The top high school cowboys and cowgirls in the nation and beyond will be competing at the upcoming National High School Finals Rodeo beginning Sunday. The KCNI/KBBN coverage area will be well represented at this year’s finals. Dane Pokorny of Stapleton, Cooper Bass of Brewster, Jace Hurlburt of Arcadia, and Matt Miller of Callaway are among those that will represent team Nebraska at this year’s finals. The group joined KCNI/KBBN sports director Brent Apperson in the studio Thursday (7/15) to talk about the upcoming finals.
This year’s finals will take place in Nebraska with Lincoln serving as the host city. Pokorny and Hurlburt talked about how nice it will be to have the national finals in their home state.
Miller, who will compete in tie down roping at this year’s finals, talked about the amount of trust needed between horse and rider to be successful.
Cooper Bass of Brewster was the boys all around state champion this year and will compete in boys cutting and team roping at the national finals. Bass was to team rope with partner Zack Bradley of Brewster but due to an unfortunate injury Bradley will not be able to compete. Dane Pokorny of Stapleton will step in to take Bradley’s place. Bass explained how that came to be.
The opening performance of the national finals will be Sunday evening with the competition continuing through Saturday, July 24. Listen to KCNI 1280 AM / 96.3 FM next week for updates during the noon and 5 pm sports reports.
Listen to our full interview Cooper Bass, Jace Hurlburt, Dane Pokorny, and Matt Miller
Best of luck to all of our area competitors. Here is a list of those from the KCNI/KBBN coverage area scheduled to compete and the day of their first performance.
Barebacks
Spencer DeNaeyer of Seneca – Tuesday evening
Boys Cutting
Cooper Bass – Brewster – Monday morning
Cody Miller – Broken Bow – Tuesday morning
Hayden Jennings – Seneca – Monday morning
Bull Riding
Dalton Garey – Broken Bow – Tuesday morning
Pole Bending
Madison Mills – Eddyville – Wednesday morning
Girls Cutting
Whitney Jennings – Seneca – Monday morning
Breakaway Roping
Jace Hurlburt – Arcadia – Sunday evening
Barrel Racing
Taci Flinn – Arcadia – Monday morning
Madison Mills – Eddyville – Sunday evening
Saddle Broncs
Brody McAbee – Ansley – Monday morning
Steer Wrestling
Dane Pokorny – Stapleton – Tuesday morning
Coy Johnston – Stapleton – Wednesday morning
Tie Down Roping
Matt Miller – Callaway – Monday evening
Team Roping
Cooper Bass (Brewster) and Dane Pokorny (Stapleton) – Sunday evening
Jace Hurlburt (Arcadia) and Tate Talkington (Scottsbluff) – Wednesday morning
