Deskovick wins steer wrestling in San Dimas

By Joe Naiman

Professional rodeo cowboy and Ramona businessman Matt Deskovick won the steer wrestling buckle with his first-place time of 4.1 seconds at the Western Days Rodeo in San Dimas.

“I had a very good steer,” he said of Booger Red.

Although Deskovick’s payout of $1,090 will count toward his earnings in the season standings, a steer wrestler traditionally gives 25 percent of his winnings to the hazer who guides the steer. Deskovick’s hazer was Utah cowboy Brock Andrus.

“Brock did good,” said Deskovick, owner of Catt Farm & Ranch Supply.

Deskovick, Booger Red’s owner, ended up with 25 percent of Romoland cowboy Arnold Laskey’s $818 second-place earnings after Laskey used the horse for his 4.8 second run. Deskovick’s run was after Laskey’s, so Deskovick knew what time he had to beat and focused on making a clean run. “I knew he was a good steer,” Deskovick said.

Not only did Deskovick avoid a 10-second penalty for a broken barrier, but he left the chute fast enough to keep up with the steer.

Not everything went perfectly for Deskovick. He competed with some back pain, as he hurt his back the day before when he was adjusting his trailer. The pain was worse that day than during Deskovick’s rodeo performance.

The 2014 rodeo season began with the previous weekend’s rodeos. Deskovick’s sixth-place time of 6.4 seconds at the Sheriff’s Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo in San Bernardino was worth $304 in earnings, so his San Dimas winnings brought his season total to $1,394.