It's always nice to have an opportunity to compete at home, especially when you follow a circuit that encompasses the entire state and you only have one home date all year.
And the Carson-Douglas High School Rodeo made the best of that opportunity over the weekend by logging several standout performances during its own rodeo in Gardnerville.
For instance, Douglas High sophomore Alyce Kugler picked up three belt buckles by winning the two girls cutting events held on Friday at Corley Ranch, then followed up with a victory in pole bending on Saturday at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.
Likewise, Douglas High senior Keston Denny had a big day on Sunday when he won the bull riding and placed second in steer wrestling. His performance was good enough to earn Reserve All-Around Cowboy honors on Sunday behind Matt Morrison of Wells.
"It was a good rodeo," Denny said. "I think it does help being at home, being in your home arena and with all the hometown people there to watch you. You always try your hardest, but I think that helps you try a little harder."
Kugler also finished as the Reserve All-Around Cowgirl on Saturday behind Eureka senior Julie Etchegaray. For Kugler, it was her best showing in a high school rodeo.
"I've improved a lot this year and last. I've been practicing every day and it's finally all coming together," she said.
Practice requires driving to work with her cutting trainer, Rob Ferber, or to either the Corley Ranch or the Douglas Fairgrounds to work on her poles and barrels. The travel and work paid off with personal best performances over the weekend.
"I've been working with Rob Ferber and I've come a long way with my cutting horse. These were the best scores I've ever had; my horse just worked awesome," said Kugler, who posted scores of 75 and 74 to win the two cutting contests at Corley Ranch.
Her success carried over to the fairgrounds arena on Saturday when she clocked 20.891 seconds to win the pole bending.
"I have a new horse I just started to ride; my last couple of runs have been rocky, but I was real happy with this one," she said. "That's a fast time for Gardnerville. It's usually not that fast."
Denny was impressive in the bulls and steer wrestling on Sunday. He posted a score of 78 to win the bull riding, two points better than state-leader Tony Steele of Alamo. He also placed second in steer wrestling with a 5.88 clocking that trailed only Morrison's 4.88.
"Bulldogging is pretty tough this year," Denny said. "There was a 4, my 5 and a couple of 6s. We were all pretty close."
His bull riding performance was satisfying in more ways than one.
"That 78 is a good score for high school," Denny said. "I might have had a score like that on Saturday, too. I was seven seconds on my bull Saturday, and I think it was a better bull, I just ended up falling at the whistle."
For Denny, who is headed Cochise College in Douglas, Ariz., to pursue his education and rodeo next year, Sunday's performances moved him to third-place in the state points in both bull riding and steer wrestling.
Denny and Amy Beaupre also placed fourth in Saturday's team roping and Beaupre placed fifth in the second girls cutting contest.
"It was a pretty good weekend for all of us," Kugler said. "Keston won, Amy placed in a couple of events, Pia (Wendell) placed in barrels. For us to do so well, it was exciting."
Nevada's high school rodeo circuit travels south this coming weekend for the Lincoln County Rodeo, followed by the Washoe County event at Gondolfo Arena in Sparks on May 7-8. The State Finals Rodeo will be held June 15-20 in Yerington.
n Contact Dave Price at dprice@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-1220.