Outhier crowned rodeo champion

Utopia claimed its third high school Champion Breakaway Roper title following the Texas State High School Rodeo Finals held in Abilene last month.

Madison Outhier roped three calves in 6.75 to earn the big win.

Previous winners from Utopia date back to 1967 when Joan Fisher Clark brought home the saddle from Hallettsville. Janet Hutto Davis holds the championship title from 1988 when the finals were held in the Seguin area.

High school students qualify for the finals rodeo by earning points throughout the year in regions across Texas. The top winners from each region then participate in the state championship rodeo in Abilene.

Outheir is competing in the National High School Finals rodeo, which kicked off Sunday in Lincoln, Nebraska, and is billed as the world’s largest outdoor rodeo featuring close to 1,600 competitors from 43 states, Canada and Mexico.

Two arenas are used at the same time for the event, one for timed events and the other fo rough stock events.

Results of Outhier’s competition were not available by the Bulletin’s deadline.