THSRA Rodeo Update

First place finishes at two recent THSRA rodeos has BHS sophomore Austin Courmier leading the steer wrestling event. Van’Go’photo High school rodeo athletes from across the county have been competing in THSRA (Texas High School Rodeo Association) rodeos and will wrap up their seasons in early 2010. Here is an update.

REGION V

Oakwood High School senior Lisa Stevens had two good rodeos over in Nacogdoches on November 21 and 22. Stevens got the clean run she's been looking for in BARREL RACING at Rodeo #5, and took 1st in a time of 15.555. In GOAT TYING Stevens finished 6th at Rodeo #4 and 7th at Rodeo #5 with 9.530 and 9.030, respectively.

REGION IX

Local cowboys and cowgirls have been very competitive in this very tough region, with Rodeo #3 in Madisonville 10-18, Rodeos #4 and #5 at Caldwell in November and Rodeo #6 in Liberty on December 13. After six rodeos and nine cuttings, Centerville High School sophomore Callie Padgett is second in the race for All-Around Cowgirl, and Buffalo High sophomore Austin Courmier is sitting in second for the boy's title.

BHS freshman Heather Humphries focuses on a smooth and speedy dismount in her goat tying competition. Van’Go’photo In BARREL RACING, Buffalo High School freshman Heather Humphries has been consistently finishing near the top o' the heap, with an average of 50 entrants at each rodeo. In November she posted runs of 16.436 (4th), 16.392 (2nd) and a blistering 15.893 was good for 2nd at Rodeo #6. Heather is currently in 3rd place in this event. Padgett had a 16.454 run for 5th at Rodeo #3, trimmed that to 16.314 for 8th at Rodeo #5, then cut even more time at Rodeo #6, taking 4th in 15.978.

Padgett has also been consistently in the Top Ten in BREAKAWAY ROPING (8th at Rodeo #3, 10th at #4, and 4th at #5 with a 3.390-sec catch.) Humphries broke into the Top Ten at Rodeo #6 with a 4.780 catch good for 6th.

Both girls also compete in GOAT TYING, where Padgett is in second place in the event, having posted a 1st (7.720) at Rodeo #3, 3rd (7.980) at Rodeo #5 and 6th (10.270) at Rodeo #6. Humphries had Top Ten finishes in Rodeos #3, #4, #5 and #6, with times consistently in 11 seconds and change.

POLE BENDING is another highly competitive event, and Oakwood High's Cydney Kessler finished 5th at Rodeo #5 with a 21.202. Padgett broke into the Top Ten at Rodeo #5 as well, with a 23.351 good for 10th place.

In CALF ROPING, BHS cowboy Austin Courmier had an 8th place finish at Rodeo #3 and a 7th at Rodeo #4 (11.850). Classmate Austin Rayborn broke into the Top Ten at Rodeo #6 with a 16.350 tie-down good for 9th place.

Courmier holds a commanding lead in STEER WRESTLING, after taking 2nd at Rodeo #3 (5.420) and firsts at Rodeo #4 (6.340) and #6 (4.850). Rayborn took 3rd at Rodeo #3 (7.420) and at #6 (8.200).

Courmier and Rayborn team up in TEAM ROPING and have been very successful at the recent rodeos with 9th in Rodeo #4, 5th at Rodeo #5 (8.860), and 3rd at Rodeo #6 (9.670). Buffalo's Jonathan Hollister teams up with Clint Davis of Teague in the event, and they broke into the Top Ten at Rodeo #4 with a 18.080 good for 7th and followed with a 17.680 catch good for 10th at Rodeo #5. CHS' Padgett teams up with Savannah McAdams of Cleveland, Texas in this event. The cowgirls took 4th at Rodeo #3, stretching their steer in 19.040 seconds. BHS freshman Bryce Strack teams up with Brandon Maxwell of Willis, and this team took 9th at Rodeo #3 (35.150) and 9th again at Rodeo #5 (12.750).

REGION X

Over in Region X, BHS senior Dakota Champion continues to lead the STEER WRESTLING after posting another 1st (6.280) in Rodeo #5 in McGregor. At Rodeo #6 the next day, Champion and partner Megan Vincik of Liberty Hill took 6th in TEAM ROPING with a 18.848 catch. Champion also earned All Around points with a 12th place (22.600) finish in CALF ROPING at Rodeo #6, and is currently in 5th place in the All-Around Cowboy race.