Recent Lodi High graduate Cody Hedlund will try to win a third national cutting championship at the National High School Finals Rodeo next month in Farmington, N.M. Incoming senior Daniel Rice and recent graduate Haley Brum will be competing for Galt High. (Courtesy photo)

Hedlund leads local riders headed to nationals

Recent Lodi High graduate and two-time national high school cutting champion Cody Hedlund has a simple theory on why he's usually better than his competition. He works harder.

"I practice often," said Hedlund, whose family owns a 40-acre ranch in Acampo. "My dad (Rock Hedlund) trains cutting horses for a living and I'm out riding horses every day."

Hedlund will look to cap his wildly successful prep career with a third national title when he competes in the National High School Finals Rodeo July 20-26 in Farmington, N.M.

Going to nationals for the first time this year will be Galt High incoming senior Daniel Rice, who placed fourth in cutting at the California finals in Bishop, and Acampo's Haley Brum, a recent graduate of Galt's independent studies program who finished third in breakaway roping at state.

As if he needs more motivation, Hedlund is looking to redeem himself after placing second at the state finals, four-tenths of a second behind the winner.

"I definitely want to make up for it at nationals," said Hedlund, who won as a freshman in 2005, placed second as a sophomore and captured his second championship last year.

While practice has certainly paid off for Hedlund, he'll be quick to tell you that his American quarter horse, Shut Up and Cut, plays a huge role in his success. Shut Up and Cut took Horse of the Year honors at the state rodeo for a second straight year will be looking to do the same at nationals.

Despite all the shared talent between the rider and his horse, Hedlund says it will take consistency, not a spectacular performance, to go out on top.

"Consistency is what makes a good cutter," said Hedlund, who will attend Weatherford Junior College in Texas and plans to major in animal science. "It's not having to win the round every time and letting others make mistakes."

Although Rice, who rides Pastels Belle Smart, is making his first trip to nationals, he did qualify as a freshman but was unable to make the trip.

He's looking to make up for the lost opportunity.

"I'm planning to win it all," Rice said. "But I'm also going to have a good time and meet a bunch of people."

Brum is also hoping to rope a title riding atop Amber.

"Winning is a good goal," said Brum, who will attend West Hills College in Coalinga. She's undecided on a major, but says it will likely involve ag business. However, she says that can wait.

"I'm excited about nationals. It will be a lot of fun."