Alyce Kugler and Jonathon Glocknitzer have put themselves in position to qualify for the championship round at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Springfield, Ill., after their first go-rounds.
Kugler of the Carson-Douglas Rodeo Club took eighth in her go-round in girls cutting on Wednesday morning with 206 points. Kale Miller of St. Anthony, Idaho, won the go-round with 218.5 points. Kugler was scheduled to go again on Wednesday night in her second go-round.
Gardnerville's Glocknitzer, competing as an independent, took ninth in his go-round in boys cutting with 208 points. Kip Denton of Sterling, Utah, won the round with 215.5 points. Glocknitzer will compete in his second go-round on Friday.
Also for the Carson-Douglas club, Corey Hershkowitz, who was bucked off in his first go-round, will compete in his second go-round in bareback riding on Friday. The 20 overall finishers from two go-rounds in each event will advance to Saturday's finals.
Utah continued to lead in the overall standings while the Nevada team dropped to 25th after Tuesday night.
Austin Adams of Logandale is third overall in boys' cutting and eighth in all-around cowboy, and Casey Barton of Elko is in 13th place in cutting. Jenna Mariluch of Battle Mountain is seventh overall in breakaway roping, but she is third in the all-around cowgirl standings. Mariluch and Clay Tyree of Fernley are 14th overall in team roping.
Battle Mountain cowboy Cameron Hopper-Craig currently sits in eighth place in bull riding and 24th in bareback. Dude McCarty of Hiko is 20th in steer wrestling, and Elko cowgirl Chelsea Hooper is 21st place in girls' cutting.
Hooper came in 15th Tuesday night in girls' cutting with 209 points. Fallon Elko contestant Dakota Eldridge finished 13th in tie-down roping in 13.215 seconds.
Shelbie Nelson of Alamo posted a time of 10.406 in goat tying for 11th place, while Mandi Taylor of Fallon was 18th in barrel racing in 17.403. Kari Taliaferro of Reno lagged behind in pole bending, placing 23rd in 26.67.