Even though things didn’t go exactly as planned for Katie Beck and Maggie Holmes this week at the National High School Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo., both said it was an experience they’ll cherish.

“It’s been great,” Beck said by telephone Friday. “I’ve met people all the way from South Carolina to California. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s been a great experience.”

Beck finished 22nd overall Thursday night in the short go in barrel racing.

Holmes hit a pole during her run in the pole bending event Friday, and that put her out of the running to advance in the finals.

Holmes said she was OK with her performance overall at nationals.

“It wasn’t awful,” she said. “I can’t really complain.”

Holmes will enter her sophomore year at Straughn High School, and Beck will be a freshman at Troy University in the fall.

Beck said she’ll continue to rodeo given that nationals served as her last high school rodeo event.

“Things didn’t go exactly the way we planned,” Beck said. “There’s always tomorrow. God has a plan for us. Maybe my time will be later on down the road.”