The Louisiana High School Rodeo Association’s junior high and high school finals, which began May 31, came to an end Saturday with the crowning of the top competitors in the state in 13 events.

The top four in each event advanced to the National High School Rodeo Association’s finals in Rock Springs, Wyo., a goal they have been working toward for most of the school year.

“You are in direct competition with whatever animal you’re trying to ride or rope. Even in something like barrel racing you’re competing against your horse, trying to get it to run around those barrels faster than the other horses,” said John F. Denison, Louisiana High School Rodeo Association president.

“So, yes, it’s a competition, but because you’re competing against an animal more than anything there’s a great camaraderie between all the students here. Every win here is a team victory. People in rodeo are tight.”

Trent Suybam, a 16-year-old competitor from Pitkin, said it was this team mentality that got him interested in the sport in the first place.

“I tried a bunch of events, but I eventually settled on team roping because it’s the only event here that you can do with your friends,” he said. “I like being out there with them, and we have a great time doing this.”

Riley Fontenot, a 16-year-old from Grand Prairie, said that although the strength of his team was important, he was focused on winning the night’s calf roping competition.

“I like calf roping because it’s just more aggressive than the other events I’m in like team roping,” he said. “When you’re roping a calf, you get to experience a lot of action.”

It was this kind of action that had 17-year-old Brandon Cummings of Prairieville disappointed that he had been knocked out of the event’s bull riding competition by only three points.

“I would have liked to have competed tonight. When you’re on a bull, it’s like nothing else. It’s fun, and it gets your adrenaline pumping,” he said. “Unfortunately this competition as a little rough on me, and I got knocked out.”

Louisiana Finals

Boys Cutting

1, Ty Fogleman, Sam Houston, 144; 2, Colt Carpenter, 141; 3, Camron Fontenot, 135.

Girls Cutting

1, Mallory Gilbert, 146; 2, Monique Buller, 139; 3, Ashley Hesnor, 137; 4, Becca Dupont, Grand Lake, 135.

Bareback Riding

1, Derrick Chaisson, 70; 2, Ethan Andrepont, South Beauregard, 54; 3, Ethan Morgan, 49.

Barrel Racing

1, Cassie Hebert, 13.872; 2, Kelsey Chesson, DeQuincy, 14.014; 3, Mia Manzanares, 14.118; 4, Emily Hamrick, 14.169.

Saddle Bronc

1, Canon Fletcher, 65; 2, Logan Chapman, 50; 3, Cade Morgan, 38.

Tie Down

1, Cody Hogan, 10.155; 2, Justin Smith, Evans, 11.412; 3, Tyler Walraven, 12.435; 4, Levi Wisby, Pitkin, 12.906.

Breakaway

1, Ashley Willson, 2.558; 2, Samantha Little, Hackberry, 3.136; 3, Lanie Courville, Kinder, 3.334; 4, Katie Adams, 3.348.

Steer Wrestling

1, William Heinen, Welsh, 5.465; 2, Tristan Martin, Sulphur, 5.97; 3, Cole Frey, 6.251; 4, Kyle Sullivan, 7.956.

Goat Tying

1, Mia Manzanares, 7.145; 2, Kennedy Darbonne, Hackberry, 8.374; 3, Torey Little, Hackberry, 9.08; 4, Kayli Meaux, Lake Arthur, 9.276.

Team Roping

1, Darbi Montie, Grand Lake; Dustin Bonnette, 6.996; 2, Logan Johnson, Pitkin; Jace Gilbert Sulphur, 7.308; 3, Blaise Frey; Gus Fontenot, Lacassine, 9.593; 4, Cole Matheson, Bell City; Colton Rodriguez, 9.815.

Pole Bending

1, Macey Colvin, 20.609; 2, Lanie Courville, Kinder, 20.723; 3, Aliece Manuel, 20.763; 4, Savannah Kerry, Singer, 20.925.

Bull Riding

1, Wyatt Hughes, 58.

(Rick Hickman / American Press)