Youth rodeo finals begin next week

The Texas Youth Rodeo Association (TYRA) state finals begin at JB Wells arena next week from July 23-27 with seven area cowgirls expected to compete.

In the junior girls group, Gonzales’ Aubrey Thibodeaux is expected to take on the Cloverleaf event, the figure 8 and the poles event. Cost’s Dakota Schmidt will participate in figure 8 and ribbon roping alongside Colin Fox of Manvel. Harwood’s Peyton Stone will take on the cloverleaf, while Luling’s Emma Knox will stay busy next week, competing in girls breakaway, ribbon roping with Corpus Christi’s Holden Weaver and team roping with Rylee Howton of Three Rivers.

Sadie Thibodeaux and Taylor Glass, both of Gonzales, will be competing in the same six senior girls events. Both athletes will take on the cloverleaf, girls breakaway, goat tying, poles, ribbon roping and team roping. Thibodeaux teams with Caldwell’s Cameron Suehs in ribbon roping and Kingsville’s Ace Avelar in team roping. Glass teams with Clint Ohrt of Victoria in ribbon roping and Mayce Marek of Taylor in team roping. Harwood’s Lauren Stone, also competing in the senior girls group, will take on cloverleaf, goat tying and poles.

The TYRA finals begin on Tuesday July 23 with registration from 10 a.m. – noon. Grand entry is at 6:45 p.m. with the first-round performance beginning at 7 p.m. The first round continues on Wednesday at 7 p.m. with the second round on Thursday and Friday. The championship short-go performance is Saturday, July 27 at 3 p.m.