The National High School Rodeo finals concluded this past Saturday in Rock Springs, WY. Some great performances were turned in by members of Team Nebraska. Madison Mills of Eddyville placed 5th overall in the nation in pole bending. Mills posted times of 20.572 in the 1st go, 20.507 in the 2nd go, and 20.409 in the short go which put her fifth overall in the average. Mills also competed in the barrels and finished 46th overall in the average. Mills and her horse “Dusty” were also honored with the AQHA girls horse of the year for this year’s finals.
Area cowboy Cauy Pokorny of Stapleton also had a big finals week. Pokorny finished 11th overall in the steer wrestling. Pokorny posted a time of 5.67 in the 1st go, 7.87 in the 2nd go, and 9.11 in the short go to finish 11th overall in the average. Pokorny then teamed with Clay Holz of Niobrara for a top 20 finish in the team roping competition. Pokorny and Holz had qualified times of 14.3 in the first go and 8.93 in the 2nd go to finish 17th overall in the average.
Molly Paxton of Mullen represented Nebraska in this year’s Queen competition and placed 4th overall.
Nebraska finished 15th in the final girls team standings, 13th in the boys team standings, and 12th in the combined team standings. Utah was the girls team champion and Texas won both the boys and combined team titles.
Other notable finishes for Team Nebraska included : Colten Storer (Arthur) 8th – Boys Cutting ; Maddie Stump (Elsmere) 18th and Faith Storer (Sutherland) 19th – Girls Cutting ; Sage Miller (Springview) 9th and Jack Skavdahl (Marsland) 19th – Saddle Broncs ; Tatum Olson (Bloomfield) 15th – Reined Cow Horse
Recap of those that competed at the National Finals from the KCNI/KBBN coverage area
Cody Miller (Broken Bow)
Boys Cutting
1st go – 125 score
2nd go – 138 score
Finished 34th overall in the average
Frazier Kaelin (Ansley)
Boys Cutting
1st go – 128 score
2nd go – 142 score
Finished 28th overall in the average
Cooper Bass (Brewster)
Reined Cow Horse
1st go – 270.5 score
2nd go – 274.5 score
Finished 50th overall in the average
Cooper Bass (Brewster) and Zack Bradley (Brewster)
Team Roping
1st go – No time
2nd go – No time
Brooke McCulley (Mullen)
Breakaway Roping
1st go – 12.36 time
2nd go – no time
Finished 107th overall in the average
Brody McAbbe (Ansley)
Saddle Broncs
1st go – No score
2nd go – No score
For full results from the National Finals click on the link below
