Two of Ponoka’s four high school provincial finalists roped and rode hard enough to earn their seat in Rock Springs, Wyo. national high school rodeo finals.
Keely Bonnet placed third provincially in tie down roping and won the buckle as the average champion of the weekend’s finals. Jenny Massing placed fourth in the goat tying competition.
“I don’t think people realize how tough the sport of rodeo is. Three-tenths of a second can determine whether you go to nationals or stay. It’s almost no time but it’s everything,” said Massing.
Massing did well the first day but her goat was wilier during the Saturday competition. Between rain showers and bad luck of the draws national dreams were slipping away.
Although she was discouraged, Massing wasn’t going to let anything rain on her parade and by Saturday afternoon she was already planning on how she would refocus for Sunday. “Tomorrow’s another day,” she said.
Bonnett was pleased with his tie down roping abilities and the Grade 11 cowboy also competed in team roping with header Walker Galloway.
Come Saturday afternoon Galloway and Bonnett were sitting in fifth place and needed to place in the top 4 to make nationals. However, their run just didn’t come together in a way they needed; a no time was scored.
“Hopefully I just get one caught and make a good run. Hopefully things fall into place,” Bonnett said Saturday afternoon.
“Haven’t been roping as good as I usually am,” he added. “He’s (Galloway) roping good but I haven’t been doing what I should. He’s turning good steers.”
Galloway, Grade 10, competed only in team roping and won’t be attending nationals this year.
Graduate Nick Smith, who competed in team roping and steer wrestling, also won’t be attending nationals for his last year of high school rodeo.
Steer wrestling, his last event and his last run, did not turn out as he’d hoped.
Team roping also didn’t go as planned. His heeler, Quentin Branden, was able to catch a leg but over the course of the weekend penalties were added to their times, as did broken barriers.
“I liked nothing about the weekend — it sucked,” said Smith.
However, he looks back on his high school career with fond memories, even some of the rougher ones.
Bluffton’s only bull rider to compete this weekend, Cawl Braithwaite, was also immensely dissatisfied with how his weekend went.
“This was the worst weekend I’ve had in a very long time,” he volunteered.
However bareback rider Cole Nicholson of Bluffton tied for first and second place and will also be attending nationals.