Ray, Moran qualify for rodeo nationals
This story has been updated with the results from Thursday evening.
Two local sharpshooters are ready to roll in Rock Springs.
Kalispell’s Isabella Moran and Whitefish’s Ruby Ray secured their spots at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Ray finishing in a tie for fourth in trap shooting and in a solo fourth for rifle shooting at the Montana High School Rodeo Final at Majestic Valley Arena Thursday.
Her 13-point performance in the short go-round was enough to grab the final spot at nationals with a total of 158.5. She also nabbed the final spot in rifle shooting with a total of 163.
Moran took the third spot in rifle shooting with 192 points, earning her spot at nationals. Great Falls’ Katy Ramsey (222) and Dillon’s Sophia Wyatt (215) took the top two spots.
William Barnett of Absarokee took the top spot in trap shooting with a total of 192, Ramsey finished second at 173 and Lane Bantz of Townsend took third at 168.5.
Other top qualifiers on Thursday’s early events were Choteau’s JR Branger in cowhorse, Jacob Heggie — also of Choteau — took boys cutting and Belgrade’s Mesa Radue led the girls cutting.
The rodeo continues on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday with championship rounds beginning at 1 p.m.
Results from day one can be found below.
Montana High School Rodeo Finals
Majestic Valley Arena
1st Go-Round
Bareback: 1, Leighton Lafromboise, Helena, 75.5; 2 (tie), William Barnett, Absarokee, & Wyatt Warneke, Great Falls, 66; 4, Wace Williams, Browning, 49.5.
Barrels: 1, Landry Larson, Sidney, 15.81; 2, Jocie Roen, Musselshell, 16.03; 3, Isabella Moran, Kalispell, 16.08; 4, Havyn Vermandel, Shepherd, 16.23; 5, Linden Schenk, Joliet, 16.26; 6, Shelby Gobbs, Glendive, 16.29; 7, Raenee Mapston, Belt, 16.30; 8, Ruby Ray, Whitefish, 16.33; 9, Josie Robb, Bozeman, 16.33; 10, Brylan Garrett, Butte, 16.40.
Steer Wrestling: 1, AJ Swenson, Huntley, 5.02; 2, Ryder Gaasch, Dillon, 7.69; 3, Teagen Arnold, Conrad, 11.71; 4, Tike Erickson, Hobson, 14.27.
Saddle Bronc: 1, Levi Noyes, Sarpy, 68; 2, Randon Boyce, Browning, 58; 3, Stetson Seemann, Big Timber, 44.
Breakaway: 1, Aspen Swenson, Huntley, 2.56; 2, Reece Conner, Conner, 2.70; 3, Molly Gilbert, Billings, 2.97; 4, Josie Robb, Bozeman, 3.04; 5, Mesa Radue, Belgrade, 3.58; 6, Josephine Michael, Cut Bank, 3.64; 7, Allison Hershberger, Denton, 3.72; 8 (tie), Sage Henderson, Lewistown & Raya Elings, Shepherd, 3.75; 10, Paisley Verhelst, Pryor, 4.0.
Tie Down: 1, AJ Swenson, Huntley, 11.25; 2, Blaise Bolich, Belgrade, 11.72; 3, Ryder Gaasch, Dillon, 11.72; 4, Tike Erickson, Hobson, 12.15; 5, Gage Mikkelson, Buffalo, 13.66; 6, Tristen Cheff, Kalispell, 13.66; 7, Ryker Peterson, Livingston, 13.85; 8, Tryan Knight, Wibaux, 13.91; 9, Royce Levine, Wolf Creek, 14.07; 10, Preston Ostrum, Huntley, 14.14.
Goat Tying: 1, Aspen Swenson, Huntley, 7.23; 2, Josie Robbins, Dillon, 7.44; 3, Natalie Krenning, Bridger, 7.76; 4, Brylan Garrett, Butte, 7.93; 5, Parker Lenhardt, Helena, 8.01; 6, Bailey Billingsley, Glasgow, 8.10; 7, Kendel Gobbs, Glendive, 8.11; 8, Cassie Gibson, Havre, 8.26; 9, Shaylee Berg, Lewistown, 8.32; 10, Josie Robb, Bozeman, 8.53.
Team Roping: 1, JP & Charlie Cornwell, Glasgow, 6.41; 2, Blaise & Brooks Bolich, Belgrade, 8.64; 3, Aspen & AJ Swenson, Huntley, 9.16; 4, Rylee Webb, Arlee & Laney Rose Cote, Eureka, 9.17; 5, Trace & Tate Poppe, Fallon, 11.76; 6, Raya Elings, Shepherd & Curtis Pretty On Top, Fort Smith, 12.34; 7, Mackenzie Martell, Three Forks & Maizy Pulasky, Manhattan, 13.98.
Pole Bending: 1, Elle Werner, Clancy, 20.33; 2, Mackenzie Martell, Three Forks, 20.52; 3, Ruby Ray, Whitefish, 20.68; 4, Tess Megill, Bigfork, 21.43; 5, Laney Rose Cote, Eureka, 21.45; 6, Shelby Gobbs, Glendive, 21.69; 7, Chloe Lafromboise, Helena, 21.83; 8, Linden Schenk, Joliet, 22.19; 9, Natalie Krenning, Bridger, 22.62; 10, Addison Sant, Frenchtown, 22.65.
Bull Riding: 1, Colt Holdbrook, Roberts, 71; 2, Rio Luger, Busby, 64.5; 3, Octavius Christianson, Columbia Falls, 56.5.