Saturday, June 28, 2008

Salvo is tie-down champion

Nat Holland El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

Horse Springs roper Johnny Salvo is sitting at the top of his game. Salvo, who rides with the New Mexico State University rodeo team, is the College National Finals Rodeo champion in tie-down roping, after a series of top performances last week in Casper, Wyo.

"I didn't really try to win it, just tried to have good runs," Salvo said. "It didn't feel too much different from high school. I'm just a freshman, but I didn't really feel like I was an underdog or anything."

The top three ropers in each division qualify to compete in the finals, and Salvo has competed against most of them in previous rodeos.

Salvo is currently competing in various rodeos around New Mexico, and plans work his way eventually towards competing in the National Finals Rodeo.

"That's the toughest one to get into," Salvo said. "That is where everyone's sights are eventually."

After a year with the NMSU team, Salvo has adapted to life away from home.

"It's harder in the fact that you're not with your family anymore. You have to set up your own practices," Salvo said. "One of the best things about it is that it's nice to accomplish stuff on your own."

The NMSU rodeo team, coached by Jim Dewey Brown, doesn't practice together, according to Salvo, but everyone pulls for each other at the rodeos.

The credit for his win isn't his own, said Salvo. "Anytime I win I want to give the glory to God because that's where it comes from."

nholland@dchieftain.com

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