Article & photos by Nancy Brannon
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On the wettest weekend this year, with record flooding in the Wolf and Loosahatchie Rivers, competitors, fans, and parents flooded into the ShowPlace Arena for the Memphis Challenge, Tennessee High School Rodeo March 11-13, 2016. Even though there was so much rain and mud, the rodeo competitors still had a good time, especially at the dance on Saturday night.
Rodeo Secretary Vicki Mitchell said, “We had contestants representing Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois competing in this rodeo weekend that started on Friday night and ended on Sunday afternoon. Arkansas was the state winner.”
Following are the top four placers in each event at the Memphis Challenge.
Bareback Bronc: Rodeo #1: Shannon Warren, first; Coy Garton, second. Rodeo #2: Russ Campbell, first; Job Dunlavey, second.
Saddle Bronc: Rodeo #1: Tyler Smith, first; Shannon Warren, second. Rodeo #2: Casey Whittle, first; Russ Camapbell, second.
Barrel Racing: Rodeo #1: Jordan Neeley, first: Emma Grace Easley, second. Rodeo #2: Katelyn Morley, first; Sydni Cunningham, second.
Calf Roping: Rodeo #1: David Holt, first; Garner Holcomb, second. Rodeo #2: Myles Neighbors, first; Ben Piazza, second.
Pole Bending: Rodeo #1: Anna Dietrich, first; Cody Dowell, second. Rodeo #2: Anna Dietrich, first; Karlee Sanders, second.
Team Roping: Rodeo #1: Garrett Lock & Justin Johnson, first; Dayton Williams & Cale McCall, second. Rodeo #2: Cooper Lee & Booker McCutchen, first; Taylor Biggs & Ryan Sutton, second.
Breakaway Roping: Rodeo #1: Kaci Starkey, first; Gracie Raby, second. Rodeo #2: Katelyn Morley, first; Michaela Caudle, second.
Steer Wrestling: Rodeo #1: Myles Neighbors, first; Justin Johnson, second. Rodeo #2: Jackson Williams, first; Justin Johnson, second.
Goat Tying: Rodeo #1: Jordan Neeley, first; Josey Powell, second. Rodeo #2: Gracie Raby, first; Chyanne Fogg, second.
Bull Riding: Rodeo #1: James Wheeler, first; Cole Skender, second. Rodeo #2: Christian Cox – only one qualified ride.
The bull riding was tough in the second Rodeo. There were two injured cowboys requiring the medics, as these bulls seemed determined to get rid of their riders as fast as possible and didn’t care how they did it.
[View More Photos]
On the wettest weekend this year, with record flooding in the Wolf and Loosahatchie Rivers, competitors, fans, and parents flooded into the ShowPlace Arena for the Memphis Challenge, Tennessee High School Rodeo March 11-13, 2016. Even though there was so much rain and mud, the rodeo competitors still had a good time, especially at the dance on Saturday night.
Rodeo Secretary Vicki Mitchell said, “We had contestants representing Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois competing in this rodeo weekend that started on Friday night and ended on Sunday afternoon. Arkansas was the state winner.”
Following are the top four placers in each event at the Memphis Challenge.
Bareback Bronc: Rodeo #1: Shannon Warren, first; Coy Garton, second. Rodeo #2: Russ Campbell, first; Job Dunlavey, second.
Saddle Bronc: Rodeo #1: Tyler Smith, first; Shannon Warren, second. Rodeo #2: Casey Whittle, first; Russ Camapbell, second.
Barrel Racing: Rodeo #1: Jordan Neeley, first: Emma Grace Easley, second. Rodeo #2: Katelyn Morley, first; Sydni Cunningham, second.
Calf Roping: Rodeo #1: David Holt, first; Garner Holcomb, second. Rodeo #2: Myles Neighbors, first; Ben Piazza, second.
Pole Bending: Rodeo #1: Anna Dietrich, first; Cody Dowell, second. Rodeo #2: Anna Dietrich, first; Karlee Sanders, second.
Team Roping: Rodeo #1: Garrett Lock & Justin Johnson, first; Dayton Williams & Cale McCall, second. Rodeo #2: Cooper Lee & Booker McCutchen, first; Taylor Biggs & Ryan Sutton, second.
Breakaway Roping: Rodeo #1: Kaci Starkey, first; Gracie Raby, second. Rodeo #2: Katelyn Morley, first; Michaela Caudle, second.
Steer Wrestling: Rodeo #1: Myles Neighbors, first; Justin Johnson, second. Rodeo #2: Jackson Williams, first; Justin Johnson, second.
Goat Tying: Rodeo #1: Jordan Neeley, first; Josey Powell, second. Rodeo #2: Gracie Raby, first; Chyanne Fogg, second.
Bull Riding: Rodeo #1: James Wheeler, first; Cole Skender, second. Rodeo #2: Christian Cox – only one qualified ride.
The bull riding was tough in the second Rodeo. There were two injured cowboys requiring the medics, as these bulls seemed determined to get rid of their riders as fast as possible and didn’t care how they did it.
