The Nebraska High School Finals Rodeo features the top thirty contestants in each of thirteen events (top sixty in the team roping.) The high school students have accumulated points throughout the fall and spring seasons, and the following is a look at several of the event leaders.
Dane Pokorny is back to defend his 2021 steer wrestling title.
The Stapleton cowboy, a 2022 graduate of Thedford High School, leads the steer wrestling this year, a mere eight points ahead of his friend, Coy Johnston.
His rodeo year has been good, he said, “consistent. I’ve been picking up points every weekend.”
Not only does Pokorny excel in rodeo, but he was part of the Thedford High football team that won the state runner-up title in Class D2. He was all-state honorary caption and all-state running back, and started all four years in both football and basketball.
And this is the last state finals rodeo for Pokorny’s horse, Shorty. He will be retired after Pokorny rides him at state finals, and, if he qualifies, at the National High School Finals. After that, it’s out to pasture, to be “loved on,” Pokorny said.
Pokorny is the son of Brad and Paula Pokorny. He has also qualified for the finals in the team roping.
Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island, has burst into the high school rodeo world in grand fashion.
The fifteen-year-old cowgirl who just finished her freshman year is leading two events: the breakaway roping and the goat tying, with a double-digit lead in the breakaway over the number two cowgirl, Makayla Wray.
McIntyre excelled in junior high rodeo, finishing at the National Junior High Finals in sixth place in the world in the breakaway. “That gave me the confidence going into high school,” she said. “I knew there was tons of tough competition (in high school) so I’d have to take a step up, coming into the high school ranks.”
A student at Grand Island Northwest, she participates in volleyball, basketball and track, and was on the honor roll. Her 4x800 relay team finished seventh in Class B at the state track meet this year.
The oldest of four children of Jeremy and Karen McIntyre, Reagan admits the entire family is competitive when playing games, such as spoons. “It’s definitely pretty intense,” she laughed. “We have pretty much stopped playing because (the games) get so competitive.”
She has a plan for state finals. “I’m just going to go into it how I go into every run. It’s just another weekend where you have to lay down solid runs and stay on the top of your game.” She has also qualified for the state finals in the pole bending, team roping and barrel racing.
In the bareback riding, Tate Miller is confidently in first place.
The Springview cowboy has a six-point lead over the number two man, Spencer Denaeyer.
His strong rodeo season has been good, he said, after a weak showing at the 2021 National High School Finals Rodeo.
At Nationals last year, “I didn’t have the Nationals I’d have liked, and my confidence was down, coming into my junior year,” he said. “I’ve won a lot of (high school) rodeos this year, helping get my points up and my confidence built back up. I had a good season, so it boosted my confidence.”
Miller, who will be a senior at Keya Paha County High School this fall, plays football and is a member of the FFA and National Honor Society.
He is the son of Will and Jamie Miller.
In the boys cutting, Cooper Bass sits atop the leaderboard.
The Brewster cowboy, a graduate of online high school, has had an exceptional year in the cutting. “I’ve done very, very well,” he said. “My mare has been working great.”
He will also come into state finals in first place in the team roping, heading for Zach Bradley, and in a third event, the tie-down roping, in fourteenth place.
Because Bass has taken classes online, he’s had time for a job, working at three different sale barns, sometimes putting in 24 hour shifts. He also rides horses for others, putting thirty days of training on them.
He is the son of Steve and Teresa Bass.
Other leaders (as of press time) heading into the weekend’s finals include Hailey Witte, Crookston (barrel racing); Hunter Boydston, Grover, Colo. (bull riding); Brooke Forre, Newman Grove (girls cutting); Raina Swanson, Genoa (pole bending); Monte Bailey, Lakeside (saddle bronc riding); Sid Miller, Merna (tie-down roping) Brady Renner, Ericson (heeler); and Tatum Olson, Bloomfield (reined cow horse).
The thirteen events include bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping, goat tying, pole bending, barrel racing, boys cutting, girls cutting, reined cow horse and bull riding.
The first go-round takes place June 10 at 11 am and 6 pm. The second go-round is June 11 at 11 am and 6 pm. After the two rounds, the top ten contestants in each event will advance to the short round on June 12 at 1 pm. The cutting will be held at 7 am on June 10-11, with the final round at 8 am on June 12. The reined cow horse will be at 10 am on June 10-11.
The top four in each event, after the state finals are over, qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo, held this year in Gillette, Wyo., July 17-23.
The 2022-2023 Miss Nebraska High School Rodeo Queen will be crowned prior to the performance on June 12.
Bareback Riding
- Tate Miller, Springview
- Spencer Denaeyer, Seneca
- Cole Kerner, Sutherland
- Koltdyn Heath, Minden
- Tanner Drueke, Sutherland
- Cinch Kiger, Overton
- Taylon Pascoe, Lincoln
Barrel Racing
- Hailey Witte, Crookston
- Anna Clark, Thedford
- Taci Flinn, Arcadia
- Jacei Spangler, Arthur
- Camryn Kocian, Brainard
- Mekenna Fisher, Hershey
- Summer Richardson, Ainsworth
- Bradie Crouse, Blair
- Clancy Jo Brown, North Platte
- Bailey Bell, North Platte
- Libby Hegemann, Arlington
- Whitney Jennings, Seneca
- Ashlyn Henderson, Hyannis
- Blaise Lange, Harrison
- Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
- Kinley Crow, Hershey
- Peyton Fisher, Hershey
- Laney Hoier, Herman
- Jymmie Jensen, Burwell
- Emma Pearson, Broken Bow
- Morgan Rosander, Wolbach
- Ashton Werth, Hyannis
- Kieley Walz, Ainsworth
- Jaycee Lambert, Harrison
- Lillian Fletcher, Arnold
- Jayda From, Crookston
- Josie Anthony, Crofton
- Dakota Glinn, Keystone
- Gracey Rodocker-Peters, Taylor
- Rylee Nall-Sillivan, St. Paul
Boys Cutting
- Cooper Bass, Brewster
- Bo Bushhousen, St Libory
- Dakota Storer, Arthur
- Trey Vance, Inavale
- Devin Konicek, Burwell
- Tatum Olson, Bloomfield
- Alex Hathaway, Pender
- Cody Miller, Broken Bow
- Matt Symonds, Mitchell
- Tate Talkington, Scottsbluff
- Clancey Symonds, Mitchell
- Tucker Gillespie, McCook
Breakaway Roping
- Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
- Makayla Wray, Ord
- Emma Ohm, Hyannis
- Jace Hurlburt, Arcadia
- Shayda Vaughn, Hershey
- Whitney Jennings, Seneca
- Summer Richardson, Ainsworth
- Laynee Ohm, Hyannis
- Bradie Crouse, Blair
- Tacey From, Crookston
- Fayth From, Crookston
- Libby Hegemann, Arlington
- Kieley Walz, Ainsworth
- Ali Vaughn, Hershey
- Clancy Jo Brown, North Platte
- Jacei Spangler, Arthur
- Brooke Forre, Newman Grove
- Jacie Naprstek, Gothenburg
- Laney Hoier, Herman
- Jasmine Dyer, Crawford
- Halee Sheffield, Farnam
- Rylee Nall-Sillivan, St Paul
- Jayda From, Crookston
- Jaden Mathis, Atkinson
- Mekenna Fisher, Hershey
- Jenae Whitaker, Chambers
- Kinley Greenough, Kearney
- Emily Leach, Dunning
- Kassidy Rambat, Ashby
- Kirsten Koenig, Ewing
Bull Riding
- Hunter Boydston, Grover, Colo.
- Jason Ducker-Kursave, Aracdia
- Cooper Kursave, Arcadia
- Jett Sjeklocha, Hayes Center
- Tanner Drueke, Sutherland
- Koltdyn Heath, Minden
- Brady Painter, Ainsworth
- Slate Micheel, Sargent
- Ashton Higgins, Neligh
- Dalton Garey, Broken Bow
- Cole Kerner, Sutherland
- Colton Thornburg, Hastings
Girls Cutting
- Brooke Forre, Newman Grove
- Whitney Jennings, Seneca
- Mekenna Fisher, Hershey
- Emma Pearson Broken Bow
- Ava Smith, Pender
- Peyton Fisher, Hershey
- Gracyn Hicks, Burwell
- Jayda Meyring, Alliance
- Jordan Downing, Dunning
Goat Tying
- Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
- Libby Hegemann, Arlington
- Laney Hoier, Herman
- Ashlyn Henderson, Hyannis
- Emma Warren, Thedford
- Kinley Greenough, Kearney
- Emma Ohm, Hyannis
- Jacie Naprstek, Gothenburg
- Jacei Spangler, Arthur
- Clancy Jo Brown, North Platte
- Mekenna Fisher, Hershey
- Jenae Whitaker, Chambers
- Laynee Ohm, Hyannis
- Bradie Crouse, Blair
- Tatum Reid, Crawford
- Abigail Lawton, Overton
- Sabrina Schemper, Holdrege
- Brooke Forre, Newman Grove
- Jace Hurlburt, Arcadia
- Peyton Fisher, Hershey
- Kylie Lancaster, Hastings
- Lynsie Lancaster, Hastings
- Kassidy Rambat, Ashby
- Samara Ruether, Beaver Crossing
- Winter Benscoter, Valentine
- Kirsten Koenig, Ewing
- Paityn Edwards, Waverly
- Jaycee Lambert, Harrison
- Whitney Jennings, Seneca
- Jayda From, Crookston
- Terrin Barthel, Ainsworth
(due to a tie for 30th place, there are 31 qualified goat tyers)
Pole Bending
- Raina Swanson, Genoa
- Gracey Taylor, Valentine
- Makalya Wray, Ord
- Clancy Jo Brown, North Platte
- Emma Pearson, Broken Bow
- Rylee Nall-Silivan, St. Paul
- Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
- Abigail Lawton, Overton
- Jymmie Jensen, Burwell
- Tatum Reid, Crawford
- Peyton Fisher, Hershey
- Ashlyn Henderson, Hyannis
- Addison Oliver, Holyoke, Colo.
- Camryn Kocian, Brainard
- Emily Ahlers, Clearwater
- Sage Glinn, Keystone
- Kieley Walz, Ainsworth
- Emma Grube, Minden
- Laynee Ohm, Hyannis
- Dakota Glinn, Keystone
- Jacei Spangler, Arthur
- Rylee Legg, Kenesaw
- Morgan Rosander, Wolbach
- Sydney Fletcher, Arnold
- Jenae Whitaker, Chambers
- Josie Anthony, Crofton
- Nevaeh Wild, Hay Springs
- Lillian Fletcher, Arnold
- Tacey From, Crookston
- Mekenna Fisher, Hershey’
- Kenna McCaslin, Broken Bow
- Emily Bennett, Bayard
(due to a tie for 30th place, there are 32 qualified pole benders)
Saddle Bronc Riding
- Monte Bailey, Lakeside
- Leif Meidell, Harrison
- Augustus Painter, Ainsworth
- Carson Jones, Neligh
Steer Wrestling
- Dane Pokorny, Stapleton
- Coy Johnston, Stapleton
- Taydon Gorsuch, Gering
- Sage Schrunk, Valentine
- Jaden Fanning, Ogallala
- Slate Micheel, Sargent
- Tucker Ravenscroft, Nenzel
- Beau Wiebelhaus, Springview
- Wyatt Reichenberg, Harrisburg
- Cinch Painter, Springview
- Gage Davis, Cody
- TC Hughson, Morrill
- Kyle Cox, Purdum
- Dawson Doggett, Stapleton
- Augustus Painter, Ainsworth
- Brady Painter, Ainsworth
- Cayson Johnston, Stapleton
- Thayne Kimbrough, Ohiowa
- Carson Cooksley, Valentine
- Cody Miller, Broken Bow
- Cale Buss, Atkinson
- Dakota Storer, Arthur
- Clayton Veldhuizen, Curtis
- Wyatt Hajny, Nelson
- Jett Sjeklocha, Hayes Cneter
- Clayton Elliott, Valentine
- Coy Fleming, Bayard
Team Roping
- Brady Renner, Ericson
- Cooper Bass, Brewster
- Makayla Wray, Ord
- Sid Miller, Merna
- Zane Druery, Anselmo
- Brent Charlton, North Platte
- Carter Anderson, Merriman
- Sage Schrunk, Valentine
- Jate Saults, Big Springs
- Seth Glass, Central City
- Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
- Zack Bradley, Brewster
- Summer Richardson, Ainsworth
- Cinch Painter, Springview
- Tyson Stracke, Stuart
- Bradie Crouse, Blair
- Dalton Garey, Broken Bow
- Zane Kreikemeier, Callaway
- Gage Davis, Cody
- Jace Hurlburt, Arcadia
- Coy Johnston, Stapleton
- Tate Talkington, Scottsbluff
- Skyler Hund, North Platte
- Ryan Shepherd, North Platte
- Emma Ohm, Hyannis
- Fayth From, Croookston
- Hayes Hammond, Valentine
- Jace Richter, Ogallala
- Cayson Johnston, Stapleton
- Evan Richter, Ogallala
- Trell Shrewsbury, Alliance
- Joe Todd-Hopkins, Bayard
- Montgomery Brown, Oshkosh
- Garrett Harms, Brule
- Jackson Wykert, Grant
- Tatum Olson, Bloomfield
- Jaden Fanning, Ogallala
- Kohl Kramer, Hyannis
- Cauy Preitauer, Stamford
- Sage Dieter, Alma
- Ashlyn Henderson, Hyannis
- Ty Growcock, Bartlett
- Taylor Drueke, Sutherland
- Laynee Ohm, Hyannis
- Jymmie Jensen, Burwell
- Dane Pokorny, Stapleton
- Jaden Mathis, Atkinson
- Cale Buss, Atkinson
- Layne Wallinger, Stuart
- Everett Blackburn, Bartlett
- Cooper Fay, Cody
- Riggin Heikel, Hazard
- Thayne Kimbrough, Ohiowa
- Layton Lindner, Broken Bow
- Matthew Miller, Callaway
- Tate Miller, Springview
- Tucker Ravenscroft, Nenzel
- Dakota Storer, Arthur
- Tacey From, Crookston
- Cody Miller, Broken Bow
Tie-Down Roping
- Sid Miller, Merna
- Jate Saults, Big Springs
- Cooper Phillips, Burwell
- Carter Anderson, Merriman
- Tate Talkington, Scottsbluff
- Layne Wallinger, Stuart
- Coy Johnston, Stapleton
- Sage Schrunk, Valentine
- Seth Glass, Central City
- Brent Charlton, North Platte
- Gage Davis, Cody
- Matthew Miller, Callaway
- Cale Buss, Atkinson
- Cody Miller, Broken Bow
- Cooper Bass, Brewster
- Camilo Rios, Ashland
- Zane Kreikemeier, Callaway
- Trell Shrewsbury, Alliance
- Cayson Johnston, Stapleton
- Tyson Stracke, Stuart
- Cauy Preitauer, Stamford
- Montgomery Brown, Oshkosh
- Hayes Hammond, Valentine
- Layton Lindner, Broken Bow
- Jace Richter, Ogallala
- Cinch Painter, Springview
- Zachary Miller, Callaway
- Taylor Drueke, Sutherland
- Dakota Storer, Arthur
- Jaden Fanning, Ogallala
Reined Cow Horse
- Tatum Olson, Bloomfield
- Charlie Bortner, McCook
- Tate Talkington,Scottsbluff
- Jayda Meyring, Alliance
- Tucker Gillespie, McCook
- Abigail Russell, Hay Springs
- Ashton Werth, Hyannis
- Alyssa Hockenbary, Valentine
- Paige Hoelting, Sutherland