Broken bones can't keep Cameron from top 10 rodeo finish
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Lexi Cameron was poised to compete in two national rodeos after earning top rookie honors at the Washington High School rodeo finals in Ellensburg. The Goldendale High School freshman qualified for the National Championship in break-away roping and the Silver State International competition in goat tying and pole bending.
On June 18, Cameron's summer plans came crashing to the floor. While participating in summer volleyball camp, Cameron went up to make a back-court attack and collided with a front-liner who thought she had the play. Cameron came down head first, literally breaking her fall with her outstretched hands. A bone in the right wrist was broken for sure and they think one in the left wrist was broken as well.
"They can't tell for sure because I have broken it before," said Cameron.
With both arms in casts, there she was, two weeks later, on her way to the Silver State competition in Fallon, NV. She had to forgo the goat tying, but saw no reason not to compete in pole bending. And compete she did, two good runs on consecutive days put her in the top 15 out of 78 riders. She rode well enough in the finals for a sixth place finish.
Cameron wasn't the only Goldendale team rider to do well at Fallon. The roping team of Kane Thiele and Mason Chambers finished fourth out of 106 teams, after a 7.23 time gave them second in the first round.
Gavine Cooper had an even better opening performance, leading a group of 34 riders after the first round of bareback bronc riding. Cooper finished the week in fifth place. Cole Cameron also competed at Fallon, but finished out of the top 10.
Chambers is on his way to the Nationals in Farmington, N.M., which starts on Sunday. He will compete in calf roping.
Lexi Cameron will have to pass on Nationals this year. Instead, she is providing inspirational leadership to her pals in volleyball and basketball.
Car show winners announced
Best of Show in the Community Days Show 'n Shine car show went to Bob and Mavis Olsen, of Moro for their 1934 Hupmobile. Stock winners were Phil and Sandra Ayers, of The Dalles, with a '58 Chevy, and Ken and Judy Gregory, of Bend, took the modified trophy for their 1937 Buick fastback sedan.
Local winners were Goldendale's Jim Farrer, 1960 Ford Sunliner in the '50s and newer category; Keith and Barbara Thompson's 1930 Ford Coupe, antique division; Stuart Chisholm's 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner factory muscle car; and Bill Stiner for his 1969 Rambler Hurst Scrambler, under construction.
Also winning were Dale and Joan Coles, of Dallesport, with their 1949 Chevy in the pickup division.
The show was put on by the Goldendale Motorsports Association.
No change at top of nine-ball league play
After five weeks of play, DaElders maintained their lead in the Pine Springs Resort nine ball league play. Lyleites jumped three spots to second, while Chalksfree dropped to fifth. Box Canyon remains in seventh.
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