A number of area competitors in the Texas Junior High Rodeo Association (TJHRA), Region IX, earned distinctions for their performances in 11 rodeos throughout the season and will advance to the state competition in Gonzales May 23-29. The state event will encompass all nine regions within the organization and determine who advances to the nationals event this summer.

“We have one of the toughest regions in the state by far,” said TJHRA Region IX President Rusty McCarthy. “Last year, if (COVID-19) did not happen, we were sending eight people to nationals.”

Competitors who finished in the top-10 during the regional season will advance to the state event in Gonzales.

Will Smith and Walker Smith of Bedias earned first and second place, respectively, in the team roping category while Korey Tamplin of Bedias earned eighth and Ty Williams and Clay Farris, both of Madisonville, placed ninth and tenth. Tamplin was also third in goat tying and seventh in ribbon roping.

Williams placed in a number of TJHRA categories and earned the title of All-Around Cowboy Reserve Champion. He also placed first in ribbon roping, second in chute dogging, second in calf roping and second in boys goat tying.

Chance Theiss of Iola also advanced to state after earning top marks in the bull riding category.

Drew Ellen Stewart of Normangee and Kaislyn Thornton of Midway finished fourth and fifth in the poles category, respectively. Stewart was also seventh in girls breakaway.

Stewart also earned fourth place in girls goat tying and fourth in girls breakaway. Emma McCarthy of Bedias finished eighth in goat tying, seventh in barrels and 13th in breakaway.

Brace Thornton of Midway and Travis Barrett of Normangee earned fifth and sixth place in chute dogging, respectively. Barrett was also 14th in goat tying.

Carson McCarthy of Bedias earned seventh in calf roping and eighth in goat tying. MidSouth Energy generously donated two saddles for the event.

The season’s events, which began in September, took place in Caldwell and Bryan.

For a comprehensive list of results, visit the TJHRA website.