Jace Berger prepares to rope a steer in team roping at the Sheridan High School Rodeo last month. Berger is one of three high school students going to the state competition this weekend. Konnar Knotwell and Bailey Miller are also competing at state.
Three local high school students are competing in the state high school rodeo finals this weekend. Freshman Konnar Knotwell and sophomore Bailey Miller, of Encampment, and junior Jace Berger, of Saratoga, will be representing the Valley.
Jace and his team roping partner Matthew Britton, of Wheatland, Wyo., have had some success with their event. So much so, that they are ranked No. 4 in the state right now.
That could all change at state, Berger said, because everyone will be fighting to get to those top four positions. The top four at state will go onto the National High School Rodeo Finals in Rock Springs next month.
Berger is hoping for a chance to compete in Rock Springs this year in team roping.
Berger is the heeler of the team. He and Britton have known each other for a long time as Britton's mom does artificial insemination for the cows at the Berger ranch.
Berger and Britton practice when they can, since they live about 150 miles from each other.
Berger is also competing in the tie down event.
Miller has been competing in pole bending and barrel racing this spring. She has not placed as high as Berger, but is going to the state finals for the experience, her mother Georgia Miller said.
Knotwell competes in breakaway roping and team roping. Knotwell earned second place in breakaway roping with a time of 3.09 seconds, but stands at 25th place in the standings going into state. Miller is tied for 39th and 40th place in barrel racing.
The trio will compete in the state finals June 10-13 in Douglas.
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