Brotherly love in Othello

Walla Walla brothers take top two spots in steer wrestling

Getting beat by his younger brother didn't seem to mind B.J. Taruscio too much.

With the final night of competition at the Othello Rodeo full swing Saturday night, Taruscio broke through the barrier and wrestled his steer to the ground in a time of 5.3 seconds, moving him to the top of the board in a crowd of cowboys grabbing for air and hitting dirt or scoring penalty after penalty in the steer wrestling competition.

It looked like it was going to be a good payday for Taruscio, until his little brother Travis jumped on his horse. The chute opened, the steer bolted forward and Travis timed his ride just right, flying from his horse and pulling the steer to the ground in a time of 4.0 seconds.

"I definitely knew I didn't want to break the barrier and that was definitely on my mind," Travis Taruscio, a Walla Walla native, said. "I watched what the other guys were doing to judge how far out I should let the steer go."

B.J. was left settling for second place.

"It's alright. At least it was my brother and that is alright," B.J. said.

B.J. got Travis started in the sport and both have relied on the other to stay fresh and interested in a sport that seems to take more than it gives.

B.J. added that Travis has gotten the better of the brothers rivalry this year, but Travis added that the two practiced together to keep the rivalry alive. But when it is rodeo time, the gloves come off as the two try and put up the top position.

Fortunately for Travis, he got to go last knowing the time his brother had left for him to beat.

"It always feels good to win and I just wanted to win something," Travis said. "I was just trying to do everything right and not make any mistakes. I knew I had a good steer and wanted to give it a go."

Othello Rodeo results:

Bull Riding

1. Shawn Waite (87) $768.24

2. Dwayne Hargo (83) 576.18

3. Marcus Michaelis (82) 384.12

4. Buck Gramps (66) 192.06

Team Roping

1. Turtle Powell/Menty Joe Petska (4.7) $883.28

2. Blaine Linaweaver/B.J. Campbell (5.2) 730.99

3. Jake Stanley/Ryan Stewart (6.1) 578.70

4. Howdy McGain/Casey Deal (6.3) 426.41

Saddle Bronc

1. Johnny Hammack (83) $587.82

1. Stormy Sagers (83) 587.82

1. Sam MacKenzie (83) 587.82

4. Randy Jones (81) 195.94

Ty Down Roping

1. Seth Hopper (9.5) $1,067.00

2. Jerome Schneelberger (9.8) 800.25

3. Brian West (9.9) 533.50

4. Johnny Sloan (10.1) 266.75

Bareback Riding

1. Larry Sandvick (82) $675.12

2. Clint Corey (80) 506.34

3. Cody Demers (77) 253.17

3. Jason Havens (77) 253.17

Steer Wrestling

1. Travis Taruscio (4.0) $853.60

2. B.J. Taruscio (5.3) 640.20

3. Buster Barton (5.5) 426.80

4. Tommy Cook (5.8) 213.40

Steer Roping

1. Scott Snedecor (19.6) $947.04

2. Will Yoakum (20.3) 783.76

3. Blake Laver (22.0) 620.48

4. Trevor Brazile (22.4) 457.19

Barrel Racing

1. Katy Bremner (17.12) $650.26

2. Pamela Capper (17.34) 565.44

3. Kate Waetje (17.35) 438.21

3. Maureen Crossley (17.35) 438.21552