WELCOME RODEO NEWS FANS

Jones ties up two rodeo wins

Lacey Jones earned herself a trip to the National High School Finals Rodeo two seasons ago, and this weekend at the Caldwell Night Rodeo grounds she began working on a return trip.

The cowgirl from Garden Valley, who made nationals as a sophomore in goat tying, swept the wins in that event as the District II rodeo season began for local high schoolers.

“That’s pretty good,” said Jones, who last year won five of the 10 District II events to earn a trip to state, but a disappointing week in Pocatello left her out of nationals.

“Just didn’t go too fast and stayed steady,” she added of her winning runs of 7.48 seconds on Saturday and 7.15 seconds on Sunday. “It’s pretty sweet, goat tying is my favorite event. It’s always good when you do good.”

The wins get Jones off to a good start, as cowgirls and cowboys receive 10 points for each win during the 10-event season. The top point winner in each event earns a district title, and the top six qualify for state.

But that’s a long way down the rodeo road, as the season takes a six-month hiatus now before the next rodeos April 4-5.

Several others also enjoyed big weekends, such as Katie Hamann, who won the barrel racing Sunday in 17.909 seconds. She then placed second in pole bending in 21.445, just behind Kuna’s Chelsi Horton (21.259).

The cowgirl from Haines, Ore., who went to nationals in barrel racing this past summer, enjoyed getting the season started well, adding that last year she didn’t win any points in the fall rodeos.

The only problem is she’d like to keep building on Sunday’s performance.

“I’m kinda having a good roll right now,” she said, “kinda disappointed, but I went out on a good note.”

Also on a roll is Rimrock High senior Sierra Ridley, who turned in a first-place finish — a first for her.

“That’s really good, that’s the first time I’ve ever won a round before,” said Ridley, who won Saturday’s breakaway roping in 3.72 seconds. “I’ve placed but I’ve never won a round my whole high school career.”

Ridley is shooting for a possible All-Around title this season. She piled up points in almost every event she competed in, finishing second in team roping with Geramy King in 9.81 seconds Sunday, sixth in barrels and poles Sunday, fourth in barrels Saturday, fifth in team roping and eighth in goat tying.

“It’s important,” she said of her good start to the season, “I just thought I’ve worked really hard and I just need to get a jump start.”

Others who started the season off well included bull riders Tyler Hood and Cole Slagle.

Hood was second Saturday with a 67, behind Ryley Bakes’ 72, then he won Sunday with a 78-point ride.

Slagle, a junior at Emmett High, also got two rode with a fifth-place 60 on Saturday then a second-place 74 on Sunday. He also won the bareback riding on Saturday with a 54.

Others who enjoyed success Saturday and Sunday, respectively, were: Rye Hyer (15.84) and Austin Clow (6.10) in steer wrestling; Kyler Dygert (20.94) and Jared Thompson (12.08) in tie-down roping; Jonathan Casper (48) in bareback; Brittany Leasy (3.31) in breakaway; Dusty Easterday (64) and Brandon Mackenzie (47) in saddle bronc; Sami Jo Rosti (18.229) in barrels; Clow and Thompson (9.76) in team roping; and Whitney Summers (21.877) in poles.

Read more at the www.idahopress.com