The weather at the Montana State High School Rodeo Finals was not the best but that didn’t stop a few cowgirls from the valley from reaching their goal of moving on to the National High School Rodeo Finals. The National High School Finals will be held in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 15-21st. The top four finishers in each event can move on to that rodeo. For the contestants who placed fifth through 15th, they can compete at the Silver State Rodeo in Winnemucca, Nevada, July 2-7th.
The scoring to determine who advances is somewhat complicated. Throughout the rodeo season, which began last August, points are accrued at each rodeo, depending upon where the contestant finishes. The goal is to reach 70 points in an event before the state rodeo. Those points come into the state finals with the contestant. Then, at the state rodeo, more points are earned depending upon where the contestant places in each go around and in the average.
Victor’s Ryanne Tracy was trailing her sister, Raegan, when they began the goat-tying event. However consistent runs of 8.77, 8.25, and 9.04 seconds gave the sophomore the championship. Raegan’s runs were just a big slower and she finished in third place. Ryanne Tracy also finished second in the breakaway roping.
Raegan Tracy finished third in the cow cutting competition. She was seventh in the breakaway and 15th in the barrel racing.
Corvallis’ Kelsey Trexler, who also attends Victor School, finished third in the barrel racing and third in the breakaway. She was tied for 15th in the pole bending as well.
McKayla McNamara of Stevensville finished second in the pole bending. Her times of 21.91, 21.83 and 21.58, gave her a one point lead over third place.
Those who qualified for the Silver State Rodeo are Jill Harris of Florence in cow cutting and Shelby Robinson of Stevensville in pole bending and barrels.
