High school state finals rodeo results
HASTINGS -Champions were crowned at the Nebraska State High School Rodeo finals in Hastings last weekend following three days of tough competition. Numerous area competitors have advanced to the National High School Finals Rodeo to be held at the Cam-Plex Event Center in Gillette, WY July 17-23, 2022.
Six champions in the thirteen events hail from the Central Nebraska area covered by the Chief. In Bareback Riding, Spencer DeNayer of Seneca won the state contest and was first overall for the season, sending him to the national finals.
Barrel Racers Anna Clark of Thedford and Taci Flinn of Arcadia earned a trip to nationals finishing first and third overall with 181 and 144 points, respectively. At state finals Whitney Jennings of Seneca was 3rd and Flinn was 4th.
Cooper Kursave of Arcadia was crowned the champion Bull Rider and Jason Ducker-Kursave ranked second on the season. Cooper finished 2nd at the state finals with a 72 behind Dalton Garey of Broken Bow who scored a 78. Both Kursaves will advance to the national finals and Garey is an alternate.
Representing Nebraska in Girls Cutting will be the season champion Whitney Jennings of Seneca and the state finals winner Emma Pearson of Broken Bow. Pearson will also be the alternate for Pole Bending for the Nebraska team.
The champion Steer Wrestler was Coy Johnston, followed closely by Dane Pokorny finishing third, both of Stapleton. Johnston took second at state with 16.720 on 3 head while Pokorny’s time on 3 was 17.70, a 7th place finish
Sid Miller of Merna placed 2nd at the state finals behind Zane Kreikemeier of Callaway but scored enough points throughout the season to win the Championship and qualify for national finals.
The Brewster duo of Cooper Bass and Zack Bradley won the state finals with a time of 45.110 on 3 head and finished the season second overall to punch their ticket to the national finals. Zane Kreikemeier of Callaway and Coy Johnston of Stapleton finished 2nd at state finals.
Cooper Bass will also participate in Boys Cutting at nationals following a 2nd place finish in both the state finals and the overall standings.
Seneca’s Whitney Jennings finished third overall in Breakaway Roping to get a shot at national competition in Wyoming. Emma Warren of Thedford finished the season 4th in goat tying to advance to nationals.
In the All-Around competition, Cooper Bass of Brewster racked up 5897.41 points to earn the title ahead of Sid Miller (4283.28) of Merna and Coy Johnston (4266.90) of Stapleton. Whitney Jennings (5384.20) was 3rd in the Girls All-Around competition and Emma Pearson (3983.63) finished 7th.