Two of rodeo’s future stars reside right here in Napa.

Seth Bowling, 14, and Antonio Vallerga, 13, have been selected by the National High School Rodeo Association Wrangler Division, the newest junior high rodeo program in America, to the All-Star Rodeo Team.

“Antonio and Seth have been friends since preschool and love to rodeo,” said Vallerga’s mom, Lisa.

Vallerga and Bowling earned spots on the team based on leadership qualities, academic eligibility and athletic achievements.

Bowling, an eighth-grader at Grace Academy, qualified for the 2007 State Finals in Breakaway and Goat Tying and Ribbon Roping. He was also a member of the NorCal Rodeo Association and qualified for the finals this year. During the 2007-08 season, he is competing in the Wrangler Rodeo Division in Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, Goat Tying and Ribbon Roping.

Vallerga, 13, is an eighth-grader at Harvest Middle School. He qualified for the 2007 State Finals in Chute Dogging and Goat Tying. He is active in baseball, basketball and 4-H.

Vallerga is competing this year in the Wrangler Rodeo Division in Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, Goat Tying and Chute Dogging.

The NHSRA Wrangler Division All-Star Rodeo Team is fashioned after Wrangler’s Champion Pro Rodeo Team, which includes superstars like Trevor Brazile, Joe Beaver, Dan Mortensen, Dustin Elliott, Kelly Kaminski, Will Lowe, and late Hall-of-Famer Jim Shoulders.

“We are excited to expand Wrangler’s rodeo sponsorship program at the middle school level,” said Karl Stressman, the special events manager for Wrangler Rodeo. “We’re confident each member of the team will be an outstanding goodwill ambassador for the sport of rodeo.”

Each member of the team will receive official competition apparel, consisting of a Wrangler Twenty X shirt embroidered with the team logo and one pair of competition jeans. In addition, team members receive official team certificates signed by Phil McAdams, the president of Wrangler Jeans and Shirts.