Roping First Place

If the first spring event of the Wyoming Junior High School Rodeo Association is an indication of things to come, one local cowgirl could be on her way to nationals. Gabby Longwell competed in three events at the season opener and won two of them to make a spectacular debut.
After a short fall season, the real rodeo season got underway April 14-15 at Laramie. Longwell was among the best at the first showdown of 2023 and has the buckle to prove it.
Longwell (heeler) and her teammate Wyatt Fenner (header) swept both rounds of ribbon roping. The duo won the opening round by 10 seconds with a time of 13.030 seconds.
It was a much tougher test winning the final round, but they still came out on top. The duo captured first place again with a time of 11.410 seconds, just ahead of Denton Mackey and Abby Millburg at 11.910.
Longwell wasn’t finished. The standout rodeo athlete also won day two of girls breakaway roping where she had a top time of 4.070 seconds, beating out Bella Martinson of Gillette at 4.250.
While chalking up three first places, Longwell also competed in pole bending where she finished 12th and 15th, respectively.
On the line for all athletes is a trip to the junior high nationals in June where the top four finishers in each event qualify. Currently, Longwell and Fenner lead the state in ribbon roping with 38 points, six ahead of the competition from Gillette.
Longwell sits at ninth in breakway roping but is just 14 points shy of third overall.