Moapa Rodeo Recap

The Moapa jr/high school rodeo was held November 15th-17th in Logandale, Nevada. The Moapa rodeo wraps up the fall rodeo season and sends everyone off to winter break. The athletes will be back at it in mid-February. Both the junior high and high school teams were represented in Moapa. It’s always great to have White Pine in the thick of things in both divisions.

In the high school division: Sawyer Bliss struggled to catch his tie down calf in both gos. not how he wanted to end the fall season, but we learn from these outcomes just the same. He and his partner, Leeah, caught the first go in team roping, but were long, placing 14th. Second go was a little rougher. The steer ducked under Sawyer, causing a missed first loop. This is the first loop he has missed all season, making him 11/12 this year. Leeah attempted to take the next head shot, but she also came up empty, pushing them to 20th in the average. Charlee Mangum had another hard knock in the barrel racing first go. Her horse had a plan that differed from hers and they received a no time. They were on the same page in the second go and despite taking down the 3rd barrel for a five second penalty, they received a qualified time, placing 36th in the go and putting them 40th in the average. Heston Rimington continued his dry spell in the bull riding, receiving a no score both gos, but the second go ride was so close even the crowd held their breath waiting for a possible score to roll in. In the team roping, they couldn’t get one stretched for a time, but they rallied for second go, placing 6th in the go and they were able to hold onto points in the average, placing 10th. Brooklynn Sena has been struggling to get her breakaway runs to come together and unfortunately, this weekend yielded the same results. It’s perfect timing to get a much-needed reset and regroup for the spring rodeos. Her goat tying runs were both on point, placing in the points both gos and in the average. She placed 8th first go, picked it up a bit second go, placing 5th and 4th in the average. She ran a solid pole bending pattern first go, placing 6th, but second go brought down a pole for a penalty, placing them 19th and 12th in the average. She made two smooth and consistent runs in the barrel racing. She placed 4th first go and 5th second go, putting them 4th in the average and gaining several points before winter break.

McCrea Melendez was our only junior high school contestant to compete, but he showed gains and put White Pine on the boards. In the team roping, they made a great effort in both gos, but they couldn’t get them caught. He had similar luck in the chute dogging, made two good tries, but just wasn’t able to get either steer turned for a time. The winter break will bring some growth and some strength. McCrae was able to turn things around in the goat tying. He placed 9th in the first go, had a tough fighting goat second go, but was able to still place 10th in the average and quadrupled his season points.

As the team settles into winter break, it gives time to reflect on the gains, make plans to adjust the shortcomings, and get some of the motivation back that has been spent over the last four months. The break allows for growth, healing of injuries, improvement of their mental game, and weeding out what is important moving forward. We wish this team the clarity and focus to do this and return in February with the fire that we are used to seeing from them. See you in February White Pine!