High School Rodeo athletes shine at finals

Oakwood 5th grader Madison Parker leads the way for this band of merry horseman. Photo by Melissa Missildine Area high school rodeo athletes did an outstanding job at the Texas State High School Rodeo Finals in Abilene last week. Leon County -- and Buffalo High School in particular -- were well represented as the best cowboys and cowgirls in the state went head-to-head in their best events. After six months of competition, nine student competitors from the area qualified for the state finals rodeo by finishing in the Top Ten in their THSRA Region, and one local cowboy will be going on to the national high school rodeo in Gillette, Wyoming in July.

Leon County State Finalists included: BHS sophomore Austin Courmier (Team Roping, Steer Wrestling, Calf Roping and Cutting); BHS sophomore Austin Rayborn (Team Roping and Steer Wrestling); BHS senior Dakota Champion (Steer Wrestling and Team Rop- ing); BHS freshman Heather Humphries (barrels); BHS freshman Blake Strack (Steer Wrestling and Cutting); BHS freshman Bryce Strack (Steer Wrestling and Cutting); OHS sophomore Cydney Kelsey; and CHS sophomore Callie Padgett (Breakaway, Barrels and Goat Tying).

Every contestant got two rides and the top fifteen returned for the finals, including Champion in Steer Wrestling, Blake Strack in Cutting, Courmier in Steer Wrestling, and Humphries in Barrels. Courmier finished 3rd and will join the fourman team representing Texas July 18-24 in the National Finals Rodeo in Wyoming, where Texas is the defending national champ. There will be over 1500 contestants from 41 states, 5 Canadian provinces and Australia at the National High School Rodeo Finals, making it the largest rodeo in the world. In addition to competing for over $200,000 in prize money, NHSRA contestants will be vying for $350,000 in college scholarships and national titles. It will be broadcast on RFD-TV.