Clifton qualifies to compete at National High School Finals Rodeo

  • Clifton qualifies to compete at National High School Finals Rodeo
    Clifton qualifies to compete at National High School Finals Rodeo

By Jacob Stock

The Cuero Record 

 

Wyatt Clifton wanted to make it to state one way or another this year. The recent Cuero High School class of 2022 graduate did just that in two separate events at the Texas High School Rodeo finals held back in early June, one in trap shooting and the other in team roping. His performance in trap shooting secured him a top-four spot out of Region 7 becoming a Texas High School Rodeo Association National Qualifier, and a position on the Texas National High School Rodeo team. Placing in the top four clinched Clifton a bid to the 74th annual National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) that will be held in Gillette, Wyoming this upcoming week from July 17-23. 

“It’s an experience, I went up there for roping and somehow I got in shooting,” chuckled Clifton on how excited he is for the opportunity.

Featuring more than 1,650 contestants from 44 states, five Canadian Provinces, Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand, the NHSFR is the world’s largest rodeo. Having roughly seven years of experience with the sport of trap shooting, nerves are not something Clifton is going to let get to him. In the past, Clifton has attended competitions with several hundred and even thousands of people in attendance. He will spend one day competing in trap shooting.

“This is probably going to be one of the biggest [competitions] because they only take the top 4 shooters. There is going to be about 200 people [competing] up there,” said Clifton. “It’s nerve racking to go into, but you just have to look past them. It’s a big shoot, I have never gone to Nationals before. In the Junior shootout at Young Guns in Houston, there were probably 700 people there.”

Placing in the top four to qualify for Nationals and earning an automatic bid did not come easy for Clifton. He would end up facing a shoot-out with the previous three-time champ.

 

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