To the Silver State International Rodeo, U-T-A-H means the same thing that U-C-L-A once meant to college basketball.

That's because Utah's teams have a string of SSIR championships going. While the Bruins won seven-straight NCAA basketball titles, from 1967-73, and 10 championships in 12 years from 1964-75, Utah's high school wranglers have won eight consecutive SSIR team championships and nine overall. They've also won the last two National High School Finals Rodeo championships. Last year, they overtook California for the most-ever SSIR team championships.

Utah High School Rodeo Association director Ken Norris talked about why the Utah teams are so successful at SSIR.

"We have about 600 students that compete in rodeo every weekend," Norris said. "Our top-10 kids are very competitive at the state finals, and there's not a lot of difference in their abilities. But we can only take the top four to the national finals so we always take a really good team out there to Fallon."

They will be back this year, looking for their ninth-straight title. Leading the way is Jodi Thacker, who hopes to be the third SSIR Rodeo Queen from Utah in the past four years. She's the younger sister of 2005 SSIR Queen Jaime Thacker. Jodi Thacker will also compete in breakaway roping, along with teammates Ashlee Garrett and Sunni Caldwell. Jackie McMullin, Krystal Brown and Chanae Shiner will see action in barrel racing. Shiner is the reigning National High School Rodeo Association queen.

In pole bending, Utah will send Mackenzie Boren and Destrilie Allred. Goat-tiers are Jacalyn Walker, Carli Jo Baty and Bailee Caldwell. In girls' cutting, it's Courtney Pace, Allred and Chyanne Thacker, Jodi's sister.

On the boys' side, Utah is led by their calf-roping teams that have won the last two national championships. Roping teams coming to Fallon are TJ Beck and Brady Malone, along with Jordan Platt and Trevor Wall. Beck and Malone were the state leaders heading into state finals. The top tie-down calf ropers are Jeff Shaw, Taylor Christiansen and Kyler Mitton, who was the team points leader for most of the year.

The cutters are Zane Mendenhall, Collin Pace and Tanner Denton. Jarin Sharp and Josh Wagstaff lead the way in steer wrestling. The top bareback bronco riders are Chance Pope and Riley Clyer. In saddle broncs. it's Chanley Iverson, Michael Dow, Hayden Ballard and Grady Nicholes. The top bull riders are Bo Edwards and Tyler Williams.

"We have another full team coming this year," Norris said. "I thought the high gas prices would cause some kids not to go, but that isn't the case."

Norris said the Utah Department of Agriculture is giving $200 of travel money to each contestant coming to Fallon.