – PMarietta, OK3 Garrett Tonozzi – MS Lampasas, TX & Trey Yates – MS Pueblo, CO

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Rob Namnoum

The Tri-Lakes Little League 12u softball team is as close knit a group you’ll see on the diamond, “So I think just being able to get along and like knowing each other and knowing how to play together has just helped us a lot,” says Giuliana Vaughn.

And they know the winning formula. “Just like focus, like one inning at a time when pitch at a time, when out at a time,” says Alexa Flores.

It’s now four straight state titles for the team where after their most recent win, will head to California to try and win and advance to the Little League World Series, “It’s, it got a little bit harder at state. And so we just try to ramp up our practices to match the competition that we’re going to be facing,” says Head Coach Toni Vaughn.

For Gulianna Vaughn, she’s been to this tournament four times as both a player and spectator. Her advice, “You can’t think about how much bigger everything is and you just got to think about having fun and just playing through it.”

For Alexa Flores, it’ll be her first time and while there can be added pressure, she says her and the team pray before every game to help calm their nerves, “I’m not alone in this and knowing that, like, I have Christ with me and, like, just me having faith,” says Flores.

As for the experience of the west regional, it’s almost a fairytale, “The first thing that comes to mind is being treated like queens,” says Coach Vaughn.

The games will be broadcast on ESPN.

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