Popko wins both go-rounds, average at Industry

Kerry Popko won not only the Pole Bending average but also both go-rounds at the California High School Rodeo Association competition April 17 in City of Industry.

The Fallbrook High School freshman won the first go-round with a time of 21.00 seconds and topped the competitors in the second session with a 20.39-second run to give her an average (aggregate) of 41.39 seconds.

“I hadn’t taken the average and got both times, so it was exciting,” Popko said.

Popko has won go-rounds in her short high school rodeo career but had never won the average until the April rodeo. “When I heard the average it was like gaping,” she said. “I was excited.”

Popko rode Banjo, a 12-year-old paint horse the Fallbrook family has owned since 2001.

The winner of each go-round earns ten points in the season standings, and the winner of the average earns ten points. Popko’s 30 points April 17 moved her from fifth to third in the District 8 standings. “Moving up,” she said.