Brooksville riders headed to national

BROOKSVILLE -- Two Brooksville teenagers qualified for the national high school event and three other North Suncoast residents won titles last week in the Florida State Championships.

Lee Pedone, a 15-year-old Brooksville native, captured the state crown in bareback riding, and Joy Benedict, 18, Brooksville, was third in barrel racing.

Pedone, a sophomore at Hernando High, won the rookie bareback championship last year and finished fourth at nationals.

Benedict was rewarded for spending two years re-training her 11-year-old American quarter horse, Past Time Wonder.

"She gave up a year of competing in high school to get that done," local coordinator Debbie Benedict said.

"This year it started to click," Benedict said. "Even up to the state finals it was hit-and-miss, but she won all but three points available there."

By finishing in the top three of their competition, Pedone and Joy Benedict will participate as part of a 43-member Florida team in the 54th annual National High School Rodeo Finals, July 22-28 in Farmington, N.M.

Dade City's Len and Travis Dorman (team roping) and Zephyrhills' Rachel O'Connor (Queen) earned spots on the squad by winning state titles.

Rodeo is not an officially recognized sport by the Florida High Schools Activities Association. Entrants competed as individuals in the Florida High School Rodeo Association State Finals, June 14-16 in Brighton.

The NHSFR will feature more than 1,500 residents from 39 states, 4 Canadian provinces and Australia. More than $125,000 in prizes and $170,000 in scholarships will be available.

Contestants who place in the top 20 of their event are eligible to be named NHSFR national champion.

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