Brady Sims competes at nationals.
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Three from Kearney advance to rodeo Nationals
By: Chris Geinosky
Paige Magrath brought her high school rodeo career to a close with a bang.
Magrath turned in a career-best finish at the National High School Finals Rodeo July 22-28 at Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. The recent Kearney High School graduate finished eighth in the final all-around standings.
“I felt really good how it ended,” said Magrath who will be competing at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. “Honestly, I was just ready to move on to college.”
Magrath will do so with some nice credentials added to her already impressive rodeo resume. She finished seventh in breakaway roping and 11th in barrel racing and also scored points in pole bending. Magrath's horse “Go On Hemp” took fourth in the American Quarter Horse of the Year competition.
“I was really sick for a couple days, but I was able to pull through it,” Magrath said. “It was a good way to wrap everything up.”
Earlier this year, Magrath captured the Missouri High School Rodeo All-Around Champion. Her younger sister Taylor, a Kearney sophomore, finished second in the all-around standings and earned rookie of the year honors. It was the first time in state history that sisters finished one-two in the all-around competition.
“That's what we wanted,” Magrath said. “We worked hard all year. It's cool to see us finish as the top two in the state.”
Brady Sims/Junior High Division
Nothing was going to prevent Brady Sims from competing at nationals – not even a broken collarbone.
Despite suffering the injury on the way to the Missouri High School bull riding title in May, Sims made his second straight trip to the Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo last month in Gallup, N.M. The Kearney eighth grader finished among the top third of the 114 qualifiers for the national event.
“Not at all, there was no way I wasn't going to nationals,” Sims said. “The collarbone might not have been fully healed, but it was o.k.
“It's a great experience to compete against kids from all over the country and see how good of riders they are. I'm happy with how I did.”
Sims will have one last chance to compete in the wrangler division this year. He will move up to the high school level after next summer.
Sports writer Chris Geinosky can be reached at 389-6654 or cgeinosky@npgco.com.
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Magrath turned in a career-best finish at the National High School Finals Rodeo July 22-28 at Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. The recent Kearney High School graduate finished eighth in the final all-around standings.
“I felt really good how it ended,” said Magrath who will be competing at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. “Honestly, I was just ready to move on to college.”
Magrath will do so with some nice credentials added to her already impressive rodeo resume. She finished seventh in breakaway roping and 11th in barrel racing and also scored points in pole bending. Magrath's horse “Go On Hemp” took fourth in the American Quarter Horse of the Year competition.
“I was really sick for a couple days, but I was able to pull through it,” Magrath said. “It was a good way to wrap everything up.”
Earlier this year, Magrath captured the Missouri High School Rodeo All-Around Champion. Her younger sister Taylor, a Kearney sophomore, finished second in the all-around standings and earned rookie of the year honors. It was the first time in state history that sisters finished one-two in the all-around competition.
“That's what we wanted,” Magrath said. “We worked hard all year. It's cool to see us finish as the top two in the state.”
Brady Sims/Junior High Division
Nothing was going to prevent Brady Sims from competing at nationals – not even a broken collarbone.
Despite suffering the injury on the way to the Missouri High School bull riding title in May, Sims made his second straight trip to the Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo last month in Gallup, N.M. The Kearney eighth grader finished among the top third of the 114 qualifiers for the national event.
“Not at all, there was no way I wasn't going to nationals,” Sims said. “The collarbone might not have been fully healed, but it was o.k.
“It's a great experience to compete against kids from all over the country and see how good of riders they are. I'm happy with how I did.”
Sims will have one last chance to compete in the wrangler division this year. He will move up to the high school level after next summer.
Sports writer Chris Geinosky can be reached at 389-6654 or cgeinosky@npgco.com.