Local cowgirls gets spot on Missouri high school team

Daneka DeWitt has earned a position on the Missouri high school team.

BENTON -- Daneka DeWitt, a recent graduate of Thomas W. Kelly High School in Benton, has earned a position on the Missouri high school rodeo team.

Recently named the Wrangler Pole Bending Champion, winners received awards and college scholarships at the state level. DeWitt also won a pair of Wrangler 20X jeans and a special Wrangler state event champion patch to put on her official competition shirt.

She will travel to Farming, N.M., to compete July 21-27 at the 55th Annual High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) in barrel racing and pole bending competitions.

NHSFR is the world's largest rodeo where more than 1,500 contestants will compete for over $125,000 in prizes and more than $150,000 in scholarships, along with a chance to be named National High School Rodeo Champion.

To earn this title, DeWitt must finish in the top 20 after two go-rounds of the competition before advancing to Sunday's final championship performance.

The Sunday events will be televised on the Outdoor Channel's weekly "Rodeo Round-Up" series at 10 a.m. Sept. 22, 8 p.m. Sept. 24 and 10 a.m. Sept. 27.

Visit www.rodeohigh.com for possible schedule changes. For ticket information and reservations to the rodeo call (505) 324-3000 and visit www.nhsra.org for complete competition results.