The regular 2024-2025 Jr/High School Rodeo season has come to a close and the athletes are now turning their focus to the State Finals. The team attended the Humboldt Rodeo on May 2-4 and the Wells Rodeo on May 9-11, the final two season rodeos.
Cameron Ashworth doing work in the pole bending event.
The team’s season began in August of 2024 and has run a span of ten months, breaking for December and January. So much work, effort, energy, and resources are put forth in competing in a season of High School Rodeo. Every rodeo provides an opportunity to gain points. The top nine rodeo points for each contestant can be carried into state, maxing out at 275 points and 105 additional points are available at state. The top four seated in each event at the conclusion of the State Finals will advance to the National Finals; Rock Springs, Wyoming for the High School and Des Moines, Iowa for the Jr High.
Cameron Ashworth attended the Wells Rodeo. The first go in the pole bending, she made a clean, smooth run, placing 12th. Second go brought some trouble on the run and she received a penalty, landing her 21st in the go and 16th in the average. Cameron made two nice, clean runs through the barrel pattern as well. The barrel racing competition has been salty and heating up as state finals approach. Cameron placed 27th first go, 29th second go and 23rd in the average. Cameron enters the state finals 39th in the pole bending standings.
Sawyer Bliss attended the Humboldt and Wells Rodeos. In the first go at Humboldt, he struggled to get his tie down calf and his team roping steer caught and received a no time in both of those events in the go. Second go he was able to put both his runs together and placed 8th in the tie down for 11th in the average, and he placed 5th in the team roping in the go and 10th in the average. He also competed in the trap shoot in Humboldt, placing 8th overall. In Wells, his weekend started with a bang, placing 3rd in the trap shoot, his highest showing all year, but his mojo ran thin heading into his rodeo events. He was not able to rope either of his tie down roping calves and, collectively, he and his partner were not able to mark a time in the team roping either. We hope for a change in pace as he heads to the State finals next week. Sawyer is entering the finals in 8th place overall in trap, 11th in team roping and, 17th in the tie down roping.
Charlee Mangum attended the Humboldt Rodeo. The first go in the pole bending was calm and collected, placing 32nd in the go. She had a little trouble completing the pattern in the second go and received a no time, for 35th in the average. The first go in the barrel racing had some trouble, but the second go came together well, placing her 37th in the go and 42nd in the average. Charlee has decided not to attend the State Finals this year, but we will see her back in action for the 2025-2026 Rodeo season.
Stetson Noyes attended the Humboldt and Wells Rodeos to compete in the light rifle and trap shooting events. At the Humboldt rodeo, he placed 12th in the trap shoot and 10th in the light rifle. In Wells, he shot for 7th in the light rifle and 11th in trap. Stetson has decided not to attend the State Finals, but will be attending the 2025-2026 rodeo season.
Heston Rimington suffered a broken arm at the Fallon Rodeo and has been taking a little time off. He will not be riding bulls at state, but he will be team roping. Heston enters the finals 30th in the state.
Brooklynn Sena attended both the Humboldt Rodeo and the Wells Rodeo. In Humboldt, Brooklynn had some trouble getting her calves caught in the breakaway both gos, but she made up for it in the goat tying. She tied smooth and quick first go, placing 3rd. Second go she remained consistent and placed 4th for 2nd in the average. She had a couple penalties in the pole bending both gos, placing 25th first go, 18th second go and 21st in the average. She smoked a run first go in the barrel racing, winning the round, but she had some trouble on the run second go, tipping a barrel for a five second penalty and 32nd in the round, 23rd in the average. In Wells, she decided to take a break from pole bending where she will be entering the finals 12th in the state. She continued the dry spell in breakaway, seated 36th in the state, and wasn’t able to land either of her loops. First go in the goat tying she placed 7th. She had a couple bobbles in the second go taking her a little long and placing 19th in the go for 15th in the average and entering the finals 10th in the state. She made two solid and consistent runs in the barrel racing, placing 2nd first go, winning second go and 2nd in the average. She enters the finals 5th in the state. She’ll be making a big push for one of those top four spots to nationals; only 30 points separate 1st from 5th in the barrel racing.
McCrae Melendez attended the Wells Rodeo representing the jr high team. He wasn’t able to get either of his tough chute dogging steers turned and took a no time both gos. In the boys goat tying, he placed 9th first go, 12th second go and 11th in the average, seating him 17th in the state for finals. They made two good runs in the team roping, but couldn’t get either steer stretched for a time. In the boys breakaway, he made a nice catch first go, placing 6th. He didn’t quite get it to fit second go and received a no time and 9th in the average. He is 15th in the state going into the finals.
Hayze Melendez also attended the Wells Rodeo to represent the jr high team. Hayze had a hard time getting his breakaway calves and his team roping steers caught either go. It’s been a building and learning year. We know with a little more time and practice, we will see his name climbing the standings.
Austin Rimington will also be attending the State Finals in the light rifle shoot. Austin is currently 8th in the state as he enters the finals.
We want to wish the team the very best of luck heading to the state finals this week. We hope the hard work and effort pays off as you chase your dreams and build the best version of yourselves. Safe travels!
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