Local teen rides her way to World Champion Pole Bender
Kristen Jones
Farmer Staff Writer
Zoey Wagoner
Fifteen-year-old Zoey Wagoner is the National High School Rodeo (NHSRA) Pole Bending Champion. This is the first time North Dakota has had a NHSR champion since 2014.
Not only did Zoey earn the title of champion, but she had the fastest time of the week and set a personal record.
“It is nice to have my best time happen when it really matters,” Zoey said with a laugh.
Going into Nationals, she was already the North Dakota State Pole Bending Champion and had been named the North Dakota Rookie of the Year. While she has competed at the National Junior High Rodeo championships in the past, as a freshman, this is her first year on the high school stage. She said that her favorite part of going to nationals was participating in the rodeo and going out and riding.
She said she wasn’t sure where she would place, but that she went into the competition “hoping that I will do well, but you never know. There are a lot of good horses and girls out there.”
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