John Riley, freshman at CHS rides a miniature bull at one of his many competitions. Photo courtesy of Caverna High School.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Three students from the Caverna Independent School district are heading to Mesquite, Texas, to compete in the 2023 miniature bull riding world championship on Oct. 2-7.
Keeden Williams, a sophomore at Caverna High School, John Riley, a freshman at CHS, and Kagen Williams, an eighth grader at the middle school, will make the roughly 11 hour trip down south, having earned enough points to rank top five in Kentucky.
According to Keedan a person earns points depending on how they do at bull riding with five points being top tier. The points from the various bull riding competitions are tallied up at the end of the year and the top five point-getters get to represent their respective states, or commonwealths, at the world finals.
According to the event’s website, the competition is for children ages 4-18 and not only features riders from the United States but riders from around the world as well. Keedan, Riley and Kagen said they believe they are the first from the district to compete. They all said they are excited to represent Caverna.
Kagen said he “fell in love” with bull riding ever since he began and kept practicing it not thinking he would win anything with this skill.
“When I first started I didn’t think I’d be going anywhere but then I just kept getting better as the years came,” Kagen said. “I guess you just have to believe in yourself.”
Riley said he similarly fell in love with it when he got seriously into bull riding last year, winning his first ornate belt buckle after he moved here from Idaho. He said he is ready to “go down there and win” but also to have fun doing a sport he enjoys.
Keeden said he first got into the sport after being referred to it by a friend back in 2017. He said he took to it immediately and “has been doing it ever since.”
“My expectations for Texas is to go down there and win it all,” Williams said. “Bring it home for Caverna.”
The winner of this points-based competition will receive a “big check” and the “title of world champion.” The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mesquite Arena.
we ready for texas