THEY CALL IT RODEO: FLICKERWOOD ARENA PREPARES FOR HIGH SCHOOL RODEO FINALS

JACKSON, Mo. -- A lot is riding on the three days of the Missouri High School State Rodeo Finals beginning this morning at Flickerwood Arena.

Just as they do baseball, basketball and football championships, college coaches with scholarships to hand out scout the state rodeo finals looking for young women and men who can perform under pressure. The competitors also hope to qualify to compete against 1,500 others at the national high school finals later this summer in Springfield, Ill. More scholarship money awaits them there.

Erica Johnson, a recent graduate of Sikeston, Mo., High School, already knows she's going to the University of Tennessee-Martin but hopes to do well enough to convince the rodeo coach to put her name on a scholarship. Johnson's horse, Sharpie, was Horse of the Year last year. Johnson finished 17th in pole bending in last year's national finals.

She competes in all five events open to girls -- pole bending, barrel racing, break-away roping, team roping and goat tying. Based on season totals, she currently is in first place in the state in pole bending and third place in the all-round.

Johnson didn't compete in other sports in high school. "There isn't time," she said flatly.

One hundred and fourteen high school rodeo competitors from around the state are entered in the finals, which begin with the cutting competition at 9 a.m. today. Performances in the other events begin at 8 p.m. today and continue Friday and Saturday.

Queen crowning

The new Missouri State High School Rodeo queen will be crowned at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The current queen is Jennifer Hyde of Thayer, Mo. The candidates are Heather Schalk of Barnett, Mo., Misty Menz of Benton, Mo., and Kylie Cowger of Sikeston.

For at least the past 15 years the finals have been held at an outdoor arena in Ozark, Mo. The state finals are being held at the Flickerwood Arena for the first time because it is indoors where weather can't affect the competition.

Last year, these all-important finals had the added element of difficult conditions, cold and rain. "The weather will make or break a kid," said Donna Boardman, who owns Flickerwood Arena with her husband, Mark.

The Boardmans' two sons, Kadin and Cimarron, are both former high school rodeo competitors who went on to college competition. Cimarron still competes for West Texas College. Both are competing in a professional rodeo this weekend.

Nearby universities that have rodeo teams include Murray State in Kentucky, UT-Martin and Arkansas State. Coaches from other schools also are expected to attend.

High school rodeo participants begin competing each year in August and continue throughout the year. Standings are based on points accumulated during the season, but the finals points are compounded. "It's important to be at the top of your game at the state and national finals," Donna Boardman says.

Competing for money

Unlike competitors in other sports, those in high school rodeo are allowed to win money. They get no financial support from their schools and must pay for entry fees and to travel.

Cody Alcorn, another recent Sikeston High School graduate, also is going to UT-Martin and already has some academic scholarships. A competitor in calf roping and team roping, he has had an up and down season that has been hampered by an injury to his horse.

The rangy Alcorn is going to major in pre-law and political science at UT-Martin but has rodeo dreams as well.

There are about 25 competitors from Southeast Missouri in the state finals. Event champions will each win a saddle and belt buckle. The top 10 finishers also get buckles. The top four people in each event qualify for the national finals.

The state finals aren't all stress. Dances are scheduled after two of the nights of competition. "You've got to have fun, too," Alcorn says.

The riders are competitors and friends.

"The kids they are with every weekend are the people who do rodeo," said Donna Boardman.

Want to go?

What: Missouri High School State Rodeo Finals

When: Today, Friday and Saturday

Where: Flickerwood Arena, Jackson

Information: 243-3876