Pair of local youths to compete in Nevada State Rodeo Finals

Two members of the Alamo High School Rodeo Club, Lacey Steele and Tyler Bundy, will compete in the next few weeks in the Nevada State Finals.

Bundy, an eighth grader, competes in the Junior High Division finals this weekend in Winnemucca, with hopes of advancing to the national finals in Des Moines, Iowa, June 21-27.

He is currently listed second in the state in the All-Around, first in bull riding, first in steer wrestling, second in bareback steer riding, second in ribbon roping, second in saddle bronc riding, third in calf roping, sixth in team roping and sixth in goat tying.

Steele, a freshman at PVHS, is currently fifth in the girls All-Around, first in cutting, (her first time in that event), third in breakaway, sixth in reining cow horse, (a new event), 10th in team roping with partner Daniel Eary of Elko, 13th in goat tying and 15th in pole bending.

Her state finals will be in Ely, June 12-15, and the National finals in Rock Springs, Wyoming July 12-18.

Robert Steele, director of the Alamo High School Rodeo Club, former vice-president of the Nevada High School Rodeo Association and current member of the state executive board, plus executive director of the southern region of Nevada, said, ?This is quite an achievement for these kids. Both Lacey and Tyler play sports in school, too. Tyler played middle school football and basketball. Lacey played basketball, and they are still able to make all the rodeos as well. It?s a real accomplishment. Not only do they spend time practicing school sports, they have to spend as much time practicing for rodeo.?

He said Lacey would come home from basketball practice in the fall and winters and spend two more hours in the rodeo arena before doing homework. ?You don?t get here, (the state finals), by not putting in the time.?

Lacey was at the junior high national finals in Iowa last year and was sitting in a good spot in the team-roping event, Steele said. ?But her partner broke his arm steer wrestling the last day and couldn?t they couldn?t complete their final cow.?

Steele noted the eligibility requirements for high school rodeo are much higher than those for regular school sports. ?In school, you can become eligible the week of any given game. But in rodeo, you have to be eligible every day of the entire quarter. In addition, any infractions of the law, anything that is out of line for kids, before or after a rodeo, can disqualify you in all your events.?