RENO, Nev. (AP) — The 93rd annual Reno Rodeo that kicks off Thursday is a bit of a homecoming for Tony Mendes.
The 34-year-old Mendes grew up in Sun Valley and attended Hug High School just down the street from the Reno Livestock Events Center.
Along the way he was voted the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association 1996 rookie of the year and qualified twice for the national rodeo finals. He hasn't been on top of a bull in his hometown for more than a decade but that should change Thursday night.
He told the Reno Gazette-Journal he arrived earlier to spend some time with his family and is excited about the competition. His brother, Scott, was the PRCA World Champion bull rider in 1997.
The Reno Rodeo with a $550,000 purse runs through June 23.
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Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com
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