7 locals to compete at national rodeo in July

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Clay Elmore competes during rodeo action Thursday night. |                           Andrew Garner/Star-News

Clay Elmore competes during rodeo action Thursday night. | Andrew Garner/Star-News

Seven local cowboys and cowgirls will compete in the 2013 National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyo., after finishing well enough at the Alabama High School Rodeo Association state finals over the weekend.

The local competitors participated in different events during the three-day event, which was held at the Covington Center Arena in Andalusia.

Chase Hargrove, Maggie Holmes, Jordan Whitman, Bailey O’Ferrell, Caleb Varner, Gus Maraman and Clay Elmore will make the long trek to Wyoming to compete in nationals.

The following are local competitors who placed better than 10th at the state finals:

• Maggie Holmes — fourth place in pole bending, seventh place in goat tying and eighth in barrels;

• Jordan Whitman — fourth place in team roping with Caleb Varner;

• Hanna Seymour — second place in girls cutting;

• Bailey O’Ferrell — All-Around Cowgirl, ninth place in breakaway, fifth place in pole bending, third place in goat tying, sixth place in team roping with Zack Varner, third place in barrels and first place in girls cutting;

• Lukas Taylor — sixth place in tie down calf roping, first place in team roping with Garrett McDonald and second place in boys cutting;

• Clay Elmore — seventh place in team roping with Keaton Locke, 10th place in steer wrestling and first place in tie down calf roping;

• Chase Hargrove — seventh place in steer wrestling and first place in shooting;

• Gus Maraman — third place in tie down calf roping;

• Caleb Varner — fourth place in team roping.

Locals receiving scholarships at the rodeo were Clay Elmore and Caleb Varner.

The National High School Finals Rodeo is July 14-20, at Sweetwater Events Complex.