There are fewer teens competing in bareback this year, something he believes is due to the nature of the event.

"It's the most physically demanding," said Pope, a Roy High senior. "It's the hardest one to get good at. You don't just have to cover the horse for eight seconds, you have to make it look good."

Pope is a city kid who just loves horses and now trains them for other people. It was his brother-in-law who enticed him into trying it and he was hooked right away. He hopes to earn a living on the pro rodeo circuit and he's already been working some PRCA rodeos.

"Every horse you get on is good," he said of the difference between high school and the PRCA. "The pen is pretty even and the guys are better. It definitely makes you a better rider."

The winners of the first round were: Chance Pope, Spikers, won the bareback riding with 70 points; Spencer Wright, West Millard, won saddle bronc riding with 69 points; Amberly Snyder, South Utah County, won breakaway roping with a time of 2.75 seconds; Joe Frost, Uintah Basin, won calf roping with a time of 10.01 seconds.

Whitney Dansie, Oakers/Bingham, won goat tying with a time of 7.43 seconds; Tanner Atkin, Dixie, won steer wrestling with a time of 6.65 seconds; Taylor Marble, Juab, won barrels with a time of 16.083 seconds; John Nielson and Tanner Haviland, Bridgerland, won team roping with a time of 7.38 seconds; McKenna Woolstenhulme, South Summit, won pole pending with a time of 20.532; Wace Holmes, Lehi, won bull riding with a score of 73 points.

The second round started with Thursday evening's competition at 7 p.m. and will conclude Friday's rodeo at 7 p.m. The top 10 in each event will compete Saturday at 5 p.m. That is when the National Team will be announced as well.

E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com