Riley Carel’s focus sharpens to a needlepoint the moment before he ropes a calf.

“If we’re trying to beat five seconds, I can’t have four different things in my brain,” he said. “… When I’m back in the box, I’m just repeating in my head, ‘Score’… and then the rest of it is all reaction.”

Plateau residents and tourists alike may be able to see Carel’s lightning-fast reflexes in action during the Enumclaw Pro Rodeo from Aug. 22 – 25 where he hopes to score big in the calf roping and team roping events.

Born and raised in Enumclaw, Carel has been riding horses and swinging ropes for as long as he can remember.

“I’ve roped my sister, my dogs, my cows, my horses, mailboxes,” he said. “I’ve roped stuff my whole life.”

Rodeo was a pastime while he was growing up, occasionally following his d

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