Rodeo: State finals speed up
Nichole Lake of Polson may have some time to make up in barrel racing, but she’s definitely contending in her other events — goat tying and breakaway roping — after the first go Thursday at the Montana High School Rodeo Finals at Majestic Valley Arena.
The 17-year-old senior to be had the fifth-best time (8.46 seconds) in goat tying and was ninth in breakaway roping (3.19).
Her barrel racing go (18.30), however, has her well down the line in the 26th spot.
“Did decent,” Lake said.
“I had a solid day. It set me up for the average.”
She entered this competition maxed out in points (70) for goat tying during the regular season along with six others. She was tied for 11th in barrel racing (65 points).
Lake competed in the National High School Finals Rodeo in breakaway roping last year.
Lyndi Anderson of Billings leads the goat tying (8.18) while Mikayla Fuller of Bozeman (2.51) had the best effort in breakaway roping.
Seven cowgirls broke the 18-second barrier in barrel racing with Laramie Noble of Shepherd (17.68) leading the way. Taylour Russell of Conrad was a close second (17.69).
Celie Salmond of Choteau is off to a spectacular start, leading pole bending (20.5), third in breakaway roping (2.72), fourth in goat tying (8.44) and first in team roping with Helena’s Matt Lesofski (7.78).
Wrye Williams of Broadus had the top time (10.09) in tie-down roping.
Kalispell’s Heidi Schmid had a strong outing in pole bending (21.14). That was the fourth-best time of the day.
While Thursday was limited to the timed events, full rodeo action gets under way today with sessions at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Saturday has two performances also, 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The top 16 in all events advance to the short-go championship round on Sunday at 11 a.m.
The top four from the short-go qualify for the National High Finals Rodeo in Rocky Springs, Wyoming, July12-18.
Montana High School Rodeo Finals
Thursday
At Majestic Valley Arena
Pole Bending
Celie Salmond, Choteau 20.50
Danelle Toren, Sun River 20.79
Caydee Johnson, Manhattan 21.11
Heidi Schmid, Kalispell 21.14
Taylour Russell, Conrad 21.17
Madison Waters, Malta 21.43
Callie Otoupalik, Arlee 21.55
Molly Salmond, Choteau 21.56
Martje-Jane Plaggemeyer, Big Timber 21.59
Morgan Link, Billings 21.60
Goat Tying
Lyndi Anderson, Billings 8.18
Hailey Garrison, Glen 8.28
Caydee Johnson, Manhattan 8.43
Celie Salmond, Choteau 8.44
Nichole Lake, Poslon 8.46
LaTasha Wieferich, Sidney 8.59
Jalisa Klassen, Powell 8.71
Ouana Harkins, Billings 8.75
Madison Brenner, Gallatin Gateway 8.78
Darby Yeager, Choteau 8.06
Tie-Down Roping
Wrye Williams, Broadus 10.09
Trevin Baumann, Hardin 12.48
Haven Meged, Miles City 13.13
James Ramirez, Bozemank 14.46
Danny Hildebrand, Joliet 14.53
Tele Seemann, Polson15.26
Caden Camp, Belgrade 15.65
Cyris Robertson, Whitehall 17.80
Albert Koenig, Belgrade 18.21
Jack Pederson, Victor 19.03
Team Roping
Matt Lesofski/Celie Salmond 7.78
Caleb Guardipee/Will Powell 8.06
Brenna Krueger/Madison Waters 8.42
Laramie Noble/Lawson McGill 9.10
Garrett Duncan/Madison Sorden 13.55
Tucker Harmon/Wrye Williams 13.69
Opal Harkins/Ouana Harkins, 14.27
Tyler Robinson/Bryce Bott 15.10
Haven Meged/Tate Rhoads 16.75
Wyatt Griffith/Garrett Welch 17.02
Breakaway Roping
Mikayla Fuller, Bozeman 2.51
Shelby Rasmussen, Choteau 2.65
Celie Salmond, Choteau 2.72
Shayle Hildebrand, Joliet 2.80
Kayla Schmiedeke, Stevensville 2.90
Hallie Sohr, Ronan 2.94
Emma Schmidt, Gallatin Gateway 3.06
Ruby Speth, Bozeman 3.15
Nichole Lake, Polson 3.19
Darby Yeager, Choteau 3.34
Barrel Racing
Laramie Noble, Shepherd 17.68
Taylour Russell, Conrad 17.69
Brityn Garrett, Butte 17.77
Morgan Link, Billings 17.79
Mikayla Fuller, Bozeman 17.82
Samantha Flikkema, Bozeman 17.93
Stephanie Bartmess, Helena 17.99
Keslie Wolfe, Boulder 18.02
Tara Hansen, Manhattan 18.03
Emma Johnson, Gallatin Gateway 18.09