Written by: Ruth Nicolaus

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Hastings, Neb.  (June 6, 2022) The best high school rodeo athletes in the state will make their way to Hastings, Nebraska June 10-12 to compete for the title of Nebraska’s best.

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 4×800 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.

For more information, visit www.AdamsCountyFairgrounds.com or call 402.462.3247. For information on the Nebraska State High School Rodeo Association, visit www.hsrodeo-nebraska.com.

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Qualifying high school rodeo contestants for the 2022 Nebraska State High School Finals Rodeo (unofficial listing; list is current as of 6-2-22, so contestants may have changed; qualifying contestants may choose to not compete at finals; hometown is in Nebraska unless specified):

 

Bareback Riding

 

1. Tate Miller, Springview
2. Spencer Denaeyer, Seneca
3. Cole Kerner, Sutherland
4. Koltdyn Heath, Minden
5. Tanner Drueke, Sutherland
6. Cinch Kiger, Overton
7. Taylon Pascoe, Lincoln

 

Barrel Racing

1. Hailey Witte, Crookston
2. Anna Clark, Thedford
3. Taci Flinn, Arcadia
4. Jacei Spangler, Arthur
5. Camryn Kocian, Brainard
6. Mekenna Fisher, Hershey
7. Summer Richardson, Ainsworth
8. Bradie Crouse, Blair
9. Clancy Jo Brown, North Platte
10. Bailey Bell, North Platte
11. Libby Hegemann, Arlington
12. Whitney Jennings, Seneca
13. Ashlyn Henderson, Hyannis
14. Blaise Lange, Harrison
15. Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
16. Kinley Crow, Hershey
17. Peyton Fisher, Hershey
18. Laney Hoier, Herman
19. Jymmie Jensen, Burwell
20. Emma Pearson, Broken Bow
21. Morgan Rosander, Wolbach
22. Ashton Werth, Hyannis
23. Kieley Walz, Ainsworth
24. Jaycee Lambert, Harrison
25. Lillian Fletcher, Arnold
26. Jayda From, Crookston
27. Josie Anthony, Crofton
28. Dakota Glinn, Keystone
29. Gracey Rodocker-Peters, Taylor
30. Rylee Nall-Sillivan, St. Paul

 

Boys Cutting

1. Cooper Bass, Brewster
2. Bo Bushhousen, St Libory
3. Dakota Storer, Arthur
4. Trey Vance, Inavale
5. Devin Konicek, Burwell
6. Tatum Olson, Bloomfield
7. Alex Hathaway, Pender
8. Cody Miller, Broken Bow
9. Matt Symonds, Mitchell
10. Tate Talkington, Scottsbluff
11. Clancey Symonds, Mitchell
12. Tucker Gillespie, McCook

 

Breakaway Roping

 

1. Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
2. Makayla Wray, Ord
3. Emma Ohm, Hyannis
4. Jace Hurlburt, Arcadia
5. Shayda Vaughn, Hershey
6. Whitney Jennings, Seneca
7. Summer Richardson, Ainsworth
8. Laynee Ohm, Hyannis
9. Bradie Crouse, Blair
10. Tacey From, Crookston
11. Fayth From, Crookston
12. Libby Hegemann, Arlington
13. Kieley Walz, Ainsworth
14. Ali Vaughn, Hershey
15. Clancy Jo Brown, North Platte
16. Jacei Spangler, Arthur
17. Brooke Forre, Newman Grove
18. Jacie Naprstek, Gothenburg
19. Laney Hoier, Herman
20. Jasmine Dyer, Crawford
21. Halee Sheffield, Farnam
22. Rylee Nall-Sillivan, St Paul
23. Jayda From, Crookston
24. Jaden Mathis, Atkinson
25. Mekenna Fisher, Hershey
26. Jenae Whitaker, Chambers
27. Kinley Greenough, Kearney
28. Emily Leach, Dunning
29. Kassidy Rambat, Ashby
30. Kirsten Koenig, Ewing

 

Bull Riding

1. Hunter Boydston, Grover, Colo.
2. Jason Ducker-Kursave, Aracdia
3. Cooper Kursave, Arcadia
4. Jett Sjeklocha, Hayes Center
5. Tanner Drueke, Sutherland
6. Koltdyn Heath, Minden
7. Brady Painter, Ainsworth
8. Slate Micheel, Sargent
9. Ashton Higgins, Neligh
10. Dalton Garey, Broken Bow
11. Cole Kerner, Sutherland
12. Colton Thornburg, Hastings

 

Girls Cutting

1. Brooke Forre, Newman Grove
2. Whitney Jennings, Seneca
3. Mekenna Fisher, Hershey
4. Emma Pearson Broken Bow
5. Ava Smith, Pender
6. Peyton Fisher, Hershey
7. Gracyn Hicks, Burwell
8. Jayda Meyring, Alliance
9. Jordan Downing, Dunning

 

Goat Tying

1. Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
2. Libby Hegemann, Arlington
3. Laney Hoier, Herman
4. Ashlyn Henderson, Hyannis
5. Emma Warren, Thedford
6. Kinley Greenough, Kearney
7. Emma Ohm, Hyannis
8. Jacie Naprstek, Gothenburg
9. Jacei Spangler, Arthur
10. Clancy Jo Brown, North Platte
11. Mekenna Fisher, Hershey
12. Jenae Whitaker, Chambers
13. Laynee Ohm, Hyannis
14. Bradie Crouse, Blair
15. Tatum Reid, Crawford
16. Abigail Lawton, Overton
17. Sabrina Schemper, Holdrege
18. Brooke Forre, Newman Grove
19. Jace Hurlburt, Arcadia
20. Peyton Fisher, Hershey
21. Kylie Lancaster, Hastings
22. Lynsie Lancaster, Hastings
23. Kassidy Rambat, Ashby
24. Samara Ruether, Beaver Crossing
25. Winter Benscoter, Valentine
26. Kirsten Koenig, Ewing
27. Paityn Edwards, Waverly
28. Jaycee Lambert, Harrison
29. Whitney Jennings, Seneca
30. Jayda From, Crookston
31. Terrin Barthel, Ainsworth

(due to a tie for 30th place, there are 31 qualified goat tyers)

 

Pole Bending

1. Raina Swanson, Genoa
2. Gracey Taylor, Valentine
3. Makalya Wray, Ord
4. Clancy Jo Brown, North Platte
5. Emma Pearson, Broken Bow
6. Rylee Nall-Silivan, St. Paul
7. Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
8. Abigail Lawton, Overton
9. Jymmie Jensen, Burwell
10. Tatum Reid, Crawford
11. Peyton Fisher, Hershey
12. Ashlyn Henderson, Hyannis
13. Addison Oliver, Holyoke, Colo.
14. Camryn Kocian, Brainard
15. Emily Ahlers, Clearwater
16. Sage Glinn, Keystone
17. Kieley Walz, Ainsworth
18. Emma Grube, Minden
19. Laynee Ohm, Hyannis
20. Dakota Glinn, Keystone
21. Jacei Spangler, Arthur
22. Rylee Legg, Kenesaw
23. Morgan Rosander, Wolbach
24. Sydney Fletcher, Arnold
25. Jenae Whitaker, Chambers
26. Josie Anthony, Crofton
27. Nevaeh Wild, Hay Springs
28. Lillian Fletcher, Arnold
29. Tacey From, Crookston
30. Mekenna Fisher, Hershey’
31. Kenna McCaslin, Broken Bow
32. Emily Bennett, Bayard

(due to a tie for 30th place, there are 32 qualified pole benders)

 

Saddle Bronc Riding

1. Monte Bailey, Lakeside
2. Leif Meidell, Harrison
3. Augustus Painter, Ainsworth
4. Carson Jones, Neligh

 

Steer Wrestling

1. Dane Pokorny, Stapleton
2. Coy Johnston, Stapleton
3. Taydon Gorsuch, Gering
4. Sage Schrunk, Valentine
5. Jaden Fanning, Ogallala
6. Slate Micheel, Sargent
7. Tucker Ravenscroft, Nenzel
8. Beau Wiebelhaus, Springview
9. Wyatt Reichenberg, Harrisburg
10. Cinch Painter, Springview
11. Gage Davis, Cody
12. TC Hughson, Morrill
13. Kyle Cox, Purdum
14. Dawson Doggett, Stapleton
15. Augustus Painter, Ainsworth
16. Brady Painter, Ainsworth
17. Cayson Johnston, Stapleton
18. Thayne Kimbrough, Ohiowa
19. Carson Cooksley, Valentine
20. Cody Miller, Broken Bow
21. Cale Buss, Atkinson
22. Dakota Storer, Arthur
23. Clayton Veldhuizen, Curtis
24. Wyatt Hajny, Nelson
25. Jett Sjeklocha, Hayes Cneter
26. Clayton Elliott, Valentine
27. Coy Fleming, Bayard

 

Team Roping

1. Brady Renner, Ericson
2. Cooper Bass, Brewster
3. Makayla Wray, Ord
4. Sid Miller, Merna
5. Zane Druery, Anselmo
6. Brent Charlton, North Platte
7. Carter Anderson, Merriman
8. Sage Schrunk, Valentine
9. Jate Saults, Big Springs
10. Seth Glass, Central City
11. Reagan McIntyre, Grand Island
12. Zack Bradley, Brewster
13. Summer Richardson, Ainsworth
14. Cinch Painter, Springview
15. Tyson Stracke, Stuart
16. Bradie Crouse, Blair
17. Dalton Garey, Broken Bow
18. Zane Kreikemeier, Callaway
19. Gage Davis, Cody
20. Jace Hurlburt, Arcadia
21. Coy Johnston, Stapleton
22. Tate Talkington, Scottsbluff
23. Skyler Hund, North Platte
24. Ryan Shepherd, North Platte
25. Emma Ohm, Hyannis
26. Fayth From, Croookston
27. Hayes Hammond, Valentine
28. Jace Richter, Ogallala
29. Cayson Johnston, Stapleton
30. Evan Richter, Ogallala
31. Trell Shrewsbury, Alliance
32. Joe Todd-Hopkins, Bayard
33. Montgomery Brown, Oshkosh
34. Garrett Harms, Brule
35. Jackson Wykert, Grant
36. Tatum Olson, Bloomfield
37. Jaden Fanning, Ogallala
38. Kohl Kramer, Hyannis
39. Cauy Preitauer, Stamford
40. Sage Dieter, Alma
41. Ashlyn Henderson, Hyannis
42. Ty Growcock, Bartlett
43. Taylor Drueke, Sutherland
44. Laynee Ohm, Hyannis
45. Jymmie Jensen, Burwell
46. Dane Pokorny, Stapleton
47. Jaden Mathis, Atkinson
48. Cale Buss, Atkinson
49. Layne Wallinger, Stuart
50. Everett Blackburn, Bartlett
51. Cooper Fay, Cody
52. Riggin Heikel, Hazard
53. Thayne Kimbrough, Ohiowa
54. Layton Lindner, Broken Bow
55. Matthew Miller, Callaway
56. Tate Miller, Springview
57. Tucker Ravenscroft, Nenzel
58. Dakota Storer, Arthur
59. Tacey From, Crookston
60. Cody Miller, Broken Bow

 

Tie-Down Roping

1. Sid Miller, Merna
2. Jate Saults, Big Springs
3. Cooper Phillips, Burwell
4. Carter Anderson, Merriman
5. Tate Talkington, Scottsbluff
6. Layne Wallinger, Stuart
7. Coy Johnston, Stapleton
8. Sage Schrunk, Valentine
9. Seth Glass, Central City
10. Brent Charlton, North Platte
11. Gage Davis, Cody
12. Matthew Miller, Callaway
13. Cale Buss, Atkinson
14. Cody Miller, Broken Bow
15. Cooper Bass, Brewster
16. Camilo Rios, Ashland
17. Zane Kreikemeier, Callaway
18. Trell Shrewsbury, Alliance
19. Cayson Johnston, Stapleton
20. Tyson Stracke, Stuart
21. Cauy Preitauer, Stamford
22. Montgomery Brown, Oshkosh
23. Hayes Hammond, Valentine
24. Layton Lindner, Broken Bow
25. Jace Richter, Ogallala
26. Cinch Painter, Springview
27. Zachary Miller, Callaway
28. Taylor Drueke, Sutherland
29. Dakota Storer, Arthur
30. Jaden Fanning, Ogallala

 

Reined Cow Horse

1. Tatum Olson, Bloomfield
2. Charlie Bortner, McCook
3. Tate Talkington,Scottsbluff
4. Jayda Meyring, Alliance
5. Tucker Gillespie, McCook
6. Abigail Russell, Hay Springs
7. Ashton Werth, Hyannis
8. Alyssa Hockenbary, Valentine
9. Paige Hoelting, Sutherland