Louisiana High School Rodeo Association Junior Division Archives

Associations

Louisiana High School Rodeo Association Junior Division

Phone: 337-540-4623
Email: stephanied.rodrigue@gmail.com

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Members

Meet the Member John Murphy

story by Michele Toberer Louisiana Junior High Rodeo has been a part of John Murphy’s life since he joined in 6th grade, although he’s been attending rodeos even longer, as his older sisters, Kati and Ali, have both been involved with the association during their own rodeo careers. John is the youngest of the three Murphy children belonging to Guy and Gina Murphy, and the all-around cowboy has rodeo blood running through his veins. Not…

Meet the Member Brad Hesnor

story by Michele Toberer Leaving for Rock Springs, Wyoming as the 2019 Louisiana High School Rodeo Association Champion All-Around Cowboy, Brad Hesnor had the confidence he needed for the NHSFR and it showed. Brad finished as LHSRA’s champion tie-down roper and reserve champion steer wrestler. “It was great carrying on that success to nationals, and I left Rock Springs as the fourth-place steer wrestler in the world after placing third in the short round with…

Meet the Member Olivia Thibodeaux

story by Michele Toberer In a competitive rodeo state like Louisiana, becoming an all-around champion cowgirl in the junior high division of the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association is a pretty big feather for any cowgirl hat. After having injured horses and switching up her equine partners at the last minute, winning the title for Olivia Thibodeaux, of Church Point, Louisiana, was an accomplishment she’ll forever be proud of. The homeschooled 13-year-old 7th grader is…

Meet the Member Sydnie & Rylie Romero

story by Michele Toberer Rylie and Sydnie Romero have a family filled with strong cowgirls and cowboys to inspire their rodeo dreams. Their mom, Mandy Walker Hebert grew up learning the ropes of breakaway and training horses from her mom, Peggy Philibert. “My family’s been breeding and training horses my whole life, and Mom is still feeding us all horses, it’s wonderful to see the girls riding horses that their family raised and trained. Gram…

Meet the Member Avery Tate

story by Michele Toberer All it took when Avery Tate was just three-years-old, was a trip to the rodeo with her dad, Beau, to watch her Nanny, Leah Young, competing to get the young girl hooked. Her dad explained, “I brought a horse and she rode around with me outside the arena while we watched, and when she saw the barrel racing that was all she wanted to do. After the rodeo we went in…

Meet the Member Damien Lavery

story by Michele Toberer Damien Lavery is enjoying his third year with the Louisiana Junior High School Rodeo Association and is working hard to achieve his goals of qualifying for the 2019 NJHSFR while also trying to earn a spot on the Hicks High School A-B Honor Roll. Damien is an eighth-grader at the school, and excels in his favorite subject, math, “It’s easy for me to understand, I really like math and my teacher…

Meet the Member Wyatt Risinger

story by Michele Toberer Louisiana Junior High School Rodeo Association rookie, Wyatt Risinger is fully enjoying his first year in rodeo. Starting out in the association as a Junction City High School eighth-grader, he has not only already gained friends that feel like family but has developed a love for a sport that has changed the plans for his future. Wyatt lives in Spearsville, Louisiana with his parents, Brad and Alicia Risinger, and he has…

Meet the Member Ava Nunez

story by Michele Toberer Excelling in all that she does, cowgirl Ava Nunez of Grand Lake, Louisiana is excitedly taking on the competition of the Louisiana Junior High Rodeo Association as a rookie sixth-grader. Although the 11-year-old cowgirl has already had quite a bit of success in the rodeo arena as she competed in other youth rodeo associations; being a part of the LJHSRA is giving her new goals to focus on and the determined…

Meet the Member Cougar Racca

story by Michele Toberer “Cougar is a spunky little 12-year-old that follows by his name, he’s determined and passionate, and once he showed interest in rodeo, he just jumped in and has really done well. He’s a typical little rodeo cowboy,” says mom, Kendal Henry of the Louisiana Junior High Rodeo Association rookie. The sixth-grader competes in breakaway roping, ribbon roping, and goat tying in the LJHSRA, and has had quite a bit of success…

Meet the Member Katie Schlang

story by Michele Toberer It was quite ironic that at 8-years-old, Katie Schlang found her very first horse, a little white and roan paint named Denver, after moving to Lake Charles Louisiana from a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Denver, a jumper pony that was full of personality, was a promise-fulfilled from Katie’s architect father, Mark, who moved his family to Louisiana to be with him as he worked on the completion of the Golden Nugget…

Meet the Member Mackenzie Floyed

story by Michele Toberer “I love the Louisiana Junior High Rodeo Association because of my friends. In the long run, we are all here competing against one another and we’re all trying to beat everyone there, but when your friend wins, you’re still happy for them, you’re not mad about it,” says Mackenzie Floyed of Ville Platte, Louisiana. The 12-year-old rodeo competitor has chosen rodeo over other sports she’s been involved in because everyone supports…

Meet the Member CJ Covalt

story by Michele Toberer With just one season of competition in the Louisiana Junior High School Rodeo Association under his belt, CJ Covalt was able to win one of the most coveted top-10 world champion buckles to adorn it at the National Junior High Finals Rodeo this June. CJ joined the LJHRA as an 8th grader and began competing in tie-down roping and ribbon roping with his partner Lexi Lege, roping his way to not…