Teen from Simpsonville, SC, to compete on national rodeo stage

ISABEL MAREK WYFF NEWS FOUR A RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE FROM SIMPSONVILLE, IS HEADING OUT WEST THIS WEEK TO COMPETE ON THE NATIONAL RODEO STAGE. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO OF HIM. TYLER SWAIN JUST GRADUATED FROM HILLCREST HIGH SCHOOL AND THIS WEEK HE WILL BE TRAVELING TO WYOMING TO COMPETE AT THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FINALS RODEO. TYLER HAS COMPETED WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL RODEO ASSOCIATION FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND HE ALSO MADE IT TO NATIONALS TWO YEARS AGO. LAST SUMMER, A SERIOUS INJURY FORCED HIM TO MISS COMPETITION THIS SUMMER, HE WILL COMPETE IN BAREBACK RIDING AGAINST THE TOP FOUR KIDS FROM EACH STATE AND KIDS FROM CANADA, MEXICO, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, HE EXPLAINED. THE SPORT TO US AND SAYS THE GOAL IS TO STAY ON THE HORSE FOR EIGHT SECONDS BAREBACK, SO NO SADDLE THEN NO SADDLE. YOU HAVE WHAT’S CALLED A REAGAN. IT’S LIKE A SUITCASE HANDLE AND YOU HAVE A SPECIAL GLOVE THAT LIKE BASICALLY LOCKS YOU IN THERE. AND, UH, YOU SLIDE UP ON IT. BASICALLY ALMOST LAYING BACK ON THE HORSE. AND THEN YOU’RE WHAT WE CALL AS LIFTING, LIKE YOU’RE, YOU’RE RAISING YOUR HAND UP. IT DOES NOT LOOK EASY. TYLER SAYS HIS GOAL IS TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL RIDER. WE WISH HIM GOOD LUCK IN WYOMING. AND WE’VE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW LOCAL KIDS WHO ARE EXCELLING IN RODEO. YOU MAY REMEMBER A FEW WEEKS AGO WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE GRAY SISTERS FROM UNION COUNTY WHO ARE ALSO TAKING PART IN NATIONAL RODEO COMPETITIONS. THIS SUMMER. YOU CAN FI