Members of the Pahrump Valley Jr. High/High School Rodeo Club traveled to Las Vegas on Saturday, March 7, to compete at the South Point Arena, taking on a strong field of competitors while showcasing determination, skill and sportsmanship across a wide range of rodeo events.
The competition featured events spanning both junior high and high school divisions, giving local riders and ropers an opportunity to test their abilities against talented athletes from across the region.
One of the standout performances for the Pahrump group came in the junior high bull riding event, where Milo Albers delivered a strong ride, earning a score of 67 points to finish in third place.
In junior high chute dogging, Bentley Shannon, Milo Albers, Kash Peugh and Champ Colon all stepped into the arena ready to compete. Although each rider gave a determined effort, they were unable to get the steers over, resulting in no recorded times for the event.
In the high school barrel racing competition, several Pahrump athletes turned in solid runs. Ashlin Banning posted one of the top performances for the team, clocking a 23.296 on her first run and improving dramatically with a 17.803 on her second run, giving her a combined total of 41.099. Prezleigh Porter also competed in barrel racing, recording a 19.087 in her first run and a 23.012 in her second for a total time of 42.099. Tiffany Roberts posted a 19.394 in her first run but recorded a no-time on her second attempt, while Weslynn Porter finished her first run in 22.105 before also recording a no-time on her second run.
Several of the riders also competed in multiple events throughout the day. In breakaway roping, both Ashlin Banning and Prezleigh Porter gave strong efforts but were unable to record official times during the event.
In goat tying, Weslynn Porter turned in a time of 25.670 on her first attempt before recording a no-time on her second run.
Pole bending saw several Pahrump riders take to the arena as well. Tiffany Roberts posted consistent runs with times of 27.029 and 26.348 for a combined total of 53.377. Ashlin Banning recorded a 25.547 on her first run before a no-time on her second. Weslynn Porter finished her first run in 32.649 but also recorded a no-time on her second attempt. Prezleigh Porter completed the event with a 37.779 on her first run and improved to 30.699 on her second for a total of 68.478.
Outside of the timed riding events, Pahrump athletes also competed in several traditional rodeo disciplines. Andy Best delivered an excellent performance in the rifle shoot, earning a perfect score of 100 points.
In saddle bronc riding, Pono Vincent unfortunately received no score and sustained an injury during his ride.
Jace Jepson competed in multiple roping events throughout the competition. In steer wrestling, Jepson gave a strong effort but was unable to record a time on either of his attempts. In team roping, he recorded a time of 25 seconds on his first run but received a no-time on his second attempt.
Jepson also competed in tie-down roping, where he rebounded after a no-time on his first run to post a strong 9.320 on his second attempt, earning a fifth-place finish in the event.
Despite the challenges that often come with rodeo competition, the Pahrump Valley Junior High/High School Rodeo Club demonstrated perseverance and competitive spirit throughout the day. With multiple athletes competing across several events, the club continues to represent the Pahrump community well while gaining valuable experience in the arena.
*A special thanks to the Rodeo club for the photos.
