Weatherford's Mitchell wins national bull riding title

A late surge lifted Weatherford's Jack Mitchell to a national championship in bull riding at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming recently. The Texas champion posted a three-ride aggregate score of 230.5 points to win by a single point in an exciting finish.

Mitchell was ninth in his opening go-round with a score of 75. He was 14th in the second round after scoring 69, but it was still enough to advance him to the finals among the top 20 in the standings.

In the finals, Mitchell had his best ride of the week. He posted a score of 86.5, which vaulted him to the top of the field of 55 total contestants in the final standings.

Mitchell entered the National High School Finals Rodeo on the strength of winning the Texas High School Rodeo Association championship in June with a similar performance.

In Abilene, Mitchell had an aggregate score of 229.5. He was fourth in the opening draw with a score of 79.5, followed by another fourth-place performance in the second round with a score of 71, finishing with a 79.

Narrowly missing a national championship was another Parker County competitor. Preslee Green of Perrin placed second in girls cutting with a three-round score of 443. She won the first round with a 151 score and was 10th in the second round with a 145. Her score of 147 was fourth in the final go-round, pulling her to within eight points of the top spot.

Mitchell is one of two competitors from Weatherford to advance to finish in the top 10 of their event. Brodey Clemons was sixth in tie-down roping with three-round composite time of 29.66 seconds.