Wyoming Shows Well at 2026 National High School Finals Rodeo

Yoder’s Hadley Thompson defended her national title in the goat tying at last week’s National High School Finals Rodeo in Lincoln, Nebraska. Thompson finished first in the average for the second straight year. She was one of eight cowgirls and cowboys from Wyoming who placed in the top 20 at the NHSFR. Wyoming’s other champion was in the Queen contest.

WYOPREPS RECAPS TEAM WYOMING AT THE 2026 NHSFR

Thompson recorded the fastest time of the week at 6.41 seconds in the championship short go of goat tying. That followed a second-place finish in the first round at 6.57 seconds. Thompson was 11th in the second go at 7.27 seconds. Her aggregate time was 20.25 on three head. That was good enough to win another goat tying title by 0.19 seconds. One of Hadley’s horses, CD Smokin’ Miss Kitty, was named an AQHA Horse of the Year last week for the second straight year. That horse was the top performer in the goat tying.

Thompson also competed in breakaway roping and pole bending. That helped her finish third in the all-around competition. Hadley was No. 161 in poles at 56.303 seconds. She placed 54th in the breakaway roping. Thompson was second in the first go at 2.15 seconds but took a no-time in the second round.

Wyoming's Thoman is the New Queen

The second Titleist from the Cowboy State was Taylor Thoman from Kemmerer. She won the National High School Rodeo Association’s Queen Contest at the 2026 NHSFR with 684.50 points after judging in seven categories.

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Wyoming State High School Finals Rodeo Results & NHSFR Qualifiers 2026

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The Wyoming girls’ team finished 15th with 1,690 team points. The boys were 14th with 1,695 points. Overall, Team Wyoming placed 15th with 3,385 team points.

Other top performers at the 2026 NHSFR from Team Wyoming included Trenton Rogers from Laramie. He was ninth in the bareback with 208.5 points on three rides. Gillette's Keon Norris placed 10th with 208 points on three rides. Stetson St. Clair was part of a three-way tie for ninth in bull riding. He had one ride for 83 points, which was the best in the second-go. In goat tying, two more placed in the top 20. Rhame Hicks from Gillette was 11th. Her total time was 23.23 seconds. Bleu Butler from Sheridan took 18th place. She was at 24.35 seconds on three head. Finally, in team roping, Cruz Viles from Cody and Kress Johnson from Casper came in 12th. They had a total of 32.23 seconds on three head.

In the shooting events, Taylor Kimzey placed 18th in the light rifle competition. Heston Crozier finished 21st in the trap shooting.

The 2027 NHSFR will return to Lincoln, NE.