ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — It was an anticlimactic night for Montanans on Saturday in the final go-round of the National High School Finals Rodeo at the Sweetwater Events Complex.
Columbia Falls bareback rider Azzy Lara fared best, finishing eighth in the average with a total of 211 after a 67 on Saturday night. He was 22.5 points behind winner Kash Loyd of Cleburne, Texas.
Corvallis tie-down roper Cash Trexler was next best, finishing ninth in the average after a 14th-place performance Saturday night with his time of 10.65 seconds. His overall average was 30.85 seconds, 3.16 behind champion Chizm Kuykendall of Carnegie, Oklahoma.
On Friday, Martinsdale’s Walker Story concluded his run with a 13th-place finish in reined cow horse. His 864 was 21 points out of first.
Townsend’s Ella Begger held her own in pole bending, finishing 14th in the average with 66.322 seconds. Begger entered the night in the top 10 but was 16th in her final session with a time of 25,293.
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The three other Montanans competing Saturday night had no scores.
J.T. Harrell of Toston and Tahj Wells of Browning entered with the second- and third-best bull riding scores of the week but couldn’t stay aboard their mounts for eight seconds Saturday night. Harrell had an 82.5 score Friday morning and Wells had an 82 on Tuesday., leaving them 14th and 15th in final average.
Miles City saddle bronc rider Caiden Gray was in the hunt for a buckle after two strong rides but also was unable to post a score Saturday night. He finished 15th overall, his 144 score the best among cowboys who scored on two head.
Away from the arena, Darby trap shooter Austin Ward had the best week of a Montanan, finishing fourth after two go-rounds. His performance included a perfect score of 100 in the long go.
Sophia Wyatt of Dillon finished 12th in the overall rifle competition with a score of 633, 48 shots out of first.
Other Montana finishers at the NHSFR:
Barrel racing: Abigail DeVos, Fort Shaw, 38th; Brooke Billingsley, Glasgow, 158th; Samantha Gerlach, Columbus, 171st; Peyton Levine, Wolf Point, 172nd.
Bareback Riding: Wyatt Warneke, Great Falls, 29th; Leighton LaFromboise, Helena, 46th.
Boys Cutting: Ryatt Fraser, Hysham, 26th; Walker Story, Martinsdale, 37th.
Breakaway Roping: Josie Robbins, Dillon, 36th; Ella Moedl, Worden, 82nd; Ella Begger, Townsend, 107th; Kierra Hougen, Melstone, 115th.
Bull Riding: Octavious Christianson, Columbia Falls, 54th.
Girls Cutting: Mollie Mae Ruth, Big Timber, 78th; Mesa Radue, Belgrade, 120th.
Goat Tying: Sally Robb, Bozeman, 39th; Josie Robbins, Dillon, 62nd; Hailey Burger, Helena, 67th; Cassie Gibson, Havre, 107th; Sage Henderson, Lewistown, 156th.
Pole Bending: Olivia Martell, Three Forks, 160th.
Reined Cow Horse: Kate Wiening, Lewistown, 26th; Mollie Mae Ruth, Big Timber, 28th; Mesa Radue, Belgrade, 40th.
Saddle Bronc: Randin Wagner, Browning, 37th.
Steer Wrestling: Ryder Gaasch, Dillon, 30th; Tatum Hansen, Glasgow, 61st.
Team Roping: Hoden Meged, Miles City, and Ty Westby, Opheim, 47th.
Tie-Down Roping: Mitch Detton, Great Falls, 80th; Pacen Buller, Glendive, 111th.
