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One local middle schooler and one local high schooler will be hitting the road this summer, as Casen Gines and Kyle Cheney qualified for the rodeo national finals in team roping and bull …
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One local middle schooler and one local high schooler will be hitting the road this summer, as Casen Gines and Kyle Cheney qualified for the rodeo national finals in team roping and bull riding.
Gines will be the first to compete, as he heads to Perry, Georgia, this week to compete in the National Junior High Finals Rodeo, which is scheduled to start on Sunday and finish at the end of the week.
“It meant a lot to me, I worked hard to get there,” Gines said. “My partner and I didn’t do a rodeo in the fall season and we were so far behind everyone, and we did well this season so we made it in the fourth spot.”
Gines and his partner Ryder Moorman qualified last month at the Wyoming Junior High School State Rodeo Finals in Gillette.
Gines competes as the header for the roping team. He switched from being a heeler just to try it at first but then found success and made the switch going forward, he said.
In team roping, Gines said you have to be mentally strong in order to be successful, in addition to maintaining your horses and roping skills.
“I want to go have fun. I hope to go try and win all of it and just have fun while I am down there,” Gines said.
BULL RIDING
Cheney is in his senior year this year and put in a lot of work in the offseason. He has the opportunity to ride his own bulls during practice.
“I worked pretty hard at it, I really wanted to make it and had my mind set on nationals,” Cheney said.
Cheney just qualified for the national championships after finishing in the top four at the Wyoming High School State Rodeo Finals this past weekend in Buffalo.
If Cheney was unable to practice on a bull then he would work out at the gym in order to stay in shape to compete.
The most difficult thing about his season?
Staying healthy.
Cheney has more time to prepare and stay healthy for his national competition, as the National High School Finals Rodeo does not kick off until July 17 in Gillette.
Following the completion of his final high school competition, Cheney said he plans to attend Dodge City Community College in Kansas to continue his career.
