Local cowboys to ride at National High School Finals Rodeo
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When the dust settled at the Montana High School Finals Rodeo June 14 in Kalispell, two Mission Valley cowboys rode away with scores among the top four for the season in steer wrestling, team roping and bull riding. St. Ignatius’ Will Powell and Polson’s Bridger Fitzpatrick are both headed to the National High School Finals Rodeo July 12-18 in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
“I’m excited,” Fitzpatrick said last week. “It’s my last year in high school (rodeo) so I really wanted to make Nationals.”
The 2015 Polson High School graduate edged out Kalispell’s Tyrell Toren by one point to end the high school rodeo season with 100 points, good enough for second place behind Jess Lockwood of Volborg with 150 points. For only his second year riding bulls, that’s pretty good, Fitzpatrick agreed. But he’s not kidding himself about the road ahead in Wyoming.
“I think it’ll be really tough,” he said of the NHSFR competition.
He’ll have plenty of family there for support, including dad and coach Zane Fitzpatrick, mom Sandi, younger brother Caden and cousins Grey and Peyton Fitzpatrick, who are also rodeo athletes. Bridger plans to travel the Northern Rodeo Association circuit with his cousins after wrapping up his high school rodeo career.
As for Powell, he’s got a busy couple of weeks ahead after qualifying for the national finals in both steer wrestling and team roping. He’s the 2015 Montana steer wrestling champ, downing his MHSFR championship run in just 4.14 seconds, and he and team roping partner Caleb Guardipee of Cut Bank took second at the state finals. On the season, the pair was first with 252 team roping points, while Powell landed fourth in steer wrestling with 108 points.
Several other Mission Valley athletes were among the top finishers in the state, including Polson cowgirl Nichole Lake, who came in a heartbreaking fifth place on the season in goat tying. Heading into the state finals rodeo, Lake had her sights set on a trip to the national finals but ended up tied for eighth in the championship run.
Riley DeLong of Ronan won the state finals of tie-down roping in 10.43, and Polson’s Tele Seemann came in sixth in 14.95. Hallie Sohr of Ronan was third in breakaway roping with a time of 3.19, and Charlo’s Blaine Bauer took third in the bull riding with score of 71.5. Bauer tied for third on the season with Bozeman’s Jordan Lindsay.
Montana High School Rodeo Finals
Championship Go
Sunday, June 14
Pole Bending — 1. Heidi Schmid, Kalispell, 20.87; 2. Caydee Johnson, Manhattan, 21.31; 3. Mikayla Fuller, Bozeman, 21.48; 4. (tie) Taylour Russell, Conrad, and Tara Novak, Helena, 21.52 each; 6. Madison Waters, Malta, 21.76; 7. Alycia Conroy, Baker, 21.93; 8. Devynn Schillinger, Vida, 22.08; 9. Katelynn Wagner, Whitehall, 22.53; 10. Shelby Rasmussen, Choteau, 25.31.
Goat Tying — 1. Shelby Rasmussen, Choteau, 7.59; 2. Caydee Johnson, Manhattan, 7.95; 3. Hailey Garrison, Glen, 8.01; 4. Darby Yeager, Choteau, 8.24; 5. Opal Harkins, Billings, 8.35; 6. Frankie Orahood, Malta, 8.50; 7. Raychel Lien, Ronan, 9;12; 8. (tie) Nichole Lake, Polson, and Melanie Johnson, Sand Springs, 9.15 each; 10. Danae McNamara, Stevensville, 9.24.
Tie-Down Roping — 1. Riley DeLong, Ronan, 10.43; Cyris Robertson, Whitehall, 12.50; 3. Albert Koenig, Belgrade, 12.69; 4. Dillon Hahnkamp, Melrose, 13.05; 5. Trevin Baumann, Hardin, 14.17; 6. Tele Seemann, Polson, 14.95; 7. Haven Meged, Miles City, 19.40; 8. Jaret Whitman, Belgrade, 20.30; 9. Bryce Bott, Powell, 20.46.
Team Roping — 1. James Ramirez/Lincoln May, 6.64; 2. Caleb Guardipee/Will Powell, 8.39; 3. Matt Lesofski/Celie Salmond, 11.55; 4. Garrett Duncan/Madison Sorden, 13.73; 5. Jaret Whitman/Ty Everson, 14.31; 6. Kaden Lappe/Coby King, 14.40; 7. Laramie Noble/Lawson McGill, 15.63; 8. Caden Camp/Kal Fuller, 19.73; 9. Tyler Robinson/Bryce Bott, 28.59; 10. Lance Anderson/Cole Dunagan, 35.58.
Breakaway Roping — 1. Ruby Speth, Bozeman, 2.62; 2. Kayla Schmiedeke, Stevensville, 3.15; 3. Hallie Sohr, Ronan, 3.19; 4. Caydee Johnson, Manhattan, 3.25; 5. Elizabeth French, Pompeys Pillar, 3.29; 6. Celie Salmond, Choteau, 3.33; 7. Callie Wollenburg, Red Lodge, 3.81; 8. Melanie Johnson, Sand Springs, 3.92; 9. Shelby Rasmussen, Choteau, 4.66.
Barrel Racing — 1. Tara Hansen, Manhattan, 17.50; 2. Meagan Harris, Florence, 17.53; 3. Shelby Rasmussen, Choteau, 17.58; 4. Callie Wollenburg, Red Lodge, 17.64; 5. Korte Nicole, Laurel, 17.66; 6. Samantha Flikkema, Bozeman, 17.70; 7. Caydee Johnson, Manhattan, 17.86; 8. Josie Moulding, Missoula, 17.91; 9. Katy Negaard, Baker, 18.06; 10. Stephanie Bartmess, Helena, 18.08.
Bareback Riding — 1. Troy Kirkpatrick, Wise River, 77; 2. Shawn Perkins, Roberts, 66; 3. Lane Grove, Townsend, 54; 4. Koltin Kimmel, Forsyth, 46.5.
Saddle Bronc — 1. Koley Schmidt, Miles City, 63.5; 2. Trevor Clark, Brusett, 60.5; 3. Wrye Williams, Broadus, 59.
Steer Wrestling — 1. Will Powell, St. Ignatius, 4.14; 2. Trevin Baumann, Hardin, 4.95; 3. Austin Anderson, Billings, 7.90; 4. Trey Owens, Vaughn, 9.25; 5. Jake Malek, Highwood, 14.16; 6. Denver Krone, Augusta, 14.56; 7. Bryce Butterfield, Bozeman, 20.88.
Bull Riding — 1. (tie) Jess Lockwood, Volborg, and Jordan Lindsay,
Bozeman, 78 each. 3. Blaine Bauer, Charlo, 71.5.
Final Year-End Standings
Top Four Advance to National Finals
Pole Bending — 1. Heidi Schmid, Kalispell, 133; 2. Caydee Johnson,
Manhattan, 130; 3. Taylour Russell, Conrad, 114; 4. Mikayla Fuller,
Bozeman, 112; 5. Celie Salmond, Choteau, 111.
Goat Tying — 1. Hailey Garrison, Glen, 125; 2. Caydee Johnson, Manhattan, 119; 3. Celie Salmond, Choteau, 109; 4. Shelby Rasmussen, Choteau, 104; 5. Nichole Lake, Polson, 101.
Team Roping — 1. Caleb Guardipee/Will Powell, 252; 2. Kaden Lappe/Coby King, 236; 3. Matt Lesofski/Celie Salmond, 232; 4. Garrett Duncan/Madison Sorden, 218; 5. Jaret Whitman/Ty Everson, 208.
Breakaway Roping — 1. Shelby Rasmussen, Choteau, 119.5; 2. Ruby Speth, Bozeman, 113; 3. (tie) Celie Salmond, Choteau, and Mikayla Fuller, Bozeman, 106 each; 5. Kayla Schmiedeke, Stevensville, 100.
Barrel Racing — 1. Tara Hansen, Manhattan, 116; 2. Korte Nicole, Laurel, 113; 3. Meagan Harris, Florence, 112; 4. Mikayla Fuller, Bozeman, 102; 5. Samantha Flikkema, Bozeman, 93.
Bareback Riding — 1. Shawn Perkins, Roberts, 146; 2. Koltin Kimmel, Forsyth, 116; 3. Troy Kirkpatrick, Wise River, 106; 4. Tyler Davey, Havre, 94; 5. Lane Grove, Townsend, 93.
Saddle Bronc — 1. Houston Brown, Miles City, 126; 2. Trevor Clark,
Brusett, 124; 3. Koley Schmidt, Miles City, 120; 4. Wyre Williams,
Broadus, 113.5; 5. Konrad Quigley, Avon, 98.
Steer Wrestling — 1. Trevin Baumann, Hardin, 146; 2. Denver Krone,
Augusta, 132; 3. Austin Anderson, Billings, 118; 4. Will Powell, St.
Ignatius, 108; 5. (tie) Jake Malek, Highwood, and Jaret Whitman, Belgrade, 102 each.
Bull Riding — 1. Jess Lockwood, Volborg, 150; 2. Bridger Fitzpatrick,
Polson, 100; 3. Tyrell Toren, Kalispell, 99; 4. Tristan O'Neal, Valier,
94; 5. (tie) Jordan Lindsay, Bozeman; Blaine Bauer, Charlo, 92 each.
ALL AROUND CHAMPS
Boys - Wyre Williams (Broadus)
Girls - Caydee Johnson (Manhattan)
