SPORTSGavin Callahan, of McConnells, S.C., got a belated birthday present Saturday by winning the Area 18 Youth Scholarship finals at James Brown Arena.Callahan, who turned 15 last Tuesday, rode Johnny Reyngo to 219 and a victory over 11-year-old Lily Erwin, of Appling, who had 215.Morgan Griggs finished third at 214 on Seal Team 6, Cody Roberts was fourth with 211 on DB Mates Brow and Tia Leann Collins was fifth at 210 on Peoptos Paving Rey.Callahan won a $3,000 scholarship to the college or university of his cho...
SPORTS
Gavin Callahan, of McConnells, S.C., got a belated birthday present Saturday by winning the Area 18 Youth Scholarship finals at James Brown Arena.
Callahan, who turned 15 last Tuesday, rode Johnny Reyngo to 219 and a victory over 11-year-old Lily Erwin, of Appling, who had 215.
Morgan Griggs finished third at 214 on Seal Team 6, Cody Roberts was fourth with 211 on DB Mates Brow and Tia Leann Collins was fifth at 210 on Peoptos Paving Rey.
Callahan won a $3,000 scholarship to the college or university of his choice. Erwin won $2,000, Griggs won $1,500, Roberts won $1,000 and Collins won $500.
Youth can qualify for this event through their 20th birthday.
Callahan, who is a ninth grader at Westminster-Catawba Christian School in Rock Hill, S.C., has qualified for this event since his early teens, but missed it last year because of a non-cutting commitment.
“I’ve had some tough luck in the past and never really done good; this is the first year I’ve got along with this horse in this deal,” Callahan said. “This is the first time we’ve matched up right here. A lot of things have to come together for a run to work out. It just kind of came together.”
It didn’t come together for a number of riders, including two-time defending champion Katherine Queen,a 10th-grader from Allendale, S.C., who finished eighth on Metallic Manziel with 198.
“These are a tough group of cows,” Callahan said. “It’s hard to really get through a run on those. Those cows just take you out of it sometimes. I really felt good about him when I got done.”
Callahan worked fifth in the 11-horse finals.
“Draw five is pretty good; it’s not too late and it’s not too early. It’s just right,” he said.
Callahan, who is a ninth-grader, said he hasn’t thought about how to use his scholarship money yet.
“I haven’t figured that far ahead yet,” Callahan said.