Jackson High School Student heads to Wyoming for National Finals Rodeo

Erin Mantz, a senior at Jackson High School has earned a position on the Illinois National High School rodeo team and will be traveling with fellow teammates to Rock Springs, Wyoming July 13-19 to compete at the 66th annual National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) in the barrel racing competition.

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 will also be competing for more than $350,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named an NHSFR National Champion. To earn the title, contestants must finish in the top 20 - based on their combined times/scores in the first two rounds - to advance to Saturday evening's final round. National champions will then be determined based on their three-round combined times/scores.

Again, this year, the Saturday championship performance will be televised nationally as part of the Cinch High School Rodeo Tour telecast series on RFD-TV. Live broadcasts of each NHSFR performance will also air online at NHSRATV.com. Performance times are 7pm on July 13, and 9am and 7pm each day thereafter.