Not bad, for a rookie.

Actually Kenneth Wright has been around rodeo all his life growing up near Mission, so the rookie reference doesn't quite fit.

But Wright's qualifying for the Indian National Finals Rodeo, set for November in Las Vegas, Nev., in his first year of competing in the Great Plains Region of the Indian Rodeo Association still rates as quite an accomplishment.

Wright, 23, punched his ticket to Las Vegas by winning the region point championship in bull riding.

"That's an automatic," Wright said. "First place gets to go to the finals."

The Great Plains Region encompasses South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana, which is quite a spread. Wright could have traveled a lot more, but he stuck to rodeos relatively close to home.

"I would just go to the little rodeos around South Dakota. I'd get off work, go to the rodeos then drive all night to get back to work in the morning," he said.

Wright worked in construction, framing houses, and also worked with relatives to make a living, but instead of traveling with other cowboys to share travel expenses, Wright chose to go it alone.

"It was mainly me by myself, because them other guys wanted to hit two or three rodeos and I just wanted to do the one. I had to get back to work," he said.

"I've seen a lot of road time this summer," he said.

Wright, a 2004 graduate of Todd County High School in Mission, played football, one year of basketball, wrestled and ran track for the Falcons.

And of course, there was always rodeo.

"I've been rodeoing since I was little. I started riding bulls when I was eight and came up through the ranks in Little Britches, high school and college," he said.

"I come from a long line. They know the ups and downs and it comes pretty naturally."

Wright qualified for the National Little Britches rodeo every year starting at age 10, but never placed very well in the final standings. His high school career was also undistinguished. He qualified for the National High School rodeo finals just once as a sophomore in team roping.

"I didn't have a very good year in bull riding and I never seemed to have a very good finals," he said.

In college, he transferred to National American University and planned to red-shirt a year for the Maverick mens team, but the college dropped all varsity sports and Wright was only able to complete one-half of a season before the end came.

He continues at the school studying equine management.

"It was a disappointment that they dropped rodeo, but I don't know if you can put a price on education," Wright said.

He has attended rodeos, including the Professional Bull Riders finals at Las Vegas in previous years as a spectator. He hopes that familiarity with the facility will help dampen the "wow" factor as a first-time competitor.

He believes he is capable of a good showing, even a run at a world title.

"I've been riding pretty good and I've got a good shot at it if I keep my head clear and stay focused," he said.

His family and friends will accompany him to Las Vegas for the rodeo in early November.

"They're all real excited and they'll help support me," he said.

Wright also hopes the Indian Rodeo Finals appearance will boost his run toward a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association career.

"I've got my PRCA permit, but I haven't been able to travel that much," he said. "I'm hoping that'll change next year."