— 24 Athletes From the Carolinas Qualify to Compete —
On Saturday, Oct. 7, the 2023 CEAT Specialty Rodeo Carolina Division Youth (DY) Showcase will take over Mill Spring, North Carolina, and the excitement is mounting as the WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) and Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort today releases the final list of 81 talented youth athletes ages 13-18 who have qualified for the event. That morning beginning at 11 a.m. ET, fans can expect to witness an incredible display of skill, determination, and passion for youth rodeo for the first time in Mill Spring.
Tryon International has been chosen as the location for the inaugural WCRA Division Youth Showcase event for the 2023 series. The event offers a purse of $55,000, ensuring that each Champion will receive a minimum of $2,000. This presents an exceptional opportunity for emerging rodeo athletes to exhibit their talents and vie for a significant prize. Tryon International boasts cutting-edge facilities that have previously hosted Olympic contenders in equestrian disciplines, including show jumping and dressage.
The DY Showcase will crown Champions in each of the nine disciplines: team roping (heading and heeling), saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, barrel racing, and bull riding.
Colt Bass, a North Carolina native, will headline the event, showing his athletic prowess by competing in three distinct rodeo events across both ends of the arena. The Statesville local will compete in bull riding, team roping (heeling), and saddle bronc riding, showcasing his versatility and talent.
The intense WCRA DY leaderboard has filtered out the best of the best, and only the Top 65 timed event athletes and Top 16 rough stock athletes have earned the right to battle for the coveted title of WCRA DY Showcase Champion.
The Rodeo Carolina DY Showcase will feature the talents of 24 skilled youth athletes hailing from North and South Carolina. The roster of competitors, listed below, represents the very best of the Carolinas’ rodeo scene:
| Name | Hometown | Discipline |
| Abree Brock | Pendelton, SC | Pole Bending |
| Addi Hunter | Greer, SC | Pole Bending |
| Blakeley Line | Statesville, NC | Pole Bending |
| Brady Hill | Winston Salem, NC | Tie-Down Roping |
| Cade Morris | Shelby, NC | Bull Riding |
| Cole Shook | Leicester, NC | Team Roping |
| Colt Bass | Statesville, NC | Team Roping |
| Connor Brumley | Mocksville, NC | Saddle Bronc Riding |
| Elijah Jennings | Cleveland, SC | Bull Riding |
| Ellery Aho | Landrum, SC | Pole Bending |
| Emma Kate Lindley | Greer, SC | Pole Bending |
| Emma Reynolds | Central, SC | Goat Tying |
| Gracie Metta | Inman, SC | Breakaway Roping |
| Jake Osborne | Harmony, NC | Saddle Bronc Riding |
| Jersey Hill | Winston Salem, NC | Goat Tying |
| Joleigh Galloway | Liberty, SC | Goat Tying |
| Laci Murray | Belews Creek, NC | Pole Bending |
| Luke Bullard | Autryville, NC | Saddle Bronc Riding |
| Riley Owens | Pauline, SC | Goat Tying |
| Sam Bruce | Roebuck, SC | Bull Riding |
| Seth Brock | Pendleton, SC | Team Roping |
| Sophia Stoudenmire | Marietta, SC | Pole Bending |
| Turner Morris | Shelby, NC | Saddle Bronc Riding |
| Will Fritts | Lexington, NC | Bull Riding |
To view the complete roster, click HERE.
Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort is one of the most picturesque equestrian facilities in the country and is located within the Blue Ridge Foothills of Mill Spring, North Carolina. The year-round event venue features multi-discipline international and national equestrian competitions, live music, arts and entertainment, and holiday events.
With onsite shops, diverse dining options, and a robust entertainment calendar, non-equestrian visitors are equally marveled by the Tryon Resort experience.
Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort spans 1,600 acres and boasts 13 competition arenas, 1,400 permanent stalls, and various restaurants, shops, and lodging options. A nearby sporting clay course completes the Tryon Resort family of brands at Cleghorn Gun Club and the Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club.
Tickets for Rodeo Carolina Division Youth Showcase are on sale now and can be purchased online at tryon.com or etix.com or via the phone to PBR Customer Service at (800) 732-1727.
Since launching in May 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $15.7 Million in new money to rodeo athletes. All rodeo athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA or the VRQ should be directed to wcrarodeo.com.
