Journal Staff Report

The Ute Mountain High School Rodeo team kicked off the spring season on April 1-2 at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds.

A total of 177 high school rodeo athletes from throughout Colorado braved slick roads and wet, stormy weather to attend.

Bull riding, bareback, saddle bronc, and goat tying events were held in the outdoor arena despite the muddy conditions. The indoor arena saw roping events, steer wrestling, pole bending, barrel racing, and cutting.

The Ute Mountain High School team was well represented when final awards were presented. Montezuma-Cortez High School freshman Brandee Bauer and MCHS senior Claire Lindus won buckles. Bauer won the pole bending average placing third on Saturday and fourth on Sunday. Lindus tied for the average in girls cutting with a first place on Saturday and a tie for fourth on Sunday.

MCHS junior Jake Gordanier came in fourth in steer wrestling the first day. Lacey Haygood ran the barrels in 15.4 seconds on Saturday to finish third out of 49 entries. Haygood took 11th the next day. Bauer turned in a time of 12.2 to place ninth in goat tying on Sunday.

Ute Mountain ropers Sandy Tozer and David Patcheck did well. Tozer took eighth in team and calf roping. Sunday he was in the money in both events. A time of 14.6 earned a fifth in calf roping and a 13.6 netted him a fifth in team roping. Patchek placed ninth out of 30 calf ropers.