Ropers eye top spot

CMI staff writer

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Kory McConnell and Kade Sherwood finished Wednesday at first place in U-19 team roping event after two rounds at the High Plains Junior Rodeo Finals at the Curry County Events Center.

link CMI staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Cy Frizzell of Muleshoe brings down a steer Wednesday in the 13-15 boys chute dogging of the High Plains Junior Rodeo Finals event at the Curry County Events Center. His time was 4.177 in the second go-round. The short round is scheduled for Saturday.

Sherwood and McConnell finished first in the first round and third place in the second round, but managed to hang onto the first place average. They will compete in the short (final) round on Saturday, and hope to retain their first-place position.

While these young cowboys were waiting to find out where they placed in the second round, Clovis Media Inc. asked them about life as a cowboy:

CMI: How old are you? Where are you from? And how long have you been doing rodeo?

Sherwood: Fifteen. Lubbock, Texas. I’ve been doing it since I was about 10.

McConnell: I’m 16. Hereford, Texas. About 6-7 years.

CMI: How much do you practice rodeo?

Sherwood: Every day this summer.

CMI: Do you ever practice together?

Sherwood: We practice together a couple times a month. We go to his (McConnell’s) because there is more land.

CMI: What’s the secret to winning the team roping event?

McConnell: To be fast and smooth.

CMI: Have you been traveling and competing a lot this summer?

McConnell: We went to Shawnee, Okla., for the largest youth rodeo.

Sherwood: We didn’t win anything.

McConnell: I won this dodgeball belt buckle in a dodgeball tournament at the rodeo in Abilene, Texas (his hands move to his waist and he cups a red and gold dodgeball belt buckle in his hands). We won first place. The teams were co-ed, five boys and five girls. Kade won a dodgeball buckle too.

CMI: What are your rodeo goals?

Sherwood: I want to win the Bob Feist Invitational and be in the national finals (calf roping).

McConnell: To be a world champion calf roper.

CMI: Do you listen to Garth Brooks?

McConnell: No. We listen to Lil’ Wayne. It gets you going. It makes you feel confident and it makes you feel bad.

Sherwood: The older cowboys listen to Garth Brooks.

CMI: Do you listen to Lil Wayne when you practice calf roping at home?

McConnell: Yes.

CMI: Did you compete in mutton busting when you were young?

Sherwood: I sucked at it. I’d fall off right out of the gate.

McConnell: I love mutton busting. I wish I could still do it.

CMI: What do you think about Clovis?

McConnell: This is my favorite arena. It’s nice.