POCATELLO, IDAHO – By Mark Hirschi – June 16, 2021
Local Box Elder County cowboys and cowgirls competing in the 2021 Idaho State High School Rodeo June 5-12, needed to finish in the top four in their event to gain a spot in the 2021 National High School Rodeo finals July 18-24, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
In Idaho three contestants were able to do just that.
Hailey Jo Gibbs, a freshman, competing in the goat tying event, ran the fastest time of the week with a 7.080 in the third round of competition putting here atop the leader board going into the short go. Her times had built her a 3-second lead in the average.
Gibbs went into the final round with an aggressive attitude and didn’t play it safe. She won the short go finishing with 57 points, 20 points higher than the next competitor, to become the 2021 Idaho State High School Rodeo Goat Tying State Champion.
Teammates Kendall Williams and Laken Warr, also competing in the goat tying event, earned a spot in the top 20.
Wyatt Stephens did everything he could in the tie down roping. He won the short round with a time of 9.54. In the end it was good enough for a second-place finish and a place on the national team.
Raegan Steed, typically known for her breakaway roping skills, had a strong and consistent week running barrels. She finished 3rd overall and a ticket punched to nationals.
In the steer wrestling, Wyatt Stephens finished just short of nationals taking 5th place at the Idaho State High School Rodeo finals.
Meanwhile in Utah, at their state high school rodeo finals, local high school cowboy Kade Madsen was the star of the show.
Madsen took 1st place in the 2021 Utah State Rodeo Finals in bareback riding. He also took 3rd in bull riding, that earned him the coveted All-Around title.
And if that was not enough, he also took home Rookie of the Year honors.
Kwade Kosoff also had a solid year finishing 4th overall in steer wrestling to qualify for nationals.