Rianda year-end champ in rodeo

The Daily Inter Lake

MISSOULA - The Flathead Valley High School Rodeo Team (FVHSRT) qualified three individuals for nationals over the weekend at the Montana State High School Rodeo Finals at the Missoula County Fairgrounds.

Lexy Rianda of Kalispell finished as the year-end champion in goat tying, Rachel Thomson of Columbia Falls placed third in barrel racing and fourth in pole bending and Shane McCaffree of Columbia Falls, along with his partner Levi Guenzler of Ronan, finished fourth in team roping. Guenzler is a member of the Mission Valley team.

The top four finishers in all events advance to the National High School Finals Rodeo in Springfield, Ill., next month.

Those placing fifth through 10th at state qualify for Silver State in Fallon, Nev., later this month.

The FVHSRT had one qualifier for Silver State in Gerald Eash of Trego. He finished fifth in bull riding and saddle bronc in the year-end standings.

During Sunday's championship performance, Rianda placed third in goat tying with a time of 8.75 seconds. Layne Wiebe, Boulder, had the best time, 7.49.

Rianda also competed on the last day in breakaway roping. Her time, 9.15, was seventh best. Kate Sharon of Dillon had the fastest, 2.38.

Thomson had the third best time on the final day in pole bending, 20.94. Brooke Hirschy, Jackson, won it in 20.37.

Thomson had the seventh best time in barrel racing, 18.52. Mariah Morgan, Stevensville, had the best effort, 17.93.

McCaffree and Guenzler posted a 12.26 time, which was good for third place. Cade Tew, Belgrade, and Ryle Whitford, Browning, had the top go at 5.9.

McCaffree also finished 14th in calf roping in the year-end standings.

Eash was bucked off in the bull riding Sunday. Shaun Halko, Bozeman, won that event with a score of 84.

Eash had better luck in the saddle bronc, posting the fifth best score, 60. Trevor Ross, Jordan, won it with a 70.