Junior
Looper Shoot Out Roping
2014
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Saturday
November 1, 2014
By Melinda Clements
Our
kids are like butterflies in the wind.
Some can fly higher than others, but each one flies the best it
can. Why compare one against another?
Each one is different. Each one is special and each one is beautiful.
The
arena floor at the 2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping was covered
with kids. It is our kids that make our
lives important. It is our kids that
have the uncanny ability to teach each of us what life if really about.
Amid
the congestion, laughter, voices and activity the floor was being prepared for
the Junior Looper Roping. This was,
without a doubt, serious business. If
you think the ropers had been serious throughout the week at the NFTR then you
needed to back up because this group were about to attack with the tenacity of
bulldogs and not a one of them would quit or back down until they had exhausted
all avenues to victory.
There
would be tears, frustration, joy and overwhelming awe as the competition
began. It would be hard to tell who
would suffer most, the kids or the parents, but either way it was going to be
roping at its absolute best.
As
the six and under age group prepared to rope it was interesting to note how serious
they were. Their coaches, be it parents,
siblings or just best friends wondered if they had prepared enough. There would be the top six in each age group
after some preliminary ropings earlier in the week and the fun part was about
to begin.
Walker
Jones, Cactus Cain, Adrian Ramone, Treston Brazile, Maya Francisco and Rance
Winters were the competitors in the six and under group. Now understand, these guys and gals are not
very old. They aren’t really big
either. Maybe, I should reword
that. They are big, mind you, almost
grown, like maybe six going on thirty or something but in stature, well, you
get it right?
As
the roping progressed it quickly became evident this was a hearty group. Seventeen feet from the roping dummy is a
long way. When the dirt cleared a winner
emerged and she had earned every bit of it.
Roping against all boys, Maya Francisco won the six and under age group
at seventeen feet. To the observer, it
was an amazing feat.
Maya’s
is a first grader and she lives in Arizona.
She has a horse named Henry and she loves heading best of all. Maya’s favorite team roper is Derrick Begay. It was hard to read her emotions, however,
when they sat her atop her brand new saddle her face beamed. I think she was excited.
In
the seven to nine year old age group the contestants were; Chance Fleming,
Seren Fowler, Rylan Luman, Cutter Wiel, Chanler Ramone and Cutter Cain. These guys and one girl, Seren, battled it
out to fifteen feet. Cutter Cain took
the win.
Cutter
likes to head and heel. Trevor Brazile
just happens to be his favorite team roper and a big grin crossed his face when
Brazile walked up to him and congratulated him.
He has a horse and is in the third grade and lives in Milburn,
Oklahoma. I think he likes his new
saddle also.
When
the ten to twelve year olds took the stage it was another group of aggressive
young ropers. The contestants were Reed
Richison, Kaden Profili, Colton Allen, Brandon Ben, Justin Morlan and Lane
Bitsilly. These guys can definitely
throw some line as the saying goes.
Eighteen
feet is a long line. Lane Bitsilly took
the win in this age group. He told
announcer, Ben Clements, he was just a little bit nervous. Lane is eleven years old and lives at
Wheatfield, Arizona. He is a fifth
grader and has two horses and their names are Skip and Nicky. Erich Rogers just happens to be his favorite
team roper.
As
the groups gathered for pictures it was pretty obvious the new saddles were a
hit. Along with an array of other prizes
and awards the kids seemed a little dazed.
It was fun. Just being on the arena
floor was exciting.
It
is pretty evident that team roping is in good hands. Our kids love it. They like the roping, the horses, the hauling
and all the fun that goes with team roping.
Let’s keep this promise to them: we want you to be able to rope if that
is what you choose to do. Yep, I’d say
team roping is alive and well in our younger generation.
