Prairie
High School Rodeo Members Compete at State Competition
rodeo competitors. The Idaho State High School Rodeo Competition
at Pocatello, Idaho featured nearly 500 contestants, 12 events, and 8 districts.
The event lasted a week and featured two rodeos a day. The contestants
competed in the two “go’s” and then the top 20 competed in the “short go.”
The top four competitors in each event then qualify for the national high
school finals that takes place at Gillette Wyoming.
The trip proved to be extra worthwhile for Eric Mader, first place state winner of the bareback riding event. Scoring a 21 in the first go, Eric knew that he was in the running for winning the event. From there his rides only got better. In the second go, he posted a 74 on the boards ranking him 1st going into the short go. In his last ride, Eric really showed what it took to be a champion, putting out a 78-point ride, securing the win for National High School finals this July. Eric also competed in the calf roping and team roping events, unfortunately posting no-times.  Shane
Poxleitner, who just recovered from a leg injury, show that he could still
ride well. In the 1st go of bull riding, he scored a 67, tying him
for sixth. In the 2nd go, the bull got the upper hand and bucked
him off. In bareback riding, Shane placed 7th, respectively.
In the timed event portion, Cody Gehring missed the short go by one second in calf roping. In the first go he had the making of a good run despite a slight hold up in his tie, putting up an 18 second run. In the second go, he missed the time limit as well as the short for by merely one second using a second loop. In the team roping, he ended up with both no-times. Jack Merrill, freshman, also competed in calf roping and team roping, putting forth a valiant effort, ended up with no-times. Lauren Merrill didn’t come home completely empty handed after being elected the 2004-2005 Idaho State High School Rodea vice president. In the team roping, her and her partner Jack experienced tough luck and no-times. In the breakaway roping she had a 6 second time the first go and a no time in the second go. In barrel racing she posted an 18.3 in the first go and knocked down a barrel in the second go. Renee Duman, Amber Geis and Shandrie Poxleitner also qualified for the state competition but decided not to compete. 
Congratulations and a job well done to all state qualifiers and competitors, and good luck to Eric Mader at nationals. The contestants want to thank all of their sponsors and support from their parents and family. They would also like to thank the community for their support for and everyone for making it a great year. |
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