By: Taylor Arens - Journal Staff
On July 19-25 in Lincoln at the Sandhills Global Event Center, the National High School Finals Rodeo competition will be going on and two recent CHS alumni will be competing.
Over 1,500 high school rodeo competitors compete in the National competition on a yearly basis.
Jacee Anthony, one of the competitors, has been competing in rodeo since she was around eight years old. She spoke about her experience and what she looks forward to with this competition, “I’m looking forward to a big opportunity meeting new people and just having a whole bunch of fun.”
Anthony will be competing in Breakaway Roping on Tuesday and Thursday.
Callie Olsen is another CHS alum competing in the NHSFR. She will be competing in Goat Tying on Monday and Friday, Girls Cutting on Tuesday and Thursday, and Reined Cow Horse on Tuesday and Wednesday. Olsen will also be continuing her rodeo career at Kansas State University.
The schedule of events is based on the unofficial draw and tentative schedule.
Qualifying for the NHSFR competition requires the right number of points throughout the spring and fall seasons. The points go together during the season and then the points are taken to State and then the State points are doubled. “When you go to state, it’s a whole new game,” Anthony explained. “So I came in third and I finished fourth and the top four go to Nationals in Breakaway (Roping).”
Anthony spoke on what she hopes to gain from her time at Nationals, “I hope to gain experience and mental toughness and just get another opportunity just to know I can handle anything.”
The NHSFR has events beginning at around 9 am on July 19 tentatively and ending the evening of July 25.