Florida's Jacoby Johns slammed into the railing on the fly, splayed at an odd angle.
He'd gotten bucked off a bull, thudding against the metal with two limbs jutting through to the other side awkwardly.
The impact stunned the crowd as we braced for a few scary moments. Standing 15 feet from Johns, it shocked me when he bolted to his feet immediately, smiled and thrust both palms skyward, unfurling a Rick Flair style "Woooooo!" that sent the fans into hysterics.
Funny stuff after a tense moment.
He'd gotten bucked off a bull, thudding against the metal with two limbs jutting through to the other side awkwardly.
The impact stunned the crowd as we braced for a few scary moments. Standing 15 feet from Johns, it shocked me when he bolted to his feet immediately, smiled and thrust both palms skyward, unfurling a Rick Flair style "Woooooo!" that sent the fans into hysterics.
Funny stuff after a tense moment.
Aztec High grad Sorrel Huntington tipped over the final obstacle during her Friday pole bending run, adding a five-second penalty to what would've been 19.574 seconds, the fastest run of the week.
Her father stopped me tonight. He reacted understandably, upset for his daughter. He said he wasn't frustrated, just disappointed. He'd talked strategy with Sorrel earlier, telling her she'd make the short-go with a solid, conservative run.
She told him she'd rather risk it with a more aggressive run and go for a national title. If her time stood, she would've gotten her wish with, for her, a pedestrian run on Saturday.
It's hard to disagree with her strategy. It's easy to root for a competitor that goes for broke. If she'd succeeded, she might also have won the All-Around Cowgirl. Instead that went to Jessie Kirkes, who finished top-10 in both events Huntington participated in, goat tying and barrel racing.
Her father stopped me tonight. He reacted understandably, upset for his daughter. He said he wasn't frustrated, just disappointed. He'd talked strategy with Sorrel earlier, telling her she'd make the short-go with a solid, conservative run.
She told him she'd rather risk it with a more aggressive run and go for a national title. If her time stood, she would've gotten her wish with, for her, a pedestrian run on Saturday.
It's hard to disagree with her strategy. It's easy to root for a competitor that goes for broke. If she'd succeeded, she might also have won the All-Around Cowgirl. Instead that went to Jessie Kirkes, who finished top-10 in both events Huntington participated in, goat tying and barrel racing.
The New Mexico volleyball team lost to Nebraska in the semifinals.
"We were playing really good, but ... they were bigger," Sorrel Huntington said.
Huntington hoped the 6-foot-5 Ethan Shelley, of Gila, would help their team to the rodeo championship, but the state known for its farmers rolled out some sizable opponents.
"(Shelley) can hit it hard, but they had about four big ones," Huntington said. "It was a close game, but it was fun."
Huntington made the All-District volleyball team for Aztec High this year.
Volleyball and other events do count toward the rodeo team standings. New Mexico (622.5 points) is 17th overall after Tuesday. Texas leads with 2,395 points, followed by Utah with 1,925.
"We were playing really good, but ... they were bigger," Sorrel Huntington said.
Huntington hoped the 6-foot-5 Ethan Shelley, of Gila, would help their team to the rodeo championship, but the state known for its farmers rolled out some sizable opponents.
"(Shelley) can hit it hard, but they had about four big ones," Huntington said. "It was a close game, but it was fun."
Huntington made the All-District volleyball team for Aztec High this year.
Volleyball and other events do count toward the rodeo team standings. New Mexico (622.5 points) is 17th overall after Tuesday. Texas leads with 2,395 points, followed by Utah with 1,925.
You're bound to have a variety of interests among 1,375 teenagers.
The media bio sheet on the National High School Finals Rodeo reveals just that.
Some of them are funny.
Royce Johnson, of Nemaha, Neb., "likes Dodge trucks."
Others make you question the effort level at the registration table. Several people "enjoy rodeo." Shocker, especially at the national championships.
Some Canadians like hockey, some Colorado residents like to snowboard and those from Australia are keen on rugby.
Acceptable alternative hobbies seem to include hunting, fishing, anything mechanical and sports like football/hockey/wrestling.
Here are a few of the most interesting:
Jud Elkington, Rigby, Idaho -- Eagle Scout, professional fiddler
Kaylie Schall, Rigby, Idaho -- Semi-pro race car driver, amateur tattoo artist, basketball player, snowboarder
Mariah Rys-Sikora, Missoula, Mont. -- 2009 State Expository Speaking champ, certified life guard, enjoys debate, director of 4-H summer camps
Jade Wolfe, Wenatchee, Wash. -- Ski racing, reading, camping, hunting, gathering cows, giving horse riding lessons, long boarding, literature and acupuncture
The media bio sheet on the National High School Finals Rodeo reveals just that.
Some of them are funny.
Royce Johnson, of Nemaha, Neb., "likes Dodge trucks."
Others make you question the effort level at the registration table. Several people "enjoy rodeo." Shocker, especially at the national championships.
Some Canadians like hockey, some Colorado residents like to snowboard and those from Australia are keen on rugby.
Acceptable alternative hobbies seem to include hunting, fishing, anything mechanical and sports like football/hockey/wrestling.
Here are a few of the most interesting:
Jud Elkington, Rigby, Idaho -- Eagle Scout, professional fiddler
Kaylie Schall, Rigby, Idaho -- Semi-pro race car driver, amateur tattoo artist, basketball player, snowboarder
Mariah Rys-Sikora, Missoula, Mont. -- 2009 State Expository Speaking champ, certified life guard, enjoys debate, director of 4-H summer camps
Jade Wolfe, Wenatchee, Wash. -- Ski racing, reading, camping, hunting, gathering cows, giving horse riding lessons, long boarding, literature and acupuncture
Click the link below for the results to this morning's rodeo.
Continue reading Tuesday morning rodeo results.
"Here, people settle down and settle in," said Jesse Johnson of Broken Bow, Neb., on Saturday. "They get comfortable and they make a good time of it."
She wasn't kidding.
The NRA is hosting light rifle and shotgun trap shooting competitions. There's a knowledge bowl, a basket contest, a college fair, a pancake eating contest and a "Heel-O-Matic." Don't ask me what that is, but I'm sure someone knows and enjoys it.
Oh, and there's a rodeo happening between it all.
Sunday night's performers will have time to forget that. Many of them won't compete again until Saturday morning, leaving them plenty of opportunities to get distracted by the carnival atmosphere.
Last year's all-around cowboy Cameron Hopper-Craig of Nevada said he wants no part of that. It helps that he's competing in three events, and he naps most other times.
"It helps being young, I know that. You don't want to get sore," Hopper-Craig said.
Others weren't as frugal with their enjoyment but admitted discretion and moderation are key.
"I like to have fun but I am here to rodeo," said Maggie Boyle of South Carolina. "I don't stay out late."
Riley Duvall said he'll allow himself to have a good time but will refocus in time.
"Rodeo's just a cool event. You can have fun all week and focus come Saturday night and win," said Duvall, of Checotah, Okla. "That's why I like it so much."
Popular first name: Walking toward the roughstock chute, I made a peculiar discovery above the "948" across a competitor's back.
The name "Chris Smith" was etched in black letters. I couldn't resist stopping him.
"Hey, that's my name, too," I said.
He laughed.
"You're the second one I've met!"
She wasn't kidding.
The NRA is hosting light rifle and shotgun trap shooting competitions. There's a knowledge bowl, a basket contest, a college fair, a pancake eating contest and a "Heel-O-Matic." Don't ask me what that is, but I'm sure someone knows and enjoys it.
Oh, and there's a rodeo happening between it all.
Sunday night's performers will have time to forget that. Many of them won't compete again until Saturday morning, leaving them plenty of opportunities to get distracted by the carnival atmosphere.
Last year's all-around cowboy Cameron Hopper-Craig of Nevada said he wants no part of that. It helps that he's competing in three events, and he naps most other times.
"It helps being young, I know that. You don't want to get sore," Hopper-Craig said.
Others weren't as frugal with their enjoyment but admitted discretion and moderation are key.
"I like to have fun but I am here to rodeo," said Maggie Boyle of South Carolina. "I don't stay out late."
Riley Duvall said he'll allow himself to have a good time but will refocus in time.
"Rodeo's just a cool event. You can have fun all week and focus come Saturday night and win," said Duvall, of Checotah, Okla. "That's why I like it so much."
Popular first name: Walking toward the roughstock chute, I made a peculiar discovery above the "948" across a competitor's back.
The name "Chris Smith" was etched in black letters. I couldn't resist stopping him.
"Hey, that's my name, too," I said.
He laughed.
"You're the second one I've met!"
We're hours away from the first performance, and several of last year's champions are returning to defend their titles. The all-around cowboy (Cameron Hopper-Craig) and cowgirl (Raley Mae Radomske) are back. Ten of last year's 14 event champions have a chance to repeat.
Hopper-Craig can become the second male in the history of the National High School Finals Rodeo to win the all-around twice. Wyoming's John King completed the feat in 1970 and 1971. Five females have claimed multiple all-around titles.
Defending Champions
All-Around Cowboy: Hopper-Craig, Nevada
All-Around Cowgirl: Radomske, Washington
Barrel Racing: Ceri McCaffery, Kansas
Breakaway Roping: Cadee Tew, Montana
Bull Riding: Riker Carter, Idaho
Girls Cutting: Radomske, Washington
Goat Tying: Bobbi Grann, North Dakota
Pole Bending: Darby Shope, Louisiana
Saddle Bronc Riding: Spencer Wright, Utah
Steer Wrestling: Riley Duvall, Oklahoma
For those of you interested in the culture and legacy of rodeo, check out this historical account from the NHSFR Web site.
Hopper-Craig can become the second male in the history of the National High School Finals Rodeo to win the all-around twice. Wyoming's John King completed the feat in 1970 and 1971. Five females have claimed multiple all-around titles.
Defending Champions
All-Around Cowboy: Hopper-Craig, Nevada
All-Around Cowgirl: Radomske, Washington
Barrel Racing: Ceri McCaffery, Kansas
Breakaway Roping: Cadee Tew, Montana
Bull Riding: Riker Carter, Idaho
Girls Cutting: Radomske, Washington
Goat Tying: Bobbi Grann, North Dakota
Pole Bending: Darby Shope, Louisiana
Saddle Bronc Riding: Spencer Wright, Utah
Steer Wrestling: Riley Duvall, Oklahoma
For those of you interested in the culture and legacy of rodeo, check out this historical account from the NHSFR Web site.
This is a test of The Daily Times rodeo blog. Pay it no mind.
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