Already with ground to make up prior to his first go-round attempt, 2017 Ignacio High School graduate Mark Kempinski had even more to cover after his initial National High School Finals Rodeo chute exit.
Competing as an injury-alternate inclusion for Team Colorado up in Gillette, Wyoming, the saddle bronc rider first competed in Performance No. 4 early Tuesday, July 18. But after looking up at front-running results such as the previous morning's 79 by Tegan Smith of Winterset, Iowa, he entered the second go needing both an outstanding ride as well as aid from opposing roughstock to have a shot at making the short go.
Kempinski scored a seventh-place 41 inside the CAM-PLEX Multi-Event Facilities' Morningside Park, and was to try again Thursday evening. Miles City, Montana's Houston Brown registered a leading 82 to win the performance, with Utopia, Texas' Will Pollock second at 76 and Dickinson, North Dakota's Qwint Stroh third at 75.
Meanwhile, Tuesday at the Gillette Gun Club, 2017 IHS grad Dalton Mickey and current Bobcat Dustin Sanchez participated in the NHSFR/NRA Light Rifle event, but as of that night only Sanchez's results were listed. Placing well outside the top 20, he totaled 130 points with scores of 50 prone, 19 standing and 61 kneeling.
Championship-phase action at the 69th Annual NHSFR concludes tomorrow night.
