From L’il Britches to B.C. High School to Nationals in Wyoming. It’s been quite a ride for teenage rodeo sensations Justine Plecas and Joanna Fennell.
The pair of 17-year-olds are with their horses almost daily in preparation for the National High School Rodeo Championships, July 17-25, in Gillette, Wyo. Plecas, who just graduated from VSS, is also competing in the Canadians, Aug. 10-12, in Virden, Man.
Plecas rides Missy in barrell racing and pole bending, and qualified for nationals with a top-four finish in pole bending on the B.C. High School circuit this season.
“I ran some 20s (seconds) which is pretty fast and I ended up second overall,” said Plecas. “I’ve been rodeoing for eight years. I’m a first-generation cow girl.”
Hoping to hit the pro rodeo schedule next summer after a year of Bachelor of Science studies at University of Alberta in Edmonton, Plecas gave up hoops in Grade 9 to focus on horses. She plans to be a veterinarian.
On Missy, who lives on Lavington turf, Plecas said: “She’s a bit crazy but she’s totally an athlete. She runs to win every time. She knows her job and she’s well conditioned.”
Born and raised in Vernon, Plecas helps pay for her trips by working as a cashier at Superstore. She was in the High Performance program at VSS, and gives teacher Clif Acob high props for helping her balance school and rodeos. She turns 18 on the final day of the nationals.
Fennell, meanwhile, followed her sisters, Sarah and Jessica, and her bull-riding father, Lee, into a thrill-a-second sport full of danger.
“I’m a roper, it comes natural to me,” smiled Joanna. “I go out and have a lot of fun. It’s kind of hard on my body. I have sprained both my ankles, hurt my shoulder and almost choked out and almost got knocked out.”
The Grade 11 Vernon Christian School student will ride a mare known was Stardust in breakaway roping at the nationals. She also has a gelding named Cola.
“She’s (Stardust) younger and has more try than him (Cola) right now. She’s very competitive.”
Fennell, an Armstrong native, also goes all out in goat tying. Last summer, after nationals, she attended a week-long camp with Central Wyoming collegiate coach Lynn Smith in Riverton, Wyo.
“Actually, I really improved all my roping at that camp. After that, I was Reserve Champion in breakaway roping at Canadians.”
Fennell hopes to earn a scholarship to Central Wyoming and get her Phd. in physical therapy while doing the pro circuit in the summers.
She breaks colts and snowboards when away from her horses.
Also competing at the B.C. High School finals was Vernon’s Scott Day, who finished in the top 10 in team roping. He will also compete in Virden.
Vernon’s Scott Griffith finished in top 10 and competed last week at the Silver State International Finals in Winnemucca, Nev.
Clay Elliott of Vernon finished fourth in bronco riding and is headed to Gillette to compete in tiedown roping, bronc riding and steer wrestling.
