TEAM ROPING EVENT HONORS MEMORY OF MARANA ROPER MIKE CERVI JR.

The rodeo community suffered a great loss in September 2001 when 30-year old pro roper Mike Cervi Jr. perished in a private plane crash in Marshfield, Wis. Cervi’s wife Sherry, with the help of her father Mel Potter and Tucson roper George Aros, created the Mike Cervi Jr. Memorial Team Roping. Sherry Cervi is a two-time world champion barrel racer and Potter is an agricultural businessman and former professional cowboy. Cervi Jr. had relocated to Marana, Ariz., home of his wife Sherry and her family.

The annual jackpot team roping has been held during rodeo week since the early 80s. The event was previously named the Aros Roping Classic and the Tubac Championship Roping. Aros quickly agreed to change the event name when Sherry Cervi expressed her intent to establish an event in her husband’s honor.

Contestants entered in the Tucson Rodeo typically enter this non-sanctioned team roping event with their eyes on winning thousands of dollars. In 2007, the team roping paid over $43,000 to the winning pair, and raised $10,000 for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.

Cervi’s rodeo roots began at birth. Mike Cervi Sr. is a prominent rodeo producer and stock contractor based in Colorado. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) named Cervi Sr. stock contractor of the year in 2002.

Cervi grew up in California with his mother DeAnne Garibaldi and spent summers at his father’s ranches in Colorado. He attended college at Sacramento State University on a football scholarship. He played quarterback. But Cervi opted for a cowboy career and earned his PRCA membership in 1994. Cervi’s best year as a pro was in 1999 when he just missed the top-15 cut for the National Finals Rodeo, finishing number 16 on the money list. At the time of his death, Cervi was leading the heading standings in the Great Lakes Circuit. In addition to rodeo, Cervi was also active learning the ins and outs of the business world from his father-in-law, Mel Potter.

The Mike Cervi Jr. Memorial Team Roping is Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. The event begins at 11 a.m. Admission is $10 for adults; children 12 and under and school groups are free. Tickets are available at the gate only.