|
Utah defended their national title and is once again the National
High School Rodeo Champions. Rodeo team members from the Beehive
state outlasted the team from Texas by over 400 points to claim
their second consecutive national title and third crown in the last
six years. Utah tallied 4,748.09 points to 4,340.95 for Texas.
Utah was the first team to repeat as national champions since Texas
claimed back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999. The two states have
been involved in battle for the national crown during each of the
past five years.
Taylor White of Richfield, Utah won the boys all-around title for
the first-ever win for the state of Utah in the boys event. Kara
Hadley won the girls all-around title in 1998 and again in 1999.
White finished with 745 points in the all-around race as he picked
up 207 points on three head in bull riding (to finish fourth overall)
and he added 195 points in saddle bronc riding for another fourth
place finish.
Jackie Dannely of Enterprise, Utah, won the barrel racing title
in fine fashion as she posted the fastest time of the National High
School Rodeo in Spingfield, Ill. with a time of 17.014 in the final
round of the short-go. She had a time of 53.076 on three runs. Dannely
joins Kassie Mowry (2000) and Kara Hadley (1996) as national barrel
racing champions from Utah.
Clayton Penrod of Genola brought back the other individual national
title for Utah after winning the boys cutting event. He split first
and second place in the short go and finished with 440 points on
three runs to claim the NHSRA championship.
Jamie Jarvis of Spanish Fork was second in barrel racing and West
Bountiful cowgirl Nichole Mitchell finished 12th in the average
in barrel racing. Daron Hughes of Spanish Fork finished fourth in
boys cow cutting and Levi Berry of Garland was 13th in the average
for saddle broncs.
The team roping duo of Shad and Jade Wills finished sixth in the
short-go to claim the third spot in the average and give Utah valuable
points toward the team title.
Utah claimed their third national crown in the last six years
and they have finished in the national top-10 for the past 12 years,
according to Ken Norris former Utah High School Rodeo Association
director. Utah is second only to Texas in rodeo team members related
to per capita population.
|
