Locals qualify for National High School Finals Rodeo

The Carson-Douglas Rodeo Club ended a banner week at the Nevada State High School Rodeo Finals on Sunday in Winnemucca as it will send five of its members to the National High School Rodeo Finals.

Gardnerville resident Grant Denny, competing as an independent, won the rookie all-around award and qualified for nationals in steer wrestling. That means the area will be sending six athletes to the national finals.

Elyse Heberger, Cody Kiser, Cory Hershkowitz and Jonathon Glocknitzer have all qualified to compete at nationals, which will begin July 20 in Farmington, N.M. In addition, Karysa Perez will head to nationals as the Nevada State High School Rodeo Queen. Perez, who attends Silver State High School, will go on to compete for the crown as National High School Rodeo Queen.

Heberger ended up third overall in the state in breakaway roping to advance to nationals. The top four advance to nationals.

In Sunday's finals, Heberger, who just completed her junior year at Galena, finished with a time of 3.3 seconds. She won her first two performances in 2.9 and 2.4 seconds. Her performance gave her a first place finish at the state event and third overall in the state standings.

In bareback riding, Kiser, who completed his junior year at Dayton, took third overall and Hershkowitz, who completed his junior year at Silver State High School, was fourth overall as both advanced to nationals. Glocknitzer, who completed his senior year at Douglas High, advanced to nationals earlier in the week by finishing third overall in boys cutting.

Hershkowitz and Glocknitzer are repeat national qualifiers. Hershkowitz took second in the state in bareback and Glocknitzer took second in the state in cutting last year to qualify for nationals. Both came into this season as Wrangler All-Stars based on their second place finishes last year.

Denny won the first go in the bareback with a 71-point ride, the short go with a 73-point ride and too fourth in the average to finish the year in fifth overall.

He took second and third in steer wrestling to go to nationals in the fourth-place position.

He'll be competing in the Silver State Invitational Rodeo in Fallon this weekend in bareback and in bulls.

Becka Glocknitzer finished in 11th overall in cutting and will be competing at Silver State this weekend.