ROSTER ANNOUNCED FOR INAUGURAL RODEO CAROLINA YOUTH SHOWCASE ON OCT. 7 IN MILL SPRING, NORTH CAROLINA

— 24 Athletes From the Carolinas Qualify to Compete —

Austin, Texas (September 28, 2023) – On Saturday, Oct. 7, the 2023 CEAT Specialty Rodeo Carolina Division Youth (DY) Showcase will take over Mill Spring, North Carolina, and the excitement is mounting as the WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) and Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort today releases the final list of 81 talented youth athletes ages 13-18 who have qualified for the event. That morning beginning at 11 a.m. ET, fans can expect to witness an incredible display of skill, determination, and passion for youth rodeo for the first time in Mill Spring.

 

Tryon International has been chosen as the location for the inaugural WCRA Division Youth Showcase event for the 2023 series. The event offers a purse of $55,000, ensuring that each Champion will receive a minimum of $2,000. This presents an exceptional opportunity for emerging rodeo athletes to exhibit their talents and vie for a significant prize. Tryon International boasts cutting-edge facilities that have previously hosted Olympic contenders in equestrian disciplines, including show jumping and dressage.

 

The DY Showcase will crown Champions in each of the nine disciplines: team roping (heading and heeling), saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, barrel racing, and bull riding.

 

Colt Bass, a North Carolina native, will headline the event, showing his athletic prowess by competing in three distinct rodeo events across both ends of the arena. The Statesville local will compete in bull riding, team roping (heeling), and saddle bronc riding, showcasing his versatility and talent.

 

The intense WCRA DY leaderboard has filtered out the best of the best, and only the Top 65 timed event athletes and Top 16 rough stock athletes have earned the right to battle for the coveted title of WCRA DY Showcase Champion.

 

The Rodeo Carolina DY Showcase will feature the talents of 24 skilled youth athletes hailing from North and South Carolina. The roster of competitors, listed below, represents the very best of the Carolinas’ rodeo scene:

 

Name

Hometown

Discipline

Abree Brock

Pendelton, SC

Pole Bending

Addi Hunter

Greer, SC

Pole Bending

Blakeley Line

Statesville, NC

Pole Bending

Brady Hill

Winston Salem, NC

Tie-Down Roping

Cade Morris

Shelby, NC

Bull Riding

Cole Shook

Leicester, NC

Team Roping

Colt Bass

Statesville, NC

Team Roping

Connor Brumley

Mocksville, NC

Saddle Bronc Riding

Elijah Jennings

Cleveland, SC

Bull Riding

Ellery Aho

Landrum, SC

Pole Bending

Emma Kate Lindley

Greer, SC

Pole Bending

Emma Reynolds

Central, SC

Goat Tying

Gracie Metta

Inman, SC

Breakaway Roping

Jake Osborne

Harmony, NC

Saddle Bronc Riding

Jersey Hill

Winston Salem, NC

Goat Tying

Joleigh Galloway

Liberty, SC

Goat Tying

Laci Murray

Belews Creek, NC

Pole Bending

Luke Bullard

Autryville, NC

Saddle Bronc Riding

Riley Owens

Pauline, SC

Goat Tying

Sam Bruce

Roebuck, SC

Bull Riding

Seth Brock

Pendleton, SC

Team Roping

Sophia Stoudenmire

Marietta, SC

Pole Bending

Turner Morris

Shelby, NC

Saddle Bronc Riding

Will Fritts

Lexington, NC

Bull Riding

 

To view the complete roster, click HERE.

 

Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort is one of the most picturesque equestrian facilities in the country and is located within the Blue Ridge Foothills of Mill Spring, North Carolina. The year-round event venue features multi-discipline international and national equestrian competitions, live music, arts and entertainment, and holiday events.

 

With onsite shops, diverse dining options, and a robust entertainment calendar, non-equestrian visitors are equally marveled by the Tryon Resort experience.

 

Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort spans 1,600 acres and boasts 13 competition arenas, 1,400 permanent stalls, and various restaurants, shops, and lodging options. A nearby sporting clay course completes the Tryon Resort family of brands at Cleghorn Gun Club and the Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club.

 

Tickets for Rodeo Carolina Division Youth Showcase are on sale now and can be purchased online at tryon.com or etix.com or via the phone to PBR Customer Service at (800) 732-1727.

 

Since launching in May 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $15.7 Million in new money to rodeo athletes. All rodeo athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA or the VRQ should be directed to wcrarodeo.com

About WCRA

 

WCRA is a professional sport and entertainment entity, created to develop and advance the sport of rodeo by aligning all levels of competition. In association with the PBR, WCRA produces major rodeo events, developing additional opportunities for rodeo-industry competitors, stakeholders, and fans. To learn more, visit wcrarodeo.com. For athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ) system, visit app.wcrarodeo.com