The National High School Finals Rodeo came to its conclusion Saturday in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Team Nebraska produced a top five finish in the girls team standings finishing fourth overall. Oklahoma was the girls team champion followed by Texas in second and Utah was third. Nebraska finished 16th in the boys standings and seventh overall in the combined standings. Utah was the boys team champion and Texas finished atop the combined standings.
Among the highlights for Team Nebraska, Callie Olson of Bloomfield had the top finish for team Nebraska at this year’s finals finishing as the runner up in the reined cow horse competition just 3.5 points behind the champion Talen Barry of Kansas. Maci Herrington of Bassett had a top five finish in the pole bending finishing third overall. Nebraska had three finish in the top ten of the goat tying led by Tatum Reid of Crawford who was 4th, Laney Hoier of Herman was 6th, and Reagan McIntyre of Grand Island was 7th in the event. Tyley Sears of Valentine claimed a top ten finish in the barrels finishing 8th in the average. Carson Cooksley of Valentine had a top ten finish in the steer wrestling placing 8th in the average and Koltdyn Heath of Minden finished in a tie for 10th in the average in the barebacks.
Area cowgirls, Anna Clark of Thedford and Kallan Cox of Purdum, competed in the barrel racing. Clark posted times of 17.893 in the first go and bettered that with a run of 17.604 in the second go round to finish in the top 35. Cox posted a time of 23.299 in the first go but bettered that with a run of 18.376 in the 2nd go. Area cowboys, Cotter and Cayson Johnston both of Stapleton, competed in the steer wrestling. Cotter posted a time of 15.34 in the first go followed by a time of 8.29 in the 2nd go. Cayson posted a time of 25.61 in the first go but came back strong in the 2nd go with a time of 5.83 seconds which was 10th best in the go round. Cotter finished 24th overall in the average and Cayson was 37th. Emmet Sortum of Burwell competed in the tie down roping. Sortum’s best run of the finals came in the first go posting a time of 15.06 seconds. Cooper Walker of Seneca qualified for nationals in the barebacks but did not have a qualified ride.
For full results of this year’s finals, click here
