Jackson teen advances to national rodeo competition

In just five years of rodeoing, Erin Mantz has made rapid progress -- going from local events around Jackson to the National High School Finals Rodeo in July.

Erin Mantz looks over a corral while she saddles up one of her horses at her home July 28 in Marble Hill, Missouri. (GLENN LANDBERG)

The 17-year-old, who will be a senior at Jackson High School this year, is the daughter of Jim and Chris Mantz. Although they aren't a horse family, Erin always had an affinity for the animals and had wanted one since she was a little kid, her mother said.

In Erin's words, she "finally" got one in first grade and named it Freckles.

Chris said Erin took riding lessons off and on, but didn't get serious until 2009.

"Friends of ours were involved in 4-H rodeo and they talked us into doing it," she said.

Since then, Erin has taken part in events such as the Flickerwood Youth Rodeo -- where she won goat tying and placed in the top five in barrel racing last year -- 4-H rodeo and some Cape County Cowboy Church events.

This past spring, Erin participated as a guest in an Illinois High School Rodeo Association event one day, then joined the organization the next, so she earned points for the rest of the rodeos she rode in. She qualified for nationals in barrel racing, which is one of her specialties.

Erin Mantz rides one of her horses at her home July 28 in Marble Hill, Missouri. (GLENN LANDBERG)

Featuring more than 1,500 contestants from 42 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia, the NHSFR is the world's largest rodeo. In addition to competing for more than $200,000 in prizes, NHSFR contestants vie for more than $350,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named an NHSFR National Champion, according to information from James Mantz.

Chris Mantz said the goal was to make nationals next year, but they went to the state finals in Altamont, Illinois, in June sitting in 12th place. Erin had such a good weekend, Chris said, she took fourth place overall and qualified for nationals.

Erin rode her horse, Breezy, who had undergone surgery a few weeks before.

Erin Mantz sits on top one of her horses at her home July 28 in Marble Hill, Missouri. (GLENN LANDBERG)

"It's probably ... the biggest rodeo I've ever been to," Erin said, adding there were 175 girls in barrel racing alone. "It's pretty awesome to watch them run. You learn a lot. You meet a lot of new people. I loved it."

At state finals, she took first in the first round; first in the second round; sixth in the third round; and third in the fourth round. If she had made the top 20 at nationals, she would have run in a short go and whoever wins that gets a saddle and money, Erin said.

Even though she didn't make it to the prizes, Chris Mantz said it was a good experience.

The buckle awarded to Erin Mantz for qualifying to go to the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming, hangs from the back of a horse trailer July 28. (Glenn Landberg)

" ... Rodeo is very much a sport of extreme highs and extreme lows because you're not working with a team; you're working with an animal. And you don't know if its having a good day or a bad one, and you could be having a bad day, as well," Chris said.

Along with barrel racing, Erin competes in pole bending, goat tying and breakaway roping. This year, she'll start competing in team roping.

"I think I like the barrels the best ... out of them all and goats are probably my second favorite," Erin said.

She said she's liked barrels a lot more since she's started getting on better with her horse.

"I like going fast, I guess," Erin said.

The Mantzes also have a son, 21-year-old Alex, who is serving in the Air Force in Louisiana.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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Jackson, Mo.