Rosalia sisters qualify for rodeo nationals

Jacey Johnson wins second consecutive Washington State All-Around

Jacey Johnson, an eighth grader from Rosalia, will compete at the world’s largest Junior High Rodeo in Gallup, N. M. at the end of June.

Jacey won the All-Around for the Washington State Junior High Rodeo team as well as the team roping as a header with her heeling partner, Jake Warren. This will be Jacey’s third year to compete in Gallup. This is the second year she has won the All-Around for Washington state.

Jacey will compete in Gallup in team-roping, ribbon roping, breakaway roping and goat tying. The most exciting win for her this year was bringing home the team roping win. Jacey’s favorite event is team roping and she gives most of the credit for her success to Charlie Reed of Rosalia. He has spent countless days teaching and mentoring in roping and other events.

Janette Smith of Tekoa also instructed her for her hours of goat tying.

Shaina Johnson and Mattie Jo Johnson will compete in the National Finals High School Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyo.

Mattie Jo, a Rosalia High School junior, will compete in breakaway and goat tying at the finals. Only the top four from each event in each state qualify to compete at nationals. Mattie Jo ended up third in goat tying and and fourth in breakaway roping.

She competed in goat tying at the finals last year.

Shaina Johnson, a senior from Rosalia, ended up second in the state for goat tying. She also competed in the goat tying last year at the finals. She will compete in the same event with her sister.

Shaina finished fifth in state breakaway to miss qualifying by only a few points. This will be her last High School National Rodeo.

She will continue her rodeo career next year by competing for Eastern Washington University where she hopes to pursue a career in equine therapy or physics.