Rendon Powledge leads tight race to WCJR 2024

There is a tight race for the top spot in the 2024 WCRA Division Youth Junior standings, but Rendon Powledge leads with 5,848.75 points.

Reigning WCRA DY Junior World Champion header Conley Kleinhans is in second place with 5,759.75, just 89 points behind Powledge. Powledge, an 18-year-old from Grandview, Texas, will attend Cisco College in the fall, where he will compete in collegiate rodeo, team roping, tie-down roping and steer roping. Powledge is preparing for his second trip to the WCJR July 23-27 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla.

The Team Roping Journal: Tell me a little about yourself and how you got into the sport.

Rendon Powledge: My mom grew up running barrels and my dad grew up throwing rope, so they got me into it when I was about 4 years old. This guy who lives probably ten minutes away, Brent Bennett, is the one who really got me started. I went there and threw a lot of rope with him every day. And then along the way, the Kanadys that I roped with Kyler at the high school rodeos and stuff, they helped me a lot.

TRJ: It’s exciting at the top of the WCRA DY rankings, but you’re in the lead at WCJR. What does that mean to you?

RP: It’s very tight there, but it means a lot. I feel like when you’re at the top of the leaderboard, it feels like you want to be there; you did your best for it. I’m not sure how it works, but I think we get a guaranteed spot in the (Championship Round), maybe. That would be great. It’s a big relief.

TJ: There are many opportunities for young people to nominate for the WCJR. Where do you go for most of your nominations?

RP: The biggest one I’ve had here lately has been the Texas High School Rodeo State Finals. We’ve nominated the high school rodeos along the way, and sometimes they have a 19 and under 12 slide that we can nominate. I also nominate some junior rodeos along the way, like the AJRA (American Junior Rodeo Association).

TRJ: You also use the DY showcases. What do you also like about those opportunities?

RP: Last year in Fort Worth I liked how they helped us work on our interviews and stuff two hours in advance. I liked how they did that. I also like how you get to compete against a few people for a good amount of money.

TRJ: There are a number of benefits to nominating throughout the year and finishing in the top 16 of the standings. What keeps you nominated?

RP: I love that they are good rodeos, but I nominate them mainly so that I have a guaranteed spot in the semifinals. They are super good rodeos though. (Athletes in the top 16 of the DY standings are placed in the semifinals.)

TRJ: Who are you going to fight in Guthrie this year?

RP: Kyler Kanady, I’ve competed with him in high school rodeos, state finals and then we competed in the San Antonio (Stock Show & Rodeo) Youth Rodeo this year.

I haven’t been with him that long. I started last year and he and I have become very close. I always go to his house to practice or he always comes to my house and we just get along great. So far it’s working pretty well.

TRJ: Will you be doing a lot of prep for WCJR this summer?

RP: Unfortunately there won’t be much preparation as we go to Shawnee (IFYR), then to (High School) Nationals and then straight to Guthrie. We will be competing in the qualifying round because we received a paid spot from the state finals. So we’re going to participate in that. I think that will be a kind of exercise, the big show.

TRJ: What is your plan for the Lazy E?

RP: I think it depends a bit on how fast everyone is going. If it’s not too fast, we’ll just have a good run and if it’s pretty fast, we’ll have to be pretty aggressive.

Meet the other WCRA DY leaders attending WCJR