Craig Daily Press / Moffat County rodeo team fails to place at state

MCHS junior Eric Fleming reacts after his bareback ride in Rifle. Fleming entered the high school rodeo state championships in Lamar fourth in bareback, but finished fifth overall — one spot away from advancing to the national finals beginning in July. Enlarge photo — Photo by John Vandelinder

June 17, 2008

Photo by John Vandelinder

Taylor Vernon competes during a Little Britches event in March in Rifle. Taylor finished ninth in girls barrel racing at the Colorado State High School Rodeo Association’s state championships throughout the weekend.

A fifth-place and two ninth-place finishes aren’t too bad in the state championships.

Except when competing in high school rodeo.

The Moffat County High School rodeo team competed in the state championships June 11 to 15, an event different from other high school sporting championships.

In rodeo, the top-4 finishers in the state advance to the national finals beginning in July.

The Bulldogs sent three competitors to the state finals in Lamar — sophomore Taylor Vernon and juniors Eric Fleming and Troy Vernon — each with a chance at advancing to the next level.

But, the MCHS cowboys and cowgirl are staying put.

Fleming placed fifth in boys bareback, Troy ninth in bull riding and Taylor ninth in girls barrel racing.

In only his eighth month participating in the event, Fleming entered the state finals No. 4 in bareback, one point ahead of his closest competitor, Jordon Pierce of Basin High.

The slim lead didn’t prove to be enough.

Fleming failed to earn any points in his three rounds — two long and a short — while Pierce recorded a three-round total of 21.5 points, knocking Fleming from the fourth and final position.

“It was a pretty tough weekend,” Fleming said. “I got bumped out of the last spot, but I’ve only been bareback riding for eight months, so I’m happy I got this far.”

To earn points in bareback, riders must stay on the horse for at least eight seconds.

Fleming’s first ride lasted 7.4 seconds, his second 5.1 and his third, 7.5.

“I got thrown a couple of dirty horses,” Fleming said. “The second round was my best horse. And I went for it because I knew then it was do or die time, but my hand just popped out of the rigging, and that’s that.”

Troy entered the state finals fifth in bull riding, three points away from a trip to the nationals.

The three points never came.

Troy was bucked in all three of his go-rounds, failing to earn any points.

His 75.5 points he carried with him into state earned him a ninth-place finish overall.

The MCHS cowboys fell from their respective spots at state, while the Bulldogs lone cowgirl moved up a few spots.

Taylor entered Lamar ranked No. 12 in girls barrel racing.

The sophomore earned one point in the first go and then turned it on for the final two.

Taylor placed fifth in her two final rounds, earning six points each, then tallied another nine for finishing with the second highest average.

Her 22-point total moved her up three spots in the overall standings to ninth.

All three Bulldogs will be back next season, and they don’t have to wait long for the action to begin.

The 2008 fall season begins in August.

“I learned a lot this year,” Fleming said. “I learned to never give up and to keep trying, keep going, no matter what.”