Alex Nobles is heading to Rock Springs, Wyo., to compete in the 67th annual National High School Finals Rodeo Calf Roping Competition July 12-18.

The 2015 Ben’s Ford Christian School graduate is part of the Mississippi High School Rodeo Team.

To qualify for nationals, Nobles had to be one of the top four finishers on the team in his event, which is calf roping.

There are 18 competitions throughout the year, and then the finals are held. The finals took place in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Participants earn points based on where they finish in the competitions. Their points carry over to the finals. The finals feature five rounds. The top 10 participants after four rounds of the finals advance to the short round. The top four from that round make it to nationals.

Nobles finished ninth in points over the 18 competitions but moved up to fourth during the finals to qualify for nationals.

Before this year, Nobles’ best finish was eighth, which was last season.

“I’m just real excited, ready to go and to see what I can do,” Nobles said.

Nobles has been part of the Mississippi High School Rodeo Team for four years. Nobles said this is just something he’s always wanted to do.

“My dad always did rodeos,” Nobles said. “We had to stop because a few things came up, but we ended up picking it back up when I was in ninth grade.”

He said the key has been working hard at what he believes in and believing in himself.

“I was always taught hard work pays off,” Nobles said.

The National High School Finals Rodeo features more than 1,500 contestants from 42 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia. It is the world’s largest rodeo.

At the rodeo, contestants will be competing for prizes and college scholarship money along with a chance to be named NHSFR National Champion.

To earn that title, contestants must finish in the top 20 based on the combined times/scores in the first two rounds to advance to July 18’s final rounds. National champions will then be determined based on their three-round combined scores/times.

Nobles is the son of Kerry and Myra Nobles of Bogalusa.

Nobles will attend Pearl River Community College next school year and will major in instrumentation.