Saturday, June 2, 2007

Rodeo finalists headed for Carlsbad

Hall, Irwin lead talented local group

Jason W. Brooks News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jbrooks@news-bulletin.com

The daytime temperature in Carlsbad in mid-June doesn't actually reach 700 degrees. It just feels that way.

Carlsbad will be the host city for the New Mexico High School Rodeo Association state finals next weekend. While the temperatures will likely be high, so will the expectations for Valencia County Young Guns rodeo participants.

The majority of the county's top high school rodeo cowboys and cowgirls are Young Guns, but there are a few other talented contestants entered as well.

The Young Guns have a slew of entrants in the championships, sanctioned as an official New Mexico Activities Association event for the first time in 2007. Three goes are scheduled, one each on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

"All the performances will be at night, which is how it should be," said Lori Dearing, a Belen resident and state secretary for the rodeo association. "Some of our kids could make nationals."

In 2006, six members of the county's Young Guns Rodeo Club reached nationals by placing in the top four finishers in their events at state. When competition gets underway Thursday night in Carlsbad, more than a dozen from Valencia County will begin a three-day quest to reach nationals.

Last year, Syndi Blanchard, Whitney Dutton, Seth Hall, Shiann Irwin, Cathy Long and Justin Romero reached nationals, and many of them are poised to return to that level. This year's nationals will be held in Springfield, Ill., the week of July 22-28.

Rodeo is not only an official state activity with the NMAA this year, but it's also holding finals at a new location. Finals were held in Gallup for the past several years.

"Carlsbad is a place that just loves rodeo," said Dearing.

Hall, the 2006 New Mexico runner-up in calf roping, nearly claimed a national title in the event, and was sixth in rookie-of-the-year points at nationals.

Hall, entered in steer wrestling, calf roping and will combine with Ryan Cook for team roping; he is currently second in New Mexico in all-around cowboy points, is the leader in calf roping and is second in steer wrestling.

Cook and Hall are currently fourth in team roping in the state.

Brock Dearing will combine with Auston Huntington in team roping, while Clint King and his partner, Tyler Wolfe, will compete in that event as well. Dearing and Huntington, both from Valencia County, are 11th in points going into the finals while King and Wolfe are 24th.

Another Young Gun hoping to make a big splash again is Irwin, who is entered in barrel racing, goat tying and pole bending. Irwin reached nationals in pole bending and barrel racing with strong finishes at state last year. She's currently fourth behind Blanchard in girls all-around points and is first in pole-bending points.

Blanchard, ranked third in girls all-around points, is ranked second in points in both girls cutting and barrel racing. She has an opportunity to qualify for nationals in barrel racing for a rare fourth time.

Blanchard is also entered in breakaway roping, pole bending and goat tying.

Ashley TenBrink, the reigning New Mexico High School Rodeo Association Queen, represented the state at nationals last year as queen. TenBrink will compete at the state finals in breakaway roping and goat tying.

Davree Higdon will compete in this year's queen contest, many aspects of which will take place Thursday. Higdon is also entered in barrel racing and goat tying.

Kaity Ray is ranked second in goat tying, and she will compete in that event along with breakaway roping (where she's ranked third) and barrel racing.

Tori Cogdill will participate in goat tying, barrel racing and breakaway roping. One of her Young Guns teammates, Shauni Gibson, is entered in pole bending and barrel racing.

The Young Guns sport three other barrel racers as well: Raquel Amestoy, Cathy Long and Amber Gillreath.

"New Mexico has one of the toughest state rodeos around," said Dearing.

Brittany Meister is listed as a state rodeo participant as well.

Check-in for rodeo contestants will begin Thursday morning, and the schedule could keep participants busy nearly around the clock. In addition to a nighttime go on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, daytime activities include a Friday sand volleyball tournament and picnic along the Pecos River, a Saturday trip to Carlsbad Caverns and a Sunday breakfast and awards ceremony.

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