The Basin Rodeo Team competed at the state championships in Craig over Memorial Day Weekend and had five athletes qualify for National High School Finals Rodeo with top-four finishes.
The team has 14 members from Durango, Cortez, Mancos, Pagosa Springs, Ignacio and Bayfield and competes almost year round around Colorado.
In the Wrangler Division for junior high athletes, Durango eighth grader Shylene Drumm won a whopping four state championships in Craig. Drumm won titles in breakaway, goats, ribbon roping and also poles.
Teagan McInnes, a seventh grader from Bayfield placed third in barrel racing to qualify for nationals.
Kelby Oliver, a seventh grader from Cortez, also qualified for nationals in two events. Oliver won the state championship in tie down roping and also finished third in team roping.
Two athletes also qualified for nationals in the high school division.
Mitchie Story, a senior from Durango, won his second straight state title as a saddle bronc rider.
Quincy Montoya, a junior from Mancos, is also headed to nationals. Montoya won a state championship in goat tying and also earned reserve champion in breakaway.
High School nationals will be held in Gillette, Wyoming at the end of July while the Wrangler nationals will take place in Perry, Georgia at the end of June.
The team had three seniors graduate from the team this year and all will continue their rodeo careers in college. Story committed to Weatherford College in Weatherford, Texas, for saddle bronc riding.
Teagan Taylor of Bayfield committed to New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, New Mexico for team roping.
Liesl Chenowith of Bayfield, meanwhile, committed to Otero Junior College in La Junta for barrel racing.
