Oklahoma Junior High School Rodeo Association (OJHSRA) Archives

Associations

Oklahoma Junior High School Rodeo Association (OJHSRA)

Phone: 405-642-8924
Email: mashsell@aol.com

Visit Our Website

Members

Meet the Member Kennadee Bickerstaff

story by Lindsay Humphrey Soccer is a great way to stay in shape for rodeo for Kennadee Bickerstaff. In fact, it lends itself to preparing her for the ribbon roping. Paired with Chism Kuykendall for her last year of OKJHSRA competition, Kennadee enjoys being the runner in the team event. “My other partner moved up to high school this year, so now Chism ropes for me and we’re doing pretty well together in it,” said…

Meet the Member Maggie Dooley

story by Lindsay Humphrey “The most important people in my life are my family and I’m just so thankful for them,” said 13-year-old Maggie Dooley. “My parents (Ryan and Misty) do so much for me and I just love them so much; they’ve helped me accomplish a lot and I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without them.” One of Maggie’s siblings has played a significant role in her rodeo career so far. “My sister…

Meet the Member Pake Bell

story by Lindsay Humphrey Pake Bell was 3 years old when he first roped one down, but it wasn’t of the bovine variety. “I roped a cat and he didn’t like it very well,” said the 15-year-old with a chuckle. As Pake got older, he stuck with roping cattle but left the cat out of it. “My two favorite events are tie down and team roping. I probably like team roping a little bit better…

Meet the Member Coy Sand

story by Lindsay Humphrey Breaking into rodeo was a natural step for 12-year-old Coy Sand. He simply followed in the footsteps of both his dad, Craig, and his older brother, Colton, 18. “My dad and brother taught me how to do all of my events. My dad taught me a lot of the fundamentals. Colton is a really good header, so he helps me a lot in that,” said the Stillwater, Oklahoma, cowboy. Coy began…

Meet the Member Victoria Whitehead

story by Lindsay Humphrey When Victoria Whitehead finished her schoolwork via zoom this spring, she spent a lot of her free time brushing up her rodeo skills and watching the NLBRA finals on RFD-TV. “I’ve gotten to ride a whole lot more without school and afterschool activities, so my horses have gotten into really good shape,” said the 12-year-old from Jones, Oklahoma. “I’ve missed rodeo a lot because usually we are gone every other weekend…

Meet the Member Cheyenne Semmel

story by Lindsay King Very few people can say their horse shares bloodlines with their role model, but that’s exactly the case for Cheyenne Semmel. Her mare MP One Day Hayday, Sylvia for short, is a first-generation daughter of Dinero just like Hailey Kinsel Lockwood’s mare, Sister. “Sylvia is really fun to ride; I feel like she keeps me safe. She has quite the personality though, she can be really sassy but is also super…

Meet the Member Mattox Moyer

story by Lindsay King The son of a team roper and barrel racer, Mattox Moyer is making a name for himself as a header with his partners Keaton Kellum and Dace Morris. “Dace lives in the same town as me so we get to practice together a lot. But Keaton lives further away. She’s my partner for the junior highs and Dace is my jackpot partner.” Mattox is also throwing a quick loop on some…

Meet the Member Payton Barnes

story by Lindsay King It’s the middle of the junior high season, and the sting of losing her top hand was still fresh. Payton Barnes saddled up her home-grown three-year-old, Bunny, and finished out her season in both breakaway and ribbon roping after her more seasoned mount passed away. “It was pretty difficult to start over on her. She wasn’t seasoned, we were roping on her in the practice pen a bunch, but she had…

Meet the Member Tripp Lee

story by Lindsay King Jaw clenched, rope taut, chin down: the only thing on Tripp Lee’s mind at this point in the game is a swift curl in the tip of his calf loop. This breakaway roper is quietly climbing the stairs of success in his final year in the OKJHSRA. Hailing from Gotebo, Oklahoma, this 13-year-old eats, sleeps and breathes roping. It’s always been that way. “I have ridden horses my entire life and…

Meet the Member Trace Hurst

story by Lindsay King How do you make a tissue dance? Put a boogie in it. This is Trace Hurst’s signature joke when he’s trying to keep his nerves at bay before a run. “I remember I was at the Roy Cooper roping in the 12 and under. On the first day I roped in the tie down and I got really nervous, but on the second day I didn’t get nervous for the breakaway…

Meet the Member Cale Neisius

story by Lindsay King After a lightning-fast, rain-soaked run early in the week, Cale Neisius just barely missed making the short at the JHSNFR by taking 22nd in the barrel racing. It’s no matter for this fierce 12-year old, she was just excited to make her first trip. The daughter of a barrel horse trainer, Cale has the most experience in the event. “I didn’t get into roping or goat tying until I was about…

Meet the Member Case Phillips

story by Lindsay King Wewoka, Oklahoma, OKJHSRA competitor Case Phillips roped in his first junior high nationals rodeo back in June and it was easily the biggest stage he’s ever been on. Luckily, he took his friends – who also happens to be his older brother – with him. “Tobe and I are pretty close. We play all our sports together, we rope together and we always practice together,” 13-year-old Case said of his 14-year-old…