‘Definitely a first’ Texas high school rodeo competitors shelter through Sunday storms

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The Texas High School Rodeo Association (THSRA) State Finals will continue through this weekend. Even after the Sunday storms, staff and participants at the Taylor County Expo Center had to shelter together temporarily, waiting for the wind, rain, and hail to pass. Uvalde High School senior McKenzie Speer is returning to the event for her final year of competition at this level.

Speer told KTAB/KRBC that this year is one she will remember for the rest of her life, not only for the storms but also for the way in which the community came together to ride them out.

“This is definitely a first…I told my sister, I can’t believe this is happening to us right now, like we’re at state. It’s my last year. My mom was like ‘Well, this is a state you’ll never forget,” said Speer.

Speer has been competing in rodeo competitions for the past seven years, attending the THSRA finals in Abilene for her entire high school career. She says her family was aware that heavy weather was forecasted for the night of Sunday, June 8; however, they did not know just how severe that weather would be. The high winds and hail proved especially concerning, as her family, like many others, are staying in a trailer on the Expo Center lot while they’re in town.

“That night, we could hear the hail. It was like golf ball-sized. And then the trailer was rocking like crazy that night, and so it was kinda scary. Madison, my sister, she gets really nervous around thunderstorms. That night, she woke me up and she was like, ‘Mack, the trailer’s moving.’ And I could feel it. Like when you stood up, the trailer was shaking,” Speer said.

She says the generosity and welcoming nature of the THSRA community put her fears just a little more at ease. During the worst of the storm, Speer, her friends, family, and fellow rodeo athletes sheltered inside the old Taylor County Coliseum. Speer says that despite the rivalry between athletes and regions, she saw the community come together in this time of uncertainty.

“That’s why I love Texas High School rodeo so much: there’s really no other organizations that are so close. We were all roping the dummy, competing with each other. We listened to music. I’m telling you, man, everyone kind of came together, which was nice, and we just had competition throughout the night,” said Speer.

Speer expresses her desire to be part of the rodeo scene for many years to come due to the intense competition and the friendly community it offers.

“Texas is a tough state. We’ve been national champions for the past nine years, so we’re going for our 10th, which I think we can do with how tough we are. I plan to go to A&M and rodeo on the Aggie team, and after that, I wanna get my permit and hopefully my pro card,” Speer said.

Speer is competing this year in breakaway roping, pole bending, and barrel racing events. The THSRA state finals continue with events planned every day through Saturday, June 14. The full schedule can be found on the THSRA website.