THSRA News -- Region IX February Rodeo Update

RIGHT: Buffalo High School cowboy Austin Courmier, bull doggin' at Crockett's Porth Arena, has racked up five 1st place finishes in the event for a solid lead in the THSRA Region IX competition. Area high school rodeo athletes were plenty busy in February with three THSRA rodeo competitions: Rodeo #8 in Crockett on 2-01, #9 in Liberty on 2-15 and #10 in Crockett on 2-22-09. As their season winds down, several Leon County kids have risen to the top 'o the heap in their respective events.

In BARREL RACING, Oakwood High School's Cydney Kessler turned in her best performance of the season at Rodeo #8. Her 15.946 was good for 4th place in the very competitive event. OHS senior Kendel Robinson has been a very consistent competitor and she finished in the Top Ten twice in February1. At Rodeo #8 Robinson took 5th in a time of 15.954, and she followed that up with a 16.206 good for 8th at Rodeo #10.

Centerville cowgirl Callie Padgett is the current event leader in GOAT TYING. She has been very consistent all season, never finishing out of the Top Five. In February Callie added a 1st (with her season-best time of 7.520), a 2nd (8.280), and a 5th place finish (9.650).

Padgett has also come into her own in BREAKAWAY ROPING here at the end of the season. At Rodeo #9 Callie took 4th with a 4.260 catch, and followed up with a blistering 3.94 at Rodeo #10, earning 3rd place.

Cydney Kessler and Kendel Robinson were back in the money in POLE BENDING at Rodeo #8. Kessler's season best time of 20.814 was good for 5th, and Robinson's 21.270 earned 7th place.

A couple of TEAM ROPING duos from our area found their way into the Top Ten at Rodeos #9 and #10. In Liberty, BHS classmates Austin Rayborn and Austin Courmier teamed up for a 14.570 catch good for 7th place. Buffalo's Jonathan Hollister and Jeff Fryer of Fairfield took 8th place in 19.780. At Crockett last weekend, Austin 'n Austin took 5th in 14.710, and Jonathan and Jeff were 10th with a catch of 23.150.

Local cowboys continue to dominate in Region IX CALF ROPING. Buffalo's Chip Brandes has consistently been finishing in the Top Ten and cemented his position as the event leader with a 5th place finish (12.120) at Rodeo #8 and a 3rd (13.960) at Rodeo #9. Centerville's Colten Sullivan is hot on his heels, however. Sullivan took 1st at Rodeo #8 (10.680), 7th at Rodeo #9 (14.770) and another 1st at Rodeo #10 (10.230). With that streak, Sullivan has moved into 2nd place in the event for the season. Finally, BHS freshman Austin Courmier took 2nd at Rodeo #8 with a time of 11.250.

Courmier's strong suit, however, is STEER WRESTLING, and the youngster notched his belt with 1st place finishes at Rodeo #8 (his season best effort of 4.350) and #9 (7.340). With firsts at five rodeos this season, the Flo 15-year-old holds a solid lead in this event.

With two rodeo's left to go in the 2008-09 season, Leon County's versatile freshmen Austin Courmier and Callie Padgett are both currently standing in second place in the race for the title of All-Around Cowboy/Cowgirl.

The next Region IV rodeo will be Sunday, March 1 at Crockett, and the season wraps up on Saturday, March 28th with Rodeo #12 at Crockett's Porth Arena, followed by the Region's annual

awards ceremony.