HEBER Standing about 6-foot-4, Jordan Page could be the tallest high-school cowboy in the state.
As the starting center on the South Summit High School boys’ basketball team this year, Page led the team in rebounds per game and was fourth in scoring on a team that went to the 2A state championship game for the second straight year. The bashful and low-key Page was also on the Wildcats football team until 2010.
But don’t let his size and demeanor fool you. Page can sure come out of the gates blazing and rope a steer.
“I just love to do it,” he said.
Page, who said he has been doing rodeos since his junior high days, is a team-roping specialist. As the Utah High School Rodeo Association State Finals made its way to Heber this week, the lanky cowboy was back on the big stage.
It’s strictly team roping for Page, as opposed to other cowboys and cowgirls who perform in a multitude of events at the state finals, but he said that one event is a challenge.
“It’s a little bit difficult,” he said, jokingly.
On Wednesday morning in the first of six sessions of the state finals, Page and roping teammate Wyatt Anderson of Sevier, registered a time of 8.57.
When asked if all those years of championship experience on the court and gridiron will come through for him in the rodeo ring, Page said, “Probably. I just try not to look at it too much. I just need to go out and have fun.”
The team-first mentality Page carries with him on the horse is as important to him as that vital lariat toss.
“I just can’t let my partner down,” he said.
Page isn’t the only member of the South Summit crew to make it to the finals rounds in fact, there’s more than a few cowgirls who shine in multiple events.
South Summit cowgirls Carlee and Rylee Dick, Mckena Woolstenhulme and Shaneal Fryer are looking to add state titles to their repertoire.
The foursome is among the competitive pool of student-athletes looking to qualify for the championship round tonight at 6 p.m. The championship round of cow cutting will be held at 1 p.m. today.
The championship round features the top 10 athletes in each event who have qualified in finals sessions prior to today, and through cumulative points throughout the high school rodeo season. The top four from each event will head to the high school rodeo nationals in Gillette, Wyo., in July.
Carlee Dick, Woolstenhulme and Fryer will try to advance to the final four in girls’ breakaway roping tonight. Both Carlee Dick and Woolstenhulme will also look to place in girls’ barrel racing. Carlee Dick also stars in cow cutting, while Woolstenhulme is competing in poles.
Rylee Dick will have her hands full as she tries to capture a top finish in goat tying.
The foursome of South Summit cowgirls is facing the top competition in the state, but with such versatility across the board, the odds could favor of one of these cowgirls to place well tonight.
The awards presentation will be tonight at 9 p.m. at the indoor arena.