story by Kyle Eustice
When Zant Zamora’s parents, Kenny and Marsha, were on their honeymoon in Las Vegas, N.V. for the NFR Finals, they were captivated by calf roper Tommy Zant. They said if they had a son, his first name would be Zant. Soon after, the Zamoras welcomed their only son, Zant, now 17. It’s only fitting the Las Vegas, N.M. native would go down the same path. “Team roping has always been a family affair” said Zant. “It took me awhile to get to where I am today, but it’s something I love and I’m really good at. It’s always felt natural to me.”
Zant’s parents built an indoor arena on their property soon after Zant was born. It gave the Robertson High School student an opportunity to perfect his team roping skills until he was ready to join the NMHSRA, which he heard about from his father and from a friend at school.
Zant’s current team roping partner, Corey Charley, lives in Albuquerque so they don’t get together too often to practice, but thankfully Zant is able to practice in his indoor arena. It takes a lot of discipline to keep it in top condition.
“The indoor arena takes a lot of work,” said Zant. “All the roping stock is there, too, and it takes a lot of effort to keep everything maintained.”
When Zant is not in school, raising pigs for his 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) high school programs, or practicing his team roping skills, he’s going to rodeo events where he competes in team roping, trap and light rifle shooting, all of which he qualified for the National Finals this year. Zant was also the reserve state champion at the NMHSRA earlier this year, one of his biggest accomplishments so far.
“I felt really happy about it,” said Zant. “All of the hard work paid off. I put in a ton of practice hours and roped pretty much everyday, for hours each day. It was basically my part-time job.”
While many high school students are using the summer as time off, Zant is dedicated to polishing his craft and lots of hard work. The Zamoras own a ranch in Mora, N.M. as well, where he often spends time doing chores with his grandfather.
“We have a lot of cattle and horses,” explained Zant. “I help when I can. We have to take care of the cattle, check on the animals, and cut the hay they will eat throughout the year. It’s pretty much an all day job. When I’m not in school, I help my grandpa there until it’s dark or until the work is finished.”
When he does have down time, Zant likes to read, hunt and shoot, but overall, he stays focused on his goals, which are to go to the NHSRA finals in Gillete Wy. this year, and place in the top six. Next year, he wants to win state and make it to the finals again. With his parents support, he’s well on his way.
“I think it takes dedication—you have to really want to win,” said Zant. “You have to practice every day, try your hardest, know that you’re prepared, and never, ever give up.”
