Local athletes have strong finish at high school state finals rodeo

HASTINGS, Neb. (KNEP) - It was a strong finish for several local athletes at the Nebraska State High School Finals Rodeo.

Three local cowboys earned trips to nationals in Lincoln.

Scottsbluff’s Tate Talkington leads the list as he will compete in three national events. Talkington picked up a state title in tie down roping and qualified for team roping and reined cow horse. Talkington’s strong state performance earned him boys all around state champion.

Harrison’s Leif Meidell also earned a spot at nationals with a top four finish in saddle bronc riding. Minatare’s Trace Travnicek clinched a spot into nationals with a top four finish in tie down roping.

Alliance’s Lauren Lehl earned an alternate spot in pole bending thanks to her strong state rodeo showing.

National High School Finals Rodeo is set for July 18 to July 24 in Lincoln.

State Champions and National Qualifiers

Tie Down Roping

State Champion: TATE TALKINGTON 172.50

2 LAYNE WALLINGER 135.50

3 TRACE TRAVNICEK 132.50

4 MATTHEW MILLER 132.00

Reined Cow Horse

State Champion: TATUM OLSON 62

2 TATE TALKINGTON 57

3/4 CHARLIE BORTNER 54.5

3/4 TUCKER GILLESPIE 54.4

Bareback Riding

State Champion: SPENCER DENAEYER 211.00

2 TANNER DRUEKE 198.00

3 COLE KERNER 176.50

4 TATE MILLER 100.50

Barrel Racing

State Champion: ELLE RAVENSCROFT 170.00

2 TACI FLINN 160.50

3 MADISON MILLS 155.00

4 JENAE WHITAKER 113.50

Breakaway

State Champion: JAYA NELSON 153.25

2 WACEY DAY 128.50

3 JACE HURLBURT 110.50

4 TEHYA FROM 108.00

Bull Riding

State Champion: HUNTER BOYDSTON 106.00

2 COLE KERNER 79.50

3 TANNER DRUEKE 56.00

4 DALTON GAREY 39.00

Goat Tying

State Champion: WACEY DAY 215.00

2 JESSICA STEVENS 214.00

3 EMMA OHM 170.25

4 KACI WICKERSHAM 133.50

Pole Bending

State Champion: MADISON MILLS 223.00

2 CLANCY JO BROWN 183.00

3 ABIGAIL LAWTON 141.00

4 JENAE WHITAKER 138.00

ALT 5 LAUREN LEHL 136.50

Saddle Broncs

State Champion: BRODY MCABEE192.00

2 LEIF MEIDELL 140.25

3 MONTY BAILEY 130.75

4 DEAN SCHRODER 56.50

Steer Wrestling

State Champion: DANE POKORNY 185.50

2 COY JOHNSTON 158.50

3 RHETT WITT 142.00

4 REX DAY 130.50

Boys Cutting

State Champion: Cooper Bass 214.50

2 Hayden Jennings 174.75

3 Cody Miller 170.75

4 Bo Bushhousen 152.50

Girls Cutting

State Champion: Mekenna Fisher 215

2 Peyton Fisher 202.50

3 Faith Storer 191.25

4 Whitney Jennings 170.50

Team Roping

State Champion: Hayse Wetzel/Ryan Shepherd 270.00

2 Brent Charlton/Jate Saults 261.00

3 Cooper Bass/Zack Bradley 229.00

4 Jace Hurlburt/Tate Talkington 212.00

Trap Shooting

State Champion: Tanner Ellis

2 Ashton Higgins

3 Justin Wenzel

4 Ty Growcock

Light Rifle Shooting

State Champion: Jate Saults

2 Cooper Phillips

3 Kalyn Nielsen

4 Hope Brosius