HEBER CITY — Some cowboys might have given it at least a few seconds of consideration.

But with a chance to earn another trip to the National High School Finals Rodeo on the line, Wace Holmes didn't hesitate when the judges offered him a re-ride.

"I didn't think about it at all," said Holmes, a junior at Lehi High, who was offered a second chance at riding a bull Wednesday morning after his first bull stopped momentarily in the middle of his eight-second ride. "I knew the (re-ride) bull was good."

Simply referred to as bull No. 99, Holmes said he'd tried unsuccessfully to ride the bull in previous rodeos.

"That was my first time staying on," he said after earning the highest score of the opening performance of the Utah High School Finals Rodeo with 73 points. "That's why I was so happy after."

Holmes flipped off 99's back and quickly scrambled to his feet. He ripped his hat off and pumped his fists. He said staying on a tough bull gave him a lot of confidence just when he needs it to earn one of four spots on the bullriding team that will head to nationals in July.

"Especially after that ride," he said with a grin.

Holmes was one of just two cowboys to make the whistle in bull riding Wednesday morning. Jade Hafen, Pine View, had the morning's best time with 13.04 seconds; Jackson Nelson, West Millard, won steer wrestling with a time of 8.38 seconds; Kylee Mackelprang, Sevier, earned the best goat-tying time with 8.02 seconds; Chyanne Thacker, Double D, earned the best time in pole bending with 20.87 seconds; Shelby Maxfield, Wasatch, earned the fastest barrels time with 16.237 seconds; Joe Frost and Blake Shinter, Uintah Basin, won the team roping with a time of 8.07 seconds; Brady Nicholes, South Summit, earned the only score in saddle broncs with a score of 63 points; McKay Mann, Lehi, earned the best score in barebacks with 66 points.

Holmes was ecstatic about his ride, but he's grateful just to be able to climb in the chute with the bulls after being sidelined by knee surgery for nearly four months.

"It happened last spring," said his mom, Kim Holmes. "He got kicked by a bull as he was coming off … He just kept saying, 'It's OK, Mom.' Then one day he was walking out the door and he just fell down. His knee was all over to the side and he just hit it back in."

That incident, however, led to his parents taking him to a doctor. A torn ACL and mostly torn miniscus — both of which required surgery to repair — was the diagnosis. Holmes missed the first two weekends of the spring season, but rode his first bull back to the buzzer.

"It's just a blast," he said of bull riding. "It's the main event. It's what everyone comes to see."

Holmes is reveling in his ride, and the joy of being back with his buddies, most of whom ride bulls as well.

"Wild, rough and tough," said Holmes' long-time friend Justin "Bill" Anderson, Juab. "You always take the re-ride."

Holmes laughs and adds, "Yeah, Bill told them I wanted the re-ride before they even said I could have one."

The rodeo performances continue through this week with competitions at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. today and Friday. The top 10 finishers in the first two rounds will compete in Saturday's championship round for state titles. All performances are at the Wasatch County Fairgrounds in Heber City.

e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com