ProRodeo Sports News - March 3, 2023

COWBOY GRILLE WITH TANNER BARTH

How’d you get your start in rodeo? Trisyn: I had an uncle that used to ranch, but my family wasn’t very big into horses. So, I hung out with him for a few weeks and rode some horses. He basically just told me I was going to enter my first rodeo. I think I was maybe seven years old at the time. It just grew from there. When did you know you could make a career out of rodeo? Trisyn: Growing up in Hawaii all we really had were seven main rodeos and high school rodeos on the Big Island. Up until sixth grade I never knew there could be a chance for me to come to the mainland and rodeo. As I got older and in high school, I got more serious about it and made it a goal. I knew I wasn’t going to get anywhere rodeoing on the island. If I wanted to rodeo, I needed to come to the mainland. Why did you decide steer wrestling would be your event? Trisyn: I actually hated steer wrestling in high school. In Hawaii, there were a lot of team ropers and calf ropers, but there were very few steer wrestlers. I learned to steer wrestle by just jumping off the horse. Cody Cabral, who’s from my hometown, made the NFR in 2016. Our families are pretty close, and I knew him growing up. He would come back when he didn’t make the Finals. We would get together and practice and I started getting into it. Did you do any other rodeo events growing up? Trisyn Kalawaia, 20, is beginning to make his name known in the ProRodeo ranks. Most recently, he finished second at Rodeo Grand Island (Neb.) with a 4.2-second run, Feb. 25. The Keaau, Hawaii, steer wrestler is sitting second in the run ning for the Resistol Rookie of the Year with $6,970 earned so far in 2023. Kalawaia currently attends school at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva.

TRISYN KALAWAIA

Trisyn: In high school rodeo I did pretty much every event there was. I tried to ride bareback horses, I tried to ride bulls, it didn’t go great. When I came to college, I decided on just team roping and steer wrestling. I’ve grown out of team roping a bit. What’s one rodeo you want to win in your career? Trisyn: RodeoHouston is one of the rodeos that I would really like to win someday. It’s a big stage and you always hear stories about it from guys I look up to. It’s definitely one I want to qualify for and win. Why did you decide to get your PRCA card this season? Trisyn: This is my second year having my PRCA membership, last year I had my permit. I go to school right now at Northwestern Oklahoma State and was talking to Jacob Edler, who went there. I asked him if I should buy my card. He told me to go for it, but don’t focus on (Resistol) Rookie of the Year, look past it. He said if you make the NFR, the rookie award will take care of itself. Who is someone you look up to in the rodeo business right now? Trisyn: There’s a lot of guys that have helped me out. Cody Cabral, KC Jones, Jacob (Edler), and my coach Stockton (Graves). Who, I look up to the most would probably be Stockton because he’s been there, done that. He pushes me to be better every day and it inspires me to be like him. What’s your favorite movie? Trisyn: My favorite movie would probably have to be the Lone Survivor . What’s your go to restaurant before or after a rodeo? Trisyn: That would definitely be Raising Cane’s. There isn’t much in Alva (Okla.). So, when we go to rodeos, I enjoy eating there. What’s the first vehicle you drove? Trisyn: I drove a 1999 Ford F-150. I don’t even know where that vehicle is now. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not rodeoing? Trisyn: I’m not very good at it, but I do enjoy golf. I also really enjoy shoeing horses as well. What’s your favorite holiday? Trisyn: Christmas is probably my favorite holiday because I get to actually go home to Hawaii. What is your favorite sports team? Trisyn: I’m a Denver Broncos fan. We’ve had some rough years, but I keep telling all my friends we are going to win next year.

ProRodeo Sports News 3/3/2023

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