Stanley headed to nationals

A Sidney teen is on her way to compete in the National Junior High Finals Rodeo this weekend.

Reece Stanley, an eighth grader at Sidney Middle School, earned a spot on the Nebraska Junior High Rodeo Team as a barrel racer. The team will travel to Lebanon, Tennessee to compete in the national finals June 18-24.

The meet marks a milestone in a busy year for Stanley. She said she has competed in large number of meets to qualify for the Nebraska team and the national finals.

The National Junior High Finals Rodeo will play host to approximately 1,000 contestants from 43 states, five Canadian provinces and Austrailia, making it the world's largest junior high rodeo. Those entered will compete for more than $80,000 in prizes and more than $200,000 in college scholarships.

The top 20 contestants, based on combined times in the first two rounds, advance to Saturday evening's final round, there they will compete to be named a National Junior High Finals Rodeo World Champion.

Saturday's championship performance will be televised on pat of the Cinch High School Rodeo Tour telecast series on RFD-TV. Live broadcasts of each NJHFR performance will also air online at NHSRATV.com. Performance times are 7 p.m. June 18, and 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day thereafter.

Complete results will also be available daily on NHSRA.org