Area athletes among NTHSRA leaders

As the second half of the North Texas High School Rodeo Association prepares to get underway, several athletes from Aledo and Weatherford find themselves in contention for a berth in the NTHSRA Finals May 19-20 at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth.

The top 15 in each event will advance to the finals.

Looking to be in good position to make a finals appearance from Aledo is Ashtyn Coufal, who is seventh in walkup goat tying with 280 points. Coufal is also just outside the top 15 in barrel racing with 70 points in 17th place, followed closely by Aledo’s Annabella McNelly with 63 for 18th. The leader has 511.

Jeff Hutchins of Aledo is narrowly out of the top 15 in chute dogging. He has 70 points and sits in 18th place.

Also in strong contention for a finals berth from Aledo is Gunner McGraw in chute dogging with 91 points and in 13th place. The leading score is 469 points.

Here’s a complete breakdown of area athletes chasing finals berths:

Breakaway roping (392 points leads): 6. Reagan High, Weatherford, 217 points.

Barrel racing (511 leads): 13. Kaidyn Klein, Weatherford, 98; 17. Coufal, 70; 18. Annabella McNelly, Aledo, 63.

Bull riding: 1. Noah Lee, Weatherford, 266; 6. Jesus Villa, Weatherford, 133.

Calf roping (525 leads): 2. Clayton Praytor, Weatherford, 462; 4. Caleb Lewis, Weatherford, 378; 6. Taygan Bertsch, Weatherford, 301; 7. Haiden Smith, Weatherford, 231.

Chute dogging (469 leads): 3. Smith, 280; 10. Praytor, 140; 13. McGraw, 91..

Walkup goat tying (490 leads): 7. Coufal, 280; 12. Sienna Pendergrass, Weatherford, 105.

Pole bending: 1. Savannah Letson, Weatherford, 476; 14. Kassidy Klein, Weatherford, 105.

Ribbon roping (490 leads): 3. Bertsch, 343; 5. Lewis, 266; 8. Praytor, 238; 9. Smith, 126.

Team roping-header (483 leads): 10. Bertsch, 147.

Team roping-heeler (483 leads): 9. Lewis, 203.

Teams: 1. Azle, 4.326 points; 2. Weatherford, 4,060; 21. Aledo, 609 points.