POST FALLS - Jacob Paul hopes the 65th annual National High School Finals Rodeo will be a springboard into a pro rodeo career.

Paul, who recently graduated from Post Falls High, qualified for the national finals for the third time. He'll compete in calf roping and team roping at the event, which starts Sunday and runs through July 20 in Rock Springs, Wyo.

Paul hasn't placed at the event, and he doesn't believe it will get any easier this year.

"It's a whole other game down there," he said. "It's harder to place down there because there's so many good contestants.

"My only goals are to do the best I can and tie 'em fast."

Paul is the only Kootenai County contestant to qualify for the national high school finals.

The event features more than 1,500 total contestants from 41 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia. It is the world's largest rodeo and has more than $200,000 in prizes. Contestants will compete for more than $350,000 in college scholarships.

Paul qualified by placing third in team roping and fourth in calf roping on the Washington circuit. In addition to qualifying for the national high school finals in calf roping last year and team roping two years ago, he qualified twice for the National Junior High Finals.

Paul, who has been around rodeo arenas since he was 3, will compete with Janey Reeves of Clarkston, Wash., in team roping at the national finals.

He hopes to qualify in calf roping for the Pro West Finals in Coeur d'Alene in October. To do that, he must finish in the top 15 in earnings.

"I believe I have a good chance of qualifying," he said. "I would like to make rodeo a career."

If that route isn't realized, he said he'll likely attend a technical school and enroll in a diesel mechanic program. But his focus for the rest of the summer will be on rodeos.

"I'm going to try to rodeo every weekend," he said.

The only time Paul has been seriously injured was when he broke an arm while riding a bull.

"I definitely like roping more," Paul said.

Paul said his father Dave's influence has helped give him a shot at becoming a pro.

"He's been my coach and an inspiration," Paul said. "He's always there trying to help."