AFTER 1ST RIDE, TRIPLETT IS 1ST @ NATIONAL HS RODEO

July 21, 2009

By Terry Werner of Columbia Falls High School

C. Falls cowboy wins bull riding at NHSFR
By the Missoulian

FARMINGTON, N.M. - Matt Triplett of Columbia Falls won the bull riding competition in Sunday evening's first performance at the National High School Finals Rodeo at the San Juan County Fairgrounds.

Triplett's score of 79 was seven points better than Cody Heffernan from Singleton, New South Wales, Australia. Dylan Henson of Bloomfield, N.M., was third with a 70 and Cole Bates and Tyler Williams tied for fourth at 69.

Also on Sunday night, Ronan native Levi Walchuk placed third in steer wrestling with a time of 4.574 seconds. Riley Duvall from won the event in 3.563 and Luke Camino from Clearmont, Wyo., was second at 3.824.

Walchuk finished tied for eighth with 207 points in the boys' cutting competition on Monday morning . Also on Monday, Mariah Rys-Sikora from Missoula took ninth in goat tying with a time of 10.091 and Philipsburg's Elly Hogue was 22nd in barrel racing.

Performances continue twice a day through Saturday evening's championship round.