CASPER, Wyo. -- Ray Tom Meiers and Merritt Smith learned how to ride broncs together.
They've battled each other through the high school ranks and within the Central Rocky Mountain Region at the college level.
After putting together a pair of solid saddle bronc rides on Wednesday night at the College National Finals Rodeo, they'll duke it out for a national championship on Saturday night.
"It's been that way ever since high school," said Meiers, who competes for Casper College. "It's a pretty good feeling. Now we've got a couple days off to relax."
Meiers grabbed the second go-round lead with a 77-point trip aboard John Smith Rodeo's Lady Gaga but the lead didn't last.
