Familiar ground

CHARLO - Moriah Gilmore wants to make it to nationals.

The 18-year-old graduate of Charlo High School was told by her friend Jessica Anderson that if she able to make rodeo nationals in Gillette, Wyo., or Silver State Nationals in Fallon, Nev., she would get Gilmore a pair of pink zebra stripped boots that she had been eyeballing.

Considering that Gilmore has been to Montana's High School Rodeo Association state finals three years in a row, there's a good chance she might have to make a little extra room in her closet.

"There's tons of pressure there, there are tons of good people," Gilmore said.

Mission Valley has plenty of good people, sending seven participants from the Mission Valley Rodeo Club and four other additional kids not associated with the club.

The state finals is a culmination of training that began in the winter when jackets were still needed for the Mission Valley Rodeo Club in January.

Coached by Yvette Vega, the cowboys and cowgirls trained twice a month. They also have to maintain their horse's health and fitness, along with keeping their grades up in order to be eligible for the rodeos.

Then there's the traveling.

"Gas prices have kind of hindered how many rodeos you can go to," Moriah's grandmother, Nona Gilmore, said.

In fact, the entire Mission Valley Rodeo Club actually qualified for the state finals but they all wont be able to compete due to the travel or scheduling.

"I think just about everybody had a good year," Gilmore said.

In order for someone to qualify for the state finals, they have to place in the top 10 of an event in a Montana High School Rodeo Association qualifying rodeo. Gilmore is heading to state for pole-bending and barrel-racing.

"Poles is probably my best, I was five points from maxing out," said Gilmore.

A rider needs one point to qualify for state, a tenth place finish, but Gilmore went above and beyond with 65 points.

Now, in order for Gilmore and the others to make nationals, they'll have to place in the top three of their events. The top performers after those places are sent to Silver State, a separate national rodeo that allows the kids to qualify for nationals once again.

Helping her blaze her way to Gillette is her trusty 8-year old horse, Snickers.

"He's pretty easy to get back in shape," Gilmore said. "If you don't ride him every two days, he gets fresh."

Pole-bending and barrel-racing events require a lot of coordination, since hitting a pole or knocking over a barrel can destroy a good time because of five-second penalties.

"On my horse you have to sit back cause [the poles] just fly at you," said Gilmore. "You have to be right on top of things at every end pole."

Along with concentration and coordination, the rodeo athletes also appreciate the amount of support they get from their sponsors and their parents.

"[Our parents] come to all the lessons and they help us out a lot, giving us pointers and telling us good job," Gilmore said.

The kids will certainly need it, as things tend to get a little nerve-wracking. The top three at state in each event will go to nationals and then places four through six will go to Silver State.

"I think all the kids are nervous before they enter," Nona Gilmore said.

However, with three state appearances already, Gilmore is confident she can keep her head right.

"I don't get psyched out as I used to because I'm used to it," she said.

With a mind set like that, and with what looks to be a very talented group coming from Mission Valley, it's apparent that Gilmore might not be the only one getting a new pair of boots.

The following students have qualified for the Montana's High School Rodeo Association state finals in Bozeman. They will be competing June 9-13. The top three finishers for each event will automatically qualify for nationals.

Becky Jo Dumont

Jessica Read

Moriah Gilmore

Colt Nagy

Cody Sheridan

Michele Marmon

Jaylyn Garrison

Michaela Blevins

Lexi Bagnell

Rebecca Lake

Shawn George

Emily Shall