Moapa Valley Rodeo concludes fall season

The Moapa Valley Jr/High School Rodeo was held November 17-19 in Logandale, Nevada. This rodeo concluded the fall rodeo season. White Pine’s attendance was a little lower than normal for varying reasons, but ten of the sixteen members did arrive and compete well. Each rodeo the athletes are awarded points (along with cash, prizes, etc) for all top ten placings: 10 points for 1st and so on. Their accumulation of these points ranks them in the state standings. So, heading into the winter break, our athletes want to have the best foothold they can for the spring start up.

The high school team made up six of the ten members in attendance. Cameron Ashworth has spent the fall season putting a new horse to work and ironing out the kinks. She has been rapidly making improvements and will be coming back strong in the spring. In the barrel racing, Cameron was 45th first go, 28th second go and 40th in the average, pole bending she was 16th first go, 21st second go and 17th in the average, and in goat tying she was 23rd first go, 20th second go and 22nd in the average. We are excited for more growth this spring.

Charlie Mangum had some growing pains and lost some of the ground she had been gaining with her horse through the fall season. She struggled to post any qualified runs in barrels but was able to get on the board in the second go of pole bending, placing 32nd for 34th in the average. Charlie has had her share of hard knocks and has taken them in stride, learning from each run and improving her skills.

Heston Rimington tried his hand at the exceptionally tough stock. He was not able to make a qualified ride either go, but to be fair, none of the bull riders did. The bulls maintained a perfect score against the cowboys this time, but the winter break will provide time to tune up and come back prepared for the next round. Heston is currently sitting 7th in the state.

Travis Rimington took a real hard hit in the first go, leaving him with a concussion and having to turn out his bull for the second go. The last couple pens of bulls have been challenging to say the least. Travis heads into the break sitting 6th in the state standings. We wish Travis well as he continues to mend and we know he will be up for the challenge again come spring.

Brooklynn Sena made some huge gains with her barrel horse this rodeo, leaving her hungry and motivated for the next run. She was 21st first go, 11th second go, for 12th in the average. She wasn’t able to get a loop on in the breakaway roping first go, but she got it done the second go for 17th and 21st in the average. Consistency was key in the goat tying, she was 9th first go, 9th second go and 9th in the average putting her 16th in the state heading into winter break. Team roping left them empty handed both go’s, but still sitting 16th in the state.

Jenna Wines finished her season with some nice, smooth, confidence-building runs. Jenna never lacks a smile when she leaves the arena, even if she didn’t have the run she planned. She placed 33rd in the first go in barrels and 30th in the second go for 25th in the average. She had a good first go in poles, placing 25th but had a couple down poles and a wayward step that left her with a no time in the second go, placing her 33rd in the average.

The junior high team had a strong finish with nearly all their placings in the top ten. Sawyer Bliss and his team roping partner Henry, stayed consistent both go’s, placing 3rd but that was good enough to make them the average champions, earning them the buckles for the weekend, and putting them 3rd in the state standings. He was also very consistent in the goat tying which is admittedly his most difficult event. He placed 5th both go’s for a personal best placing of 2nd in the average and 7th in the state. Breakaway roping and ribbon roping were a bit tougher. He and his partner Taylor, were 7th first go in ribbon roping but didn’t get one caught second go for 8th in the average, sitting them 3rd in the state. Breakaway left him with an empty loop first go but 6th in the 2nd go for 8th in the average and 5th in the state heading into the much-needed break.

Lia Lawson keeps the crowd smiling when she runs with her vocal riding style and her expressed joy for the sport. She had some very consistent pole bending runs, placing 10th the first go and 7th the second go for 9th in the average, giving her points each round and in the average. She is currently 18th in the state in pole bending. She kept those consistent runs going in barrels, running 14th first go, 14th second go for 11th in the average and so very close to getting her first barrel racing points of the season. We know we will see those barrel points come in this spring.

Asher Perkins is fresh off the injury list and drew some tough stock. Even though he wasn’t able to cover his bull either of the go’s, he maintains such a big try, and the 3rd place spot in the state. We know this break will give him a full recoup and he will come out stronger than ever this spring.

Kiala Reynolds had successful performance runs both go’s in every event. She has put together top ten barrel runs all season long and it shows in her number two seat in the state. This rodeo was no different. She was 9th in the first go, 3rd in the second go and 6th in the average. In pole bending she was 7th first go, 13th second go and 10th in the average for a 13th place seat in the state. She caught both her calves in breakaway, 7th first go, 8th second go and 5th in the average for 10th in the state. She will be coming for that number one spot come spring. The race to the finish will be exciting.

We hope the winter break brings these competitors some much needed rest and recharges their drive going into the spring season, which is right around the corner, February 16th, 2024. We have an extremely talented group of rodeo athletes in our community, and they represent us very well when they travel; both in behavior and in their competitive proficiency. We are proud of this accomplished and enduring group! Best of luck this spring and enjoy your break.