Past national champs take top spots in California roadeo
Antonio Perez of San Dieguito Union High School District, a winner at the national level last year, places first at this year's California state school bus driver competition. Brent Carman, who has won national championships multiple times, places third.
GALT, Calif. — There were some familiar names among the top contestants at the recent California State Championship School Bus Roadeo here.
Two of the top three drivers in the general category have won national school bus championships in past years.
Coming in first at the California roadeo, held on May 26, was Antonio Perez of San Dieguito Union High School District in Encinitas, who was a winner at the national level last year in the transit category.
Eric Denton of San Diego Unified School District placed second at the California competition.
Coming in third was Brent Carman of Morgan Hill Unified School District, who has won national championships multiple times.
The top competitors move on to the 43rd Annual School Bus Driver International Safety Competition, to be held July 20-21 in Tulsa, Okla.
In the special-needs category at the California roadeo, there was a tie for first between Robelyn Watson of San Diego Unified School District and Phillip Cervantes of First Student's Fresno location.
The top competitors from the special-needs category move on to the 2014 National Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo, to be held in Nashville, Tenn., from Feb. 28 to March 2.
The first place team at the California event was Shirlee Olsen, Douglas Smith and Shannon Bourassa of Snowline Joint Unified School District in Phelan.
The California roadeo consists of eight driving events and a written test. Competitors must first qualify at one of two regional roadeos.
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