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Talia Radabaugh makes a run in girls cutting during Wednesday’s finals in the event. Radabaugh won the first and second go rounds to finish third in the final standings earning a trip to the national finals.
The Oregon High School Rodeo Association (OHSRA) State Finals Rodeo kicked off at the Crook County Fairgrounds this past Wednesday with the boys and girls cutting events.
The girls cutting average was won by Corrie Hirschback who used a steady performance to earn the championship. Crook County’s Talia Radabaugh won the first two go rounds of the competition, but struggled in the final round, dropping to third in the average.
“I’m really satisfied with my performance,” Radabaugh said. “Can’t be that disappointed. It was a really good cutting — some of the best cattle that we’ve had.”
Fellow Crook County athlete Bailey Beall struggled in the first two rounds before rebounding to have a solid outing in the final round of cutting.
“I’m glad I came back and did good in the final round,” Beall said.
The finals continue through Saturday afternoon with champions crowned at Saturday evening’s awards banquet.
“Just see everybody go out there and do their best,” said Beall about what spectators should expect during the rodeo.
All told, 11 Crook County athletes are competing in the state finals, with several of those athletes expected to be in the hunt for state titles.
Jessie Loper currently has a slim lead over teammates Carly and Courtney Hibbs in goat tying. However, all three still have a chance at the state championship. The Hibbs sisters will also compete in breakaway roping and barrel racing. Carly is currently second in breakaway roping, while Courtney, who is sixth, is still in the hunt for a trip to nationals in the event.
Beall will be the busiest, competing in six events at the state finals is currently leading the rookie standings, and could have an impact in the finals, especially in barrel racing, where she is second in the standings going into the finals. In addition to girls cutting and barrel racing Beall will also compete in breakaway roping, goat tying, and pole bending.
Harley Byram, who is leading the standings in barrel racing should also be in the hunt for a state championship.
Other Crook County athletes competing in the state finals are James Beatty (steer wrestling, shooting), Chad Forrester (team roping), Austin Madsen (bull riding, team roping), Austin Severence (bull riding, team roping), and Kimmer Severence (goat tying, team roping).
Several members of the Tri-County Rodeo Club from Deschutes County should also be in the mix.
A.J. McCauley won the average in the boys cutting on Wednesday. McCauley and his brother T.J. are also near the top of the standings in tie down roping, steer wrestling, and team roping. T.J. McCauley is also leading the boys all-around standings, while A.J. is in second.
Riley Rae Sappington, who is leading the standings in the girls all-around should also be a factor in the rodeo.
Carly Hibbs is currently third in the all-around standings, while Beall is fourth, Courtney Hibbs is eighth, and Loper is ninth.
If the final rodeo before the state finals is any indication, several Crook County athletes are poised to win state championships, or at least move up in the state standings.
That rodeo, which was held in John Day, May 31-June 1, saw some of the top performances so far this season.
In goat tying Loper won both rounds with times of 7.60 and 7.31, while Courtney Hibbs took a third and a sixth in the event with times of 7.79 and 9.21. Severence also had a solid outing with a seventh and a 10th place finish in the event, while Carly Hibbs fell out of first place in the standings after only managing a seventh place finish in the second go round.
The first go round of breakaway roping saw Courtney Hibbs finish second with a time of 3.70 while Carly Hibbs was close behind, in third, with a time of 3.77. Loper placed eighth in the round with a time of 4.60.
The second round of the event was won by Beall with a time of 3.33.
Harley Byram won both rounds of barrel racing to solidify her hold on first place in the standings with times of 17.771 and 17.893 respectively.
Beall finished seventh in the first go round and third in the second of the event. She also placed 10th in the first go round of pole bending.
Beatty also had a solid rodeo in John Day, earning a second place in the second go round of steer wrestling, and placing ninth in the first go round of tie down roping.
The final Crook County athletes to place in John Day were Chad Forrester and Austin Madsen who finished sixth in the second go round of team roping.
The state finals swung into full gear Thursday with the timed events all competing in a slack performance in the morning. Thursday evening was the first go round of the rough stock and the second go round for individuals in 11th-20th place in the timed events.
Tonight the rodeo continues with the second go round for all the rough stock events as well as the top 10 in each of the timed events.
The rodeo concludes on Saturday with the top 10 in the standings in each event competing in a noon performance.
The top four individuals in the final standings of each event will qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo which will be held July 14-20 in Rock Springs Wyo.
Individuals finishing in fifth through 15th place will also have one more chance to compete later this summer as they will qualify for the Silver State International Rodeo which will be held in Fallon Nev. July 3-7.
Crook County athletes
in state finals rodeo
Bailey Beall — barrel racing, breakaway roping, goat tying, girls cutting, pole bending
James Beatty — steer wrestling, shooting
*Harley Byram — barrel racing
Chad Forrester — team roping
*Carly Hibbs — barrel racing, breakaway roping, goat tying
*Courtney Hibbs — barrel racing, breakaway roping, goat tying
*Jessie Loper – goat tying
Austin Madsen — bull riding, team roping
*Talia Radabaugh — girls cutting
Austin Severence — bull riding, team roping
Kimmer Severence — goat tying, team roping
* Athletes with asterisk by name are
members of the Tri-County Rodeo Club
