Rodeo titles to be decided

By Amy Donaldson
Deseret Morning News
Published: Wednesday, June 6, 2007 12:47 a.m. MDT
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HEBER CITY — Most schools are out for the summer, and most prep competition finished before these long, hot days of summer began.

But for hundreds of Utah prep athletes, this week is what they've been working for all winter. The Utah High School Rodeo Association will hold the state finals today through Saturday at Wasatch County Rodeo Grounds in Heber City.

Those who finish in the top four in each event will represent the state in the 2007 National High School Rodeo Finals in Springfield, Ill., on July 22-28.

That will be especially exciting this year as Utah is the defending national champion after defeating Texas in last year's national competition. Each athlete will compete in two rounds of rodeo competition with the top finishers in those two rounds competing n Saturday's championship round, which begins at 5 p.m.

The top four finishers are determined using points from the entire season, including these state final competitions.

Athletes gathered in Heber City Tuesday night to check in and prepare for today's first round of competition. There will be rounds at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

A number of competing rodeo athletes have had success in other sports this year, including Manila's Lacey Larsen and Tabiona's Skya Defa.

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Larsen, who will attend Western Wyoming on a basketball scholarship, said she loves the camaraderie or rodeo.

"Rodeo is just an awesome sport because it's so competitive yet everyone is still great friends," Larsen said. "I like that it's an individual event as well. It's a lot different. You can go with your family and have fun."

Defa, who is also a cheerleader for the Tigers, helped her team to the first 1A title in girls basketball in Tabiona's history, while Larsen was an all-state basketball player and cross country runner.

Altamont's Colt Miles is a three-time state champion wrestler who also competes in team roping, while Union's Rhen and Kaden Richard are also all-region football players.

At the end of the competition, UHSRA officials will hand out $20,000 in college scholarships to the top finishers in events like team roping, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, pole bending and goat tying, among others.

E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com

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