Cade VanSoelen, a Ute Mountain Rodeo team member, qualified for the Junior High National Finals Rodeo in Gallup, N.M.
The rodeo will be held June 24-30.
VanSoelen will represent the Colorado rodeo team in dally team roping with his partner, Cheylin Corman, of Burlington.
VanSoelen and Corman finished in fourth-place for the year. The top four competitors in each event earn the opportunity to compete at the Jr. High National Finals Rodeo.
At the Colorado State Finals Rodeo in Monte Vista on May 25-26, VanSoelen and Corman missed their first calf and had a no time. In the second go, they clocked in at 17.38 and placed third. The duo placed fifth in the average.
Cayce Lockhart came on strong at the state finals in barrel racing. She had a second-place score with 17.305 seconds in the first go and she ran third-place with 17.509 in the second go to come in second in the average. Lockhart missed the average buckle win by one thousandth of a second. She placed sixth for the year.
In ribbon roping, Lockhart and partner Jace Norrell had a no time in the first go and placed third with a time of 11.55. It was good for sixth in the average. Lockhart and Norrell placed ninth for the year in ribbon roping.
Cassie Finley competed in girls goat tying. She took fourth with a time of 12.61 in the first go and sixth in the second go with a time of 13.89, and she scored fourth in the average. Finley placed sixth for the year.
Other season highlights saw Lockhart featured in the National Rodeo News, May edition. VanSoelen and Lockhart will move up to high school competition next year. The two have been coached by Jerry Mackey, of Ignacio, this year.
The team competed in Pagosa Springs on May 12-13.
Day one barrel racing saw Lockhart take fifth at 18.478. Girls goat tying had Finley in fifth at 19.07. Dally team roping resulted in VanSoelen and Corman coming in third at 22.65.
On the second day, Lockhart was sixth in barrel racing in 18.401. Finley also took sixth in girls goat tying at 12.65. Ribbon ropers Norell and Lockhart were fourth in 13.44.
In Lamar on May 18-20, Lockhart placed seventh with a score of 16.933 in barrel racing.
