High school rodeo: Wasatch's Maxfield wins back-to-back titles

HEBER CITY — Coming into the state high school rodeo finals as a defending champion in two different events imparted a more intense degree of pressure than Shelby Maxfield felt when she claimed her initial titles a year ago.

Maxfield felt like she let pressure get to her in the breakaway roping final and could not help feeling dissatisfied with her performance. So the Wasatch High senior decided to cut loose and just have fun in barrel racing.

A more relaxed approach worked like a charm. Maxfield won the barrel racing final on Saturday night at the Wasatch County Fairgrounds with a time of 15.905 seconds and capped her high school rodeo career by claiming a pair of state titles for a second consecutive year.

Maxfield totaled 147 points in barrel racing and 122 points in breakaway roping for the season to clinch those back-to-back titles.

"I've worked really hard, and that's what I've been working for all year," Maxfield said. "I'm glad I could get it done."

Although Maxfield was the state champ for the season in both events, Bear River senior Bailey Ward won the breakaway roping final on Saturday — lassoing her calf in 3.22 seconds compared to 3.54 for Maxfield.

"It just all worked out tonight," Ward said. "I drew a good calf and got out good."

Milford junior Spencer Wright took a big step toward defending his national title by claiming a state title and state final win in the saddle bronc. Wright scored 71 points in the event final to edge out South Summit's Brady Nicholes and Lehi's Mckay Mann, who each scored 68. He also tallied 140 points on the season to become the top national qualifier out of Utah.

Even with another national title in his sights, Wright still appreciates what a title at the state level can do for him too.

"They still mean a lot to me," Wright said. "Utah is the most competitive rodeo state in the nation."

Not all of the events played out like the points standings would have predicted before the week started. Although he did not ultimately qualify for nationals, sophomore Dallin Kemp did enough to finish as a state finals winner in calf roping.

Kemp, who attends Salem Hills and competes for the South Utah County rodeo club, tied down his calf in 12.11 seconds to win. He was seventh in points, but he figured if he made three solid runs this week his average would give him a shot at victory.

Once he earned that top spot, it felt like the perfect validation to a season's worth of effort.

"You work so hard to get here," Kemp said. "This is what you work for every day in the practice pens — to come here and just perform your best."