GOSHEN COUNTY  – A year’s worth of blood, sweat and tears by young rodeo cowboys and cowgirls culminates at the 2024 National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) in Rock Springs from July 14-20. 

Five athletes from Goshen County and western Nebraska – each competing on the Wyoming High School Rodeo Association circuit – qualified to compete against opponents from across the United States and Canada at the Sweetwater Events Complex.

The top four leaders in each event throughout the 2023-2024 Wyoming high school rodeo season qualified for the NHSFR. 

Hadley Thompson of Yoder punched her NHSFR ticket in four events – barrel racing, breakaway roping, goat tying and team roping. Thompson competes in team roping with Sundance’s Asa Pixley. 

Torrington’s Sidwell Petersen qualified to compete at nationals in team roping alongside partner Talon Larson of Gillette.

Baliegh Lane, hailing from Huntley, earned a spot at the NHSFR in two events – girls’ cutting and reined cow horse.

Josie Waite, from Morrill, Nebraska, punched her ticket to nationals in reined cow horse.

Braxton Burford, of Mitchell, Nebraska, qualified to compete  in tie-down calf roping.

Thompson captured the No. 1 spot in Wyoming for high school girls in all-around with a grand total of 871.50 points. Thompson finished the season first in the state for breakaway roping at 197.50 points.

In team roping, Thompson and Pixley advanced to second on the leaderboard with 167.50 points.

Thompson ranked fourth in both barrel racing, posting 168 points, and goat tying, at 188.50 points. She finished the season fifth in pole bending (150 points).

Petersen and Larson rounded out the high school season ranked third in team roping, collecting 150 points.

Lane completed the season as the No. 2-ranked competitor in girls’ cutting, tallying 230.50 points. Lane also placed fourth for reined cow horse at 191.25 points.

Waite advanced to the No. 3 spot for the season in reined cow horse, posting 199.30 points.

Burford concluded the season ranked fourth in tie-down calf roping with 160 points. Burford also placed 11th overall for team roping.