The National High School Finals Rodeo came to its conclusion Thursday in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Madison Mills of Eddyville had a great finals. Mills earned a top ten finish in the pole bending. Mills had the 8th fastest time in the 1st go (20.266), the 16th fastest time in the 2nd go (20.296), and the 5th fastest in the short go (20.07). Average them all out and Mills would finish 5th overall in the nation. Mills was also the top Nebraska finisher in the barrel racing finishing 46th overall in the average. Mills and her horse “MR Poco Jack Sprat” finished as the runner-up in the American Quarter Horse Association’s girls horse of the year standings.
Brewster cowboy Cooper Bass had a strong national finals. Bass was the top Nebraska finisher in the boys cutting. Bass made the short go where he had the 8th best score of 141. Combine that with his scores in the 1st and 2nd go Bass would finish 12th overall in the nation. Bass also competed in the Reined Cow Horse competition where he finished 28th overall in the average.
Area cowboys Zane Kreikemeier of Callaway and Coy Johnston of Stapleton shined for team Nebraska in the team roping. Kreikemeier and Johnston made it to the short go where they posted the 10th fastest time at 16.59 as they finished just outside the top ten overall placing 11th in the average.
Jace Hurlburt of Arcadia led the way for team Nebraska in the breakaway roping. Hurlburt made it to the short go where she posted a time of 3.89. Averaged with her previous two runs, Hurlburt would finish 10th overall in the nation.
Other highlights for team Nebraska included Jessica Stevens of Creighton finishing as the runner-up in goat tying and Sage Miller of Springview finished as the runner-up in the average in the saddle broncs.
Nebraska did well in the team standings finishing 11th in the girls standings, 6th in the boys and 8th in the combined standings. Texas was the team champion in all 3 categories.
Click on the link below to access all results from the national finals
