Welcome to Los Alamos — America’s World Championship town.

The sign on Highway 101 could say this. It doesn’t, but it could.

While Santa Maria — Santa Barbara County’s largest city — can claim it’s an All-American city, Los Alamos — one of the county’s smallest population centers — can easily make the claim that it’s America’s World Championship town.

It now has two reigning world champs — Luke Branquinho and Clay Tawzer.

Branquinho is the more well known of the two. He’s recently returned from Las Vegas after winning his second world steer wrestling championship at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) held at the Thomas & Mack Center in the middle of December.

Tawzer is becoming more well known every day. He was also in Las Vegas recently where he brought home his first world championship in weightlifting at the World Powerlifting Championships held at the Riviera Hotel in mid-November.

More than 300 people came out to honor their world champions Monday afternoon.

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The Los Alamos Men’s Club was overflowing with people who wanted to congratulate these two young men on their achievements.

“For a little town like this to have two world champions is great,” said Shorty Rantz, the President of the Men’s Club. “Luke has now won two world steer wrestling championships (his first was in 2004) and Clay won his first world title last month, too, so we decided to throw this party to honor them.”

“There are people here today from all over the area,” said Luke Branquinho’s father John. “There are a lot of people here from Los Alamos but there are plenty of people who came in from Santa Ynez, Buellton, Santa Maria and Nipomo — really from all over the Central Coast.”

“This is all very exciting,” said Brandy Branquinho — Luke’s mother. “The outpouring of love from the community — family, friends and fans — is just so amazing. This shows just how close-knit our community really is. It’s just so great. We can’t thank the Men’s Club enough for putting this party together.”

The party included a free lunch — tri-tip with all the fixings — for everyone who stopped by. It was heavy on friendship and light on speeches.

“Luke, you did a great job winning your second world championship. Clay, congratulations on winning your championship and I’d like to thank all of you for coming out today to honor these two fine young men,” was Shorty Rantz’s entire speech to the crowd.

“I’d like to thank all of you for coming out today. Without the support of all you great people — all of you who have watched me grow up and cheer for me when I compete — I couldn’t do it,” said Branquinho in his speech to the crowd.

Clay Tawzer didn’t speak but his father Ken — himself a champion weightlifter — did take a minute to speak to the crowd.

“Can you imagine tiny, little Los Alamos having two world champions?” he asked the crowd. “Congratulations Luke on your championship. When I was watching you on TV (at the NFR), I was jumping out of my seat, yelling ‘go Luke, go Luke.’ And Clay winning the world championship — well, his mother (Mary Rubcic-Tawzer, another champion in this family of weightlifting champions) and I are just so proud of him. Thanks to the Men’s Club for putting this party on today.”

That was it for the speeches. They didn’t take much time. That did leave lots of time for Branquinho and Tawzer to mix with the crowd. That’s where the real talking was done as both young men took the time to speak personally with everyone who stopped by.

“We just wanted to come out to congratulate Luke. He’s done an outstanding job,” said Marvin Teixeira, the Arena Director of the annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo.

“It’s nice that the Elks Rodeo helped get a start to Luke’s rodeo life,” said the Elks’ other Arena Director Norm MacDonald. “He’s participated in our rodeo since he began his professional career. We’re proud to be a part of his life.”

Luke Branquinho will be back on the road again in the near future. “I’m going to Denver in about 10 days for the opening rodeo of the 2009 season,” he said. But he’s getting back to Los Alamos more often these days to spend time with his wife Lindsay and young son Cade. And he’ll definitely be back the first weekend in June for the 66th annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade.

“Any time I can get back home, I do,” said Branquinho. “And the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo is the only time I can get back home, do what I love and compete in front of my family and friends. I wouldn’t miss it.”

You don’t have to miss it either. The 66th edition of the Elks Rodeo runs from June 4-7.

January 6, 2009