“Goat tying competitors get ready,” bellowed the announcers voice over the Bannock County Fairgrounds loudspeaker.

    Immediately, Darcey Maddock got nervous. And for good reason, this being the sophomore’s first ever appearance at the Idaho State High School Rodeo Finals.

    But as soon as her horse, 20-year-old Marcey, raced after the fleeing goat, all nerves and reservations disappeared as fast as Maddock had the animal on the ground and tied up.

    Which, as it turned out, was really quick.

    Maddock, who lives in Pavillion, Wyo. and competes for District 8, was the day’s fastest goat tyer with a blazing time of 7.78.

    “I told myself to calm down, smile and have fun,” Maddock said. “I made it, that’s all that counts. I just have to give it my all.”

    After all, she had trained long and hard for that exact moment. Her instincts came through when she needed them.

    “I was just excited to make it here.” she said. “I knew if I just kept my head in it and stayed calm that my horse would do great. We practiced a lot, and hard work definitely pays off.

    “I’m just going to keep tying like I have this whole week and hope that it all works out.”

    Maddock was 0.8 seconds faster than District 4 cowgirl Kassidy Duffin, who had the third quickest time of the evening. District 2’s Quincy Pendergrass sits in second with a time of 8.43.

    Monday’s action was the first session of the 2013 state finals. The evening began with bareback bronc riding, and the animals were firmly in control.

    Two of the five riders failed to record a score, one of them being Blackfoot High School’s Wyatt Oleson.

    The District 4 cowboy rode the full eight seconds, but was disqualified when his hand touched the horse.

    Oleson had fun anyway.

    “It raises your adrenaline and gets you all pumped up for the ride,” he said.

    But this being his second trip to the state finals, Oleson has a plan for his next go.

    “I’m going to put a rock in my hand,” he said. “If my hand drops, I’ll raise it back up to lift the weight. It’s a trick of the trade.”

    Oleson said the two-and-a-half pound stone will help his mind focus on keeping his hand up.

    District 7 cowboy Tristan Hansen recorded a 69 for his bareback ride, the highest of the day.

    In pole bending, District 8’s Cheyenne Sherwood had the fastest time. When the clock stopped on her run it read 21.084. Bailey Bachman of District 2 is second with a 21.326.

    District 8’s Megan Burbidge stopped the clock with a time of 22.823, good enough for seventh position.

    Tanner Butner was the only saddle bronc rider to record a score Monday, and he did it in style. The District 7 cowboy racked up a 70.

    In steer wrestling, two-time defending all-around cowboy Garrett Smith had the first go of the day, and got his animal down in 5.28 seconds. It ended up the second best run of the day as Coy Surrett of District 6, one of the last cowboys to make an attempt, finished in 4.53.

    Aberdeen sophomore Lexie Lehman had the third fastest breakaway roping time of the evening. She thought a 3.48 was quick enough to finish on top, but it was not to be.

    “I was really nervous once I got (my horse) backed in there,” Lehman said. “I’ve been practicing a lot, so I was hopefully prepared. I was hoping to do pretty good.”

    But District 6’s Charly Ball, the last competitor of the night, did it in 3.18. Makayla Boots of District 7 had a time of 3.26.

    But Lehman isn’t worried. She was the District 4 Rookie of the Year last season, and rodeo is in her blood.

    “I was a lot more prepared this year,” she said. “My sisters have both done rodeo and they both made it to nationals. So I’ve had a lot of help from them.”

    Cassidy Quinn, also from District 4, was unable to record a time in the event.

    In team roping, District 7’s Wesley Parker and Jaxon Bowen sit in first after recording a time of 8.48.

    Kade Pitchford, a recent graduate of Bear Lake High School and District 8 cowboy, had set the night’s fastest tie down roping time as the clock read 12.94. But the judges said he left early and was assessed a 10-second penalty.

    Instead, he sits in ninth as District 2’s Tyler Reay is in first with a time of 13.77.

    The first go continues today at 10 a.m. at the Bannock County Fairgrounds. The day will begin with more bareback bronc riding. Today’s second session starts at 7 p.m.