Southern Oregon high school students compete for rodeo supremacy

EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) - High school students bucked up again today competing in the Southern Oregon High School Rodeo competition.

The high school rodeo is similar to the pro rodeo with the same events but with a younger age group.  Some participants are as young as 14 years old.

High school students who compete in the rodeo are eligible for college scholarships, and for a lot of competitors, that is the entire point. 

For Austin Thompson, a scholarship is his hope as he heads to Blue Mountain to compete.  Thompson currently attends Yoncalla High School and is said to be an all-around cowboy competing in calf roping, team roping and steer wrestling.  Thompson has been a state finalist in years past and hopes to return again in 2012.  Thompson said he has been training for events like the high school rodeo since he was five years old.

Luke Thomas, a junior at Creswell High School ranked seventh in the world in his age group for bull riding.  Thomas, who is 17 years old, competed Friday and Sunday. 

"Its a good sport. You can either do a team sport in team rope or you can be on a team with your horse, or you can do what I do and ride bulls or rough stock events because there you can't get mad at somebody else you can just blame yourself is really all you can do. And I think it makes you a better person," he said.

Being held at the Oregon Horse Center, admission is $5 dollars.