Keston Denny captured second-place in steer wrestling on Saturday and then came back to win the event on Sunday to supply a highlight for the Carson-Douglas High School Rodeo Club during the Battle Mountain Rodeo.
Denny posted an impressive time of 5.73 seconds to win on Sunday. The Douglas High student also had a good showing on Saturday when he clocked a 7.93, close behind the Chad Steele of Alamo (7.55).
"I was pretty happy. I needed to pick it up because I've been slacking the last few weekends," said Denny, who is in the hunt to qualify for his second trip to the National High School Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling.
The state's top four finishers in the season points qualify for the nationals. Last year, Denny finished third in the state.
The good times this past weekend in Battle Mountain were a good sign as well, he added.
"They were all tough steers," Denny said. "It was a bunch of new stock we had never seen before - Slash T, which is PRCA stuff - so I was happy."
Denny also combined with Amy Beauprett from Virginia City to place sixth in team roping on Sunday.
Other Carson-Douglas club highlights over the weekend in Battle Mountain included Pia Wendell's sixth-place ride in pole bending on Sunday. She also placed seventh in barrel racing on Sunday and 10th-place on Saturday.
Alyce Kugler shared fourth-place in girls cutting both days and Tara Sallee placed seventh in barrel racing on Saturday.
It was a nice tune-up for the Carson-Douglas Rodeo, which will be held this weekend south of Gardnerville. The boys and girls cutting events will be held on Friday at the Corley Ranch and the regular rodeo schedule will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. The competition starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday.
"I'm looking forward to it. This is our homecoming," Denny said. "It's nice to get to stay at home for a change. We do a lot of driving all over the state the rest of the year."
Note: The Nevada State Finals Rodeo will be held on June 17-20 June in Yerington.
