Nevada off to strong start in rodeo

The Nevada high school rodeo team had some solid performances Sunday night and Monday morning at the National High School Rodeo Associations Finals at Springfield, Ill. With the effort, Nevada was on its way to its best finish in several years.

Battle Mountain's Cameron Hopper-Craig led the bull riding with 76 points. The closest score to his effort in his go-round was a 72.

Fellow Battle Mountain cowgirl Jenna Mariluch and her team roping partner, Clay Tyree of Fernley, placed fourth Monday morning in 7.76 seconds. Mariluch, was also tied for all-around cowgirl after placing third in breakaway roping on Sunday in 3.173 seconds.

Nevada had a pair of cowboys who finished fifth in their respective events Monday morning. Dakota Eldridge of Elko had a time of 7.51 in steer wrestling, and Fallon's Logan Nuttall had a time of 14.591.

Jessi Wilcox of Spanish Springs posted a time of 4.267 in breakaway roping to come in sixth. Shelby Scott of Hiko placed 11th in goat tying in 10.598.

Two cowgirls from Fallon placed in Monday's top 20 in their respective events. Marisa Julian garnered 190 points, and Mandi Taylor finished pole bending in 21.98.

In Sunday's action, Reno cowboy Derek Worthen came in 16th in steer wrestling in 16.027, while Yerington cowgirl Hannah Vaughan was 15th in barrel racing in 17.369.

Through two performances, Utah leads the boys' standings with 1,050 points. Nevada is 11th with 480. Florida had taken a surprising first-place lead in the girls' standings with 700 points, followed closely by Kansas with 620. Nevada is in seventh place with 455 points.

From the Carson-Douglas Rodeo Club, Cory Hershkowitz was buck off in bareback riding in his first go-round on Sunday. Herskowitz will have one more chance on Saturday.

Also from Carson-Douglas, Alyce Kugler will compete in girls cutting in both of her gos today. Gardnerville's Jonathon Glocknitzer, who's competing as an independent, was scheduled to compete in boys cutting last night and again on Friday.

The top 20 overall finishers from two go-rounds in each event will advance to Saturday's finals. The event is the largest rodeo in the world with more than 1,500 contestants. Students from all over the United States, including Hawaii, Canada and Australia are competing in the event.