The Nebraska state high school finals rodeo came to its conclusion on Saturday in Burwell. The goal was to move up the year end leader board and finish in the top 4 of the year end event standings to represent Team Nebraska at the National High School Finals Rodeo next month in Wyoming. The KCNI/KBBN coverage area will be well represented at the national finals this year.
Three of the top four finishers in the steer wrestling competition are from the area. Dawson Doggett of Callaway was second in the year end standings to qualify for the national finals. Joining him in Wyoming will be Carson Cooksley of Elsmere. Cooksley won the state finals rodeo in the event with an average time of 16.08 on three runs and finished third overall in the year end standings. Cayson Johnston of Stapleton was 4th in the final steer wrestling standings and qualifies for nationals. Johnston also qualified for nationals in tie down roping where he finished 3rd in the year end standings. Joining him in the event will be Emmett Sortum of Taylor who finished 4th in the final standings.
Kallan Cox of Purdum qualified for nationals in the barrel racing. Cox was runner up in the event at the state finals rodeo with a total time of 54.045 on her three attempts and finished 4th in the final year end standings to earn a spot on the national team. Anna Clark of Thedford finished 5th in the barrel racing standings and will serve as the alternate for the event.
Tate Johnston of Thedford along with partner JT Lantis of Hershey qualified for nationals in the team roping finishing third in the final standings. Joining them at nationals will be Cayson Johnston of Stapleton and Rese Swanson of Arthur who finished 4th in the year end standings.
Gracyn Hicks of Burwell qualified for nationals in the girls cutting finishing 4th overall. Placing 5th in the final year end standings was Haylea Miller of Merna who was just 1/4 of a point outside the top four. Miller will serve as the alternate for the event. Cooper Walker of Seneca finished 5th in the year end standings of the bareback competition and will serve as the alternate in the event for Team Nebraska.
The National High School Finals Rodeo will take place July 14-20 in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
For more results from state finals rodeo and final event standings click here
