Caleb, left, and Cord Hendrix, middle, said the memory of their sister, Rachel, has lifted them to next week's National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyo. Fellow Fallon cowgirl Sydney Howard, right, also competes at nationals.
A dominating overall performance led to an All Around title for one of Fallon’s best cowboys.
Cord Hendrix took the top spot with 433.5 points at last week’s Nevada State High School Finals Rodeo in Ely. In addition, he was also the year-end Reserve All Around cowboy.
Hendrix, though, had more in store than just taking the All Around title. He won the boys cutting with 240.5 points and was second in bull riding with 129.5, securing the Reserve Champion bull rider.
His brother, Caleb Hendrix, took second in cutting with 220 and finished third in the All Around standings with 323.5. The brothers, who are independents, also tied for first in team roping with 188 along with Jesse Estill of Lovelock and Hayley Dalton-Estes of Las Vegas.
Fernley’s Dominic Ceresola (179) and Chance Guerrero (173) were third, while Fallon’s Mackary Spyrow (162) and partner Jordan Taylor of Moapa Valley (162) were fourth and will join the rest at the National High School Finals Rodeo on July 13-19 in Rock Springs, Wyo.
Spyrow, a Galena High School sophomore who rodeos for Fallon, and Taylor entered the rodeo in second place. Their runs, however, were less than great but good enough to clinch a berth for nationals.
“It felt good and it was reassuring that we didn’t get bumped out,” Spyrow said. “It wasn’t the state I wanted team roping-wise. I didn’t rope my steers how I wanted to. But we did well enough to go to nationals.”
Washoe cowgirl and Fallon resident Sydney Howard put to bed her past shortcomings with a tremendous performance at state. Howard took the breakaway roping title with 223.5 points and placed third in goat tying (188.5) to qualify for nationals in both events for the first time in her career. She also finished sixth in the All Around standings with 328 points.
“State finals was awesome this year,” Howard said. “I was really focused on having a good state (rodeo) and that’s what I did. I had a good mindset the whole weekend.”
Also qualifying for nationals is Jessica Gomes, who took third in girls cutting several weeks ago.
Missing the cut in team roping, though, were Blain Jensen (132 points), who placed 12th followed by Jes Tews (123) in 14th, Sam Goings (51.5) took 24th, Billy Quillan (50) was 25th, Levi Quillan (42) took 28th, Howard (18) finished 42nd and Randal Angeles (15) was 45th.
In tiedown, Cord Hendrix took 13th with 64 followed by Billy Quillan (33) in 15th, Sam Goings (29.5) placed 16th, Jes Tews (28) 17th, Caleb Hendrix (23) 19th, Spyrow (14) 21st and Jensen (11) 23rd.
Although a bid to nationals was missed, several cowboys nabbed berths to the Silver State International Rodeo June 29-July 5 in Winnemucca.
Qualifying for SSIR are Goings in tie down and team roping, Jensen and Tews in team roping. Billy Quillan in bull riding and tie down. Goings qualified for SSIR due to his partner’s higher ranking. Cord Hendrix also qualified for SSIR in tiedown.
The SSIR altered its qualification process this year as those athletes who placed fifth through 15th at their respective state rodeos qualify for SSIR.