Competitors rope trips to nationals

High school rodeo wraps up at Flickerwood Arena.

By Jeremy Joffray ~ Southeast Missourian

After a year of competitions, high school rodeo athletes from across the state met at Flickerwood Arena near Jackson Saturday in the high school rodeo state finals to determine who would secure a spot in the national finals.

With tight races in several events, Saturday's short go meant the difference between a strong showing in the state and a top-four finish and a trip to the national finals in Farmington, N.M.

Skyler Moore, a calf and team roper, put in a strong showing in the calf roping performance to secure his second straight trip to the national championships. Moore, who started competing as a freshman, is competing in his third high school state finals out of Mount Vernon, Mo.

"Every year I try to be as prepared as I can," Moore said.

Moore struggled out of the gates his freshman year, not scoring a single point in the calf roping competition. It didn't take long for Moore to master the sport, though, qualifying for the national championship in his second try.

While Moore picked up the sport quickly, he had a good person to learn from. Moore's brother, Bailey Moore, won the calf roping competition at the national finals in 1999.

"I've had a lot of help from my brother and my dad," Moore said.

The national finals brings in over 1,500 competitors and features some of the top calf ropers from across the country. Despite the tough competition, Moore likes his chances of following in his brother's footsteps.

"I expect to win it," Moore said. "You've got to have confidence."

Along with Moore, Charleston's Evin Burke will represent Missouri at the national finals in calf roping. Burke used a strong second round run to move him up from sixth place, where he sat after the first round.

On the girls' side, Sikeston twins Neka and Nicole DeWitt qualified for the national finals in the pole bending competition. Neka took first, even though Nicole put up a strong time of 20.852 in her final short run.

"Either I beat her or she beats me," Nicole DeWitt said. "It's always really close. But it's OK if she beats me."

For Nicole, who has been competing since she was 13, her love of horses is what drew her to rodeos.

"Since I've always loved horses it's just something competitive to do with them," she said.

Competing in events such as pole bending and barrel racing require a skilled rider. Nicole puts in hours of practice in order to be one of the best in the state.

"It takes a lot of dedication," she said. "You have to ride your horse every day."

Nicole's daily practice has paid off, though, with a second straight trip to the national finals.

"It's a lot of fun," Nicole said of the national finals. "It's competitive, but you can also have fun. You meet a lot of new people."

Even after a strong career in high school rodeo, Nicole and her sister will not compete at Murray State University, where they will attend in the fall.

"It's been a great experience, I just can't do it and college," Nicole said. "It's a lot of work."

Ty Atchison, of Jackson, had a strong state finals, qualifying for nationals in the steer wrestling and saddle bronc competitions. Delta's Brent Menz solidified a spot in the national finals in steer wrestling with a strong short go.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 171