Deskovick places 2nd in steer wrestling at Lakeside

Ramona steer wrestler Matt Deskovick placed second at the Lakeside Rodeo.

Deskovick, a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association competitor, suffered an injury the day before last year’s Ramona Rodeo, preventing him from competing in his hometown rodeo and subsequent 2015 rodeos.

He returned to the rodeo circuit at this year’s Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo April 9 and 10, and he competed in the slack sessions of the Clovis Rodeo April 20 and 21 but did not place.

In each evening performance of the Lakeside Rodeo April 22 and 23, he posted runs of 6.9 seconds to place second in the first go-round and second in the average (aggregate).

“It was good,” Deskovick said.

Deskovick rode Booger Ed for both of his runs. The hazer who guides the steer was Blaine Jones of Templeton on April 22 and Roy Branco of Chowchilla the next night. Both hazers used Deskovick’s hazing horse Coffee.

The Lakeside Rodeo was the competitive debut for many of the steers.

“It was hard to get steers caught, hard to get them down,” Deskovick said. “It’s hard to catch new steers.”

One reason new steers are difficult to catch and turn over is that they are not used to such activities. Cowboys also give each other tips about stock, and none of the other steer wrestlers were able to provide any advice.

“Didn’t really know much about them and they weren’t broke in very good,” Deskovick said.

After Deskovick caught his first steer, the process of turning over the animal became complicated when its back leg was caught underneath its body.

“It took a little time,” Deskovick said. “It probably cost me at least close to two seconds.”

Deskovick still had the second-fastest time of the performance. Miles Switzer of Morro Bay caught and turned over his steer in 6.1 seconds. Those two times would hold up as the top two times for the remainder of the first go-round.

The night of April 22 also involved a sleepover party at the Deskovick house. His daughter Madison’s 11th birthday was April 16, but the sleepover coincided with his first run at Lakeside.

“She wanted all of her friends to go with her,” Deskovick said. “We cut it off at four. That’s plenty for a sleepover.”

The steer Deskovick drew for his second run was the same one Jones drew in the first go-round. That steer ran Jones to the other end of the arena.

“I wasn’t looking forward to him,” Deskovick said.

Deskovick was still able to take over the average lead, but in the final performance of the April 22-24 rodeo Montana cowboy Ross Mosher had a run of 4.9 seconds for an average of 12.5 seconds.

“That kid drew a pretty good steer and made a pretty good run,” said Deskovick, who attended the April 24 performance.

The 13.8-second average held up for second place.

“It’s always nice to win, but second’s better than nothing,” Deskovick said.

His time in the second go-round placed fifth, one spot away from placing high enough for a payout.

Deskovick will spend part of this weekend at the San Gorgonio Pass Pro Rodeo in Banning and is scheduled to compete at the Bakersfield and Woodlake rodeos the following week. He also plans to participate in the May 13-15 Helldorado Days Rodeo in Las Vegas before staying in town for the May 20-22 Ramona Rodeo.