By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

URBANA, Ohio — More than 1,600 high school rodeo contestants from 46 states, two Canadian provinces and Australia will converge at the San Juan County Fairgounds in Famington, New Mexico to compete in the National High School Rodeo Assoc. finals.

First, however, these athletes had to finish among the top four in their respective event at the state level. And cowboys and cowgirls from each state in the Farm World readership area were among those who will compete in the nationals to be held July 19.
“High school rodeo is a separate entity, meaning it’s not a sport sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association,” said Mindy Lensman, secretary of the Ohio High School Rodeo Association (OHSRA). “At the Ohio state finals held in Urbana there were 40 athletes competing.”

Athletes from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee and 40 other states competed throughout the rodeo season within their respective state, and the top four competitors in each event at the state level qualified for the national stage. Each state has a rodeo association, which hosts 12 to 15 rodeos each year.

Last week, Lensman and her group held competition at the Champaign County Fairgounds in Urbana.

“It’s a lot of pressure,” said Lensman, whose 15-year-old son, Cody, qualified for nationals in steer wrestling. Cody attends Graham High School in west central Ohio. “It’s in his blood. You say your prayers and let him go.”

The Michigan High School Rodeo Association (MHSRA) is much smaller, with just 35 participants this season.

“In years past we’ve had 100,” said MHSRA Vice President Donna Keller. “I think our numbers are down because of the money and time it requires nowadays. But we’ve been around a long time. This is our 21st year.”

The Kentucky High School Rodeo Assoc. (KHSRA) held its state showdown the first weekend in June.

“We’ve been at this the past 18 years,” said KHSRA secretary Chasidy Chappell, “and this season there were 34 students competing. “And while some athletes receive scholarships to play football, basketball or baseball there are scholarships given for accomplishments in rodeo.”

Rodeo participants in Chappel’s group have already received scholarships in rodeo. Twins Colton and Carson Kreider will be attending Howard University in Texas on a full ride.

Many colleges will be on hand and scholarship opportunities will be available for many of the national competitors.

In all states contestants competed in team roping, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, barrel racing, calf roping, steer wrestling and bull riding.

In addition to high school rodeo competition, those at the junior high level competed for national honors in action held in Gallup, New Mexico last weekend.

Ohio national qualifiers (boys) – Billy Natale (all-around cowboy), Tyler Ayers, Cody Lensman, Eli Vastbinder, Jacob Hamilton, Alex Pryor, Mark Winters, Derek Thomas, Brad Shafer, Caleb Shahr and Kyle Smith.

Ohio national qualifiers (girls) – Callie Oglesby (all-around cowgirl), Jessica Mock, Amanda Adkins, Corinne Hammerle, Brooke Corzatt, Jessica Blackburn, Sara Ballover, Morgan Konkler, Sara Montgomery, Amanda Henke and Margaret Bookman.

Tennessee national qualifiers (boys) – Bobby Abernathy (all-around cowboy), Jared Denton, Gary Essary, Jon Roberts, Lee Burton, Jordan Thrasher, Ben Walker, John Strange, J.W. Ery, Robert Joyce, Cory Bailey, Heath Simpson, Jon Roberts, Matt Smith, Will Clark, Stetson Powers, Ben Walker, Clark Adcock, Clay Mitchell, Lane Mitchell and Cody Burrows.

Tennessee national qualifiers (girls) – Kelsey Kenneman (all-around cowgirl) Nealey Dalton, Kindyl Scruggs, Sara Beth Thompson, Megan McDonald, Allie Strange, Lucinda Fletcher, Audrey Joiner, Sarah Paratore, Meredith McDonnell, Natalie Fletcher and Jordan Capps.

Indiana national qualifiers (boys) – D.J. Dickinson (all-around cowboy), Chase Asbell, Cody Chandler, Landon Crull, Dillon Dittemore, TyDaniel Haller, Tyler Kilfoil, Coy Lepley, Damon Lebley, Daniel Osborne, Tyler Rees and Coleman Rude.

Indiana national qualifiers (girls) – Abbie Frey (all-around cowgirls), Carlee Dittemore, Lauralee Hurst, Ellen Jarvis, Scout Nickell, Ashela Stigall, Branda Street, Andrea Sutphin, Alison Trout, Libby Weatherford, Kait Williamson and Adrien Wright.

Illinois national qualifiers (boys) – Cody Metsker (all-around cowboy), Brock Pezanowski, Ben Runyon, Dustin Jacobson, Kyle Best, J.C. Duncan, Adam Cordes, Kyle Seals, Brody Bauman, Cole Miller, Dylan Campbell, Brandon Barringer and Phil McGinnis.
Illinois national qualifiers (girls) – Tanya Reid (all-around cowgirl), Timber Morrison, Tanya Reid, Megan Baxter, Michelle Christensen, Chelsea Demott, Rachel Tenczar, Colby Siebert, Shelby Jacobson, Chelsea Wright, Jessy Hagey, Twyla Reid, Jami Cox, Lexi Mcguire, Tristin Garner and Cade Corszine.

Kentucky national qualifiers (boys) – Colton Kreider (all-around cowboy), Clint McConnel, Cody Stephens, Garen Lawson, Cody Hungate, Jacob Littlepage, Levi French, Ryan Worley, Cody Baker, Jordan Caudill and Derek Choate. Kentucky national qualifiers (girls) – Jessica Stewart (all-around cowgirl), Jessi Hodge, Carson Kreider, Jessie Litkenhus, Taylor Smith, Karen Miller, Katie Angle, Ali Thweatt and Kristal Hemandez.

Michigan national qualifiers (boys) – Nic Lica, Aaron Johnson, Scott Silvers, Tucker Cargill, Sam Beasley Ty Hughston and Track Hughston. Michigan national qualifiers (girls) – Ashley Floer, Nicole Chubner, Molly Beasley, Mindy Hill, Morgan Kurz, Kayla Keller, Amanda Jo Johnson and Haley Keller.