Nebraska
Nebraska High School Rodeo Champions Crowned
NEBRASKA YOUTH QUALIFY FOR NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL RODEO COMPETITION
Champions topped in every occasion
HASTINGS, NEB. (June 12, 2022) – The Nebraska Excessive Faculty Rodeo season wrapped up at the moment with the highschool finals in Hastings on the Adams County Fairgrounds. Rodeo athletes from throughout the Cornhusker State competed in two go-rounds on June 10-11 and the brief go-round on June 12. The highest 4 contestants in every of fifteen occasions had been decided, and they’re going to go on to compete on the Nationwide Excessive Faculty Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) in Gillette, Wyoming July 17-23, 2022.
The 2021-2022 champions are Spencer Denaeyer, Mullen (bareback driving); Makayla Wray, Ord (pole bending and breakaway roping); Coy Johnston, Stapleton (steer wrestling); Monte Bailey, Seneca (saddle bronc driving); Sid Miller, Merna (tie-down roping); Libby Hegeman, Arlington (goat tying); Brent Charlton, North Platte and Jate Saults, Large Springs (workforce roping, header and heeler); Anna Clark, Thedford (barrel racing); Cooper Kursave, Arcadia (bull driving); Tatum Olson, Bloomfield (reined cow horse); Bo Bushhousen, St. Libory (boys slicing); Whitney Jennings, Seneca (ladies slicing); Cale Buss, Atkinson (gentle rifle) and Tanner Ellis, Minden (entice capturing ).
Boys rookie of the yr went to Koltdyn Heath, Minden, and ladies rookie of the yr is Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island. McIntyre additionally gained the ladies’ all-around title; for the second yr, Cooper Bass, Brewster, is the year-end boys all-around champion.
Kylie Lancaster, Hastings, was topped because the 2022-2023 Miss Nebraska Excessive Faculty Rodeo queen.
The next are synopses of among the champions.
Pole Bending and Breakaway champion: Makayla Wray, Ord
Makayla Wray got here into her junior yr of state finals in second and third place in her three occasions, and left a state champion in two of them.
The seventeen-year-old cowgirl, a soon-to-be senior at Ord Excessive Faculty this fall, known as her three days at state finals, “wonderful.” She was cheering for her good friend Gracey Taylor within the poles, however when Gracey knocked over a pole to get a five-second penalty within the brief spherical, it opened the door for Wray.
“My coronary heart broke for her, however I assumed, ‘there’s an opportunity (for Wray to win the year-end title.) Then I went and knocked down a pole.” However there was no time for reflection; she needed to compete within the breakaway roping subsequent. “It’s a must to have a brief reminiscence in rodeo,” she stated.
The daughter of Mark and Denise Wray, Makayla can be vice-president of her college’s FFA chapter this fall, is a member of the Nationwide Honor Society, was simply elected pupil president of the Nebraska State Excessive Faculty Rodeo Affiliation, and performs basketball. She has a 4.0 GPA.
She has additionally certified for the NHSFR within the workforce roping; that is her first journey to Nationals.
Bareback driving champion – Spencer Denaeyer, Seneca
For the second yr in a row, Spencer Denaeyer took residence the state saddle bronc driving title.
The eighteen-year-old, a 2022 graduate of Mullen Excessive Faculty, didn’t do nicely on the 2021 NHSFR.
“Final yr, I went in hot-headed, pondering I used to be the state champ, I used to be going to (Nationals), and issues had been going to be all proper.” He didn’t make the brief go on the Nationals; his objectives are greater this yr. “I must have my hammer cocked, and be able to go. My objective is to win it.”
He’ll attend Odessa (Texas) School this fall on a rodeo scholarship and compete collegiately, majoring in ag expertise.
He’s the son of Mark and Bree Bailey.
Steer wrestling champion – Coy Johnston, Stapleton
Coy Johnston comes from a protracted line of steer wrestlers, and now he’s gained his first state title.
The Stapleton cowboy completed final yr’s season in second place, behind his good good friend and fellow steer wrestler Dane Pokorny; the 2 cowboys switched spots this yr, with Pokorny ending as reserve champion.
For Sunday’s brief spherical, he gave it his all. “I needed to make a very good run at the moment,” he stated. “I simply went on the market, not safetying up or something, and beat Dane by a half-point.” There’s no animosity between the 2; “we’re actually good associates,” Johnston stated.
Johnston’s dad Jason was a steer wrestler, as had been his uncles, Jeff, Chad and Joel. “In the event you’re a Johnston,” he joked, “you’re going to be a steer wrestler.”
This fall, Johnston can be a senior at Stapleton Excessive Faculty. He performs soccer and basketball and is an FFA member.
He’s the son of Jason and Jennifer Johnston.
Saddle bronc driving champion: Monte Bailey, Hyannis
Hyannis cowboy Monte Bailey gained the saddle bronc driving title.
The 2022 Hyannis Excessive Faculty graduate was the one cowboy who made three certified rides.
He’s coming off a knee harm from the soccer season, the place he tore the meniscus and almost pulled the ligaments off the bone.
“I harm my knee some time again, so it was just a little iffy on my first horse,” he stated. “However I simply let all of it fly and left it on the market, and it was fairly enjoyable.” His third trip, within the brief spherical, “wasn’t the prettiest one, however I acquired by it.”
He’ll compete for Montana State College in Bozeman this fall on a rodeo scholarship whereas he attends Gallatin School, majoring in carpentry.
He’s the son of Ben and Shelly Bailey.
Crew roping champions – Brent Charlton, North Platte (header) and Jate Saults, Large Springs (heeler)
Brent Charlton and Jate Saults teamed up for his or her first state title within the workforce roping.
The duo has roped collectively the previous three years; Charlton simply completed his junior yr at Stapleton Excessive Faculty; Saults is a 2022 graduate of South Platte Excessive Faculty.
Each cowboys additionally competed within the tie-down roping, and Saults within the gentle rifle capturing.
This fall, Saults will attend Western Oklahoma State College in Altus on a rodeo scholarship, majoring in ag enterprise. He’s the son of Scott and Jill Saults. He has additionally certified for Nationals within the gentle rifle.
Charlton, at Stapleton Excessive Faculty, performs basketball and is on the dignity roll. He’s the son of Philip and Sonya Charlton.
Barrel racing champion – Anna Clark, Thedford
Anna Clark is only a freshman, however she completed her first yr of highschool rodeo with a bang.
The fifteen-year-old cowgirl from Thedford gained the barrel racing state title.
Within the first spherical, she hit a barrel, including a five-second penalty to her time. “I got here into the sector, and we had been going fairly quick, and I bear in mind pondering, oh, no, we’re going to blow by this barrel. So I checked (her mare) up and I shouldn’t have.” They knocked over the primary barrel.
However she redeemed herself, profitable the second and third rounds “and at the moment we turned state champions,” she stated, beaming.
“I needed this all season, and I’ve labored for it quite a bit,” she stated. “It feels good. It feels actually good.”
She is the daughter of Adam and Alicia Clark.
For full outcomes, go to http://www.hsrodeo-nebraska.
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Nebraska Excessive Faculty Qualifiers for the 2022 Nationwide Excessive Faculty Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyoming July 17-23.
Bareback driving
Champion: Spencer Denayer, Seneca
2. Tate Miller, Springview
3. Koltdyn Heath, Minden
4. Tanner Drueke, Sutherland
Alternate: Cinch Kiger, Overton
Barrel racing
Champion: Anna Clark, Thedford
2. Hailey Witte, Crookston
3. Taci Flinn, Arcadia
4. Camryn Kocian, Brainard
Alternate: Mekenna Fisher, Hershey
Boys slicing:
Champion: Bo Bushhousen, St. Libory
2. Cooper Bass, Brewster
3. Trey Vance, Inavale
4. Devin Konicek, Burwell
Alternate: Dakota Storer, Arthur
Breakaway roping
Champion: Makayla Wray, Ord
2. Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
3. Whitney Jennings, Seneca
4. Shayda Vaughn, Hershey
Alternate: Kieley Walz, Ainsworth
Bull driving:
Champion:. Cooper Kursave, Arcadia
2. Hunter Boydston, Grover, Colo.
3. Jason Ducker-Kursave, Arcadia
4. Tanner Drueke, Sutherland
Alternate: Brady Painter, Ainsworth
Women slicing:
Champion: Whitney Jennings, Seneca
2. Mekenna Fisher, Hershey
3. Brooke Forre, Newman Grove
4. Emma Pearson, Damaged Bow
Alternate: Peyton Fisher, Hershey
Goat tying:
Champion:. Libby Hegeman, Arlington
2. Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
3. Ashlyn Henderson, Hyannis
4. Emma Warren, Thedford
Alternate: Laney Hoier, Herman
Pole bending
Champion: Makayla Wray, Ord
2. Gracey Taylor, Valentine
3. Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
4. Raina Swanson, Genoa
Alternate: Emma Pearson, Damaged Bow
Reined cow horse
Champion: Tatum Olson, Bloomfield
2. Charlie Bortner, McCook
3. Tucker Gillespie, McCook
4. Tate Talkington, Scottsbluff
Alternate: Jayda Meyring, Alliance
Saddle bronc driving
Champion: Monte Bailey, Lakeside
2. Leif Meidell, Harrison
3. Augustus Painter, Ainsworth
4. Carson Jones, Neligh
Alternate: Everett Blackburn, Bartlett
Steer wrestling
Champion: Coy Johnston, Stapleton
2. Dane Pokorny, Stapleton
3. Wyatt Reichenberg, Harrisburg
4. Taydon Gorsuch, Gering
Alternate: Beau Wiebelhaus, Springview
Crew roping
Champions: Brent Charlton, North Platte, and Jate Saults, Large Springs
2. Cooper Bass, Brewster and Zack Bradley, Brewster
3. Makayla Wray, Ord and Brady Renner, Ericson
4. Carter Anderson, Merriman and Sage Schrunk, Valentine
Tie-down roping
Champion: Sid Miller, Merna
2. Jate Saults, Large Springs
3. Cooper Phillips, Burwell
4. Carter Anderson, Merriman
Alternate: Seth Glass, Central Metropolis
All outcomes unofficial.