Wyo High School Finals Rodeo – All-around leader looks forward to finals

Douglas – The Wyoming High School Rodeo Association will be hosting the Wyoming State Finals Rodeo in Douglas next week, June 10-13.

For the high school sport, the women’s all-around is currently being led by Quincy Segelke, followed by Jacey Thompson and Karson Bradley. Tiegen Finnerty and Owen Wahlert are second and third in the men’s all-around, respectively, and Brady Thurston currently holds the men’s number one spot.

“I think that the top five have an excellent chance to go on,” Thurston notes of the competition going into the finals.

High school competitors from around the state have been working all season to earn their place in the upcoming Douglas rodeo.

“It’s laid back,” Thurston comments of the rivalry between association members. “We are all pretty good friends.”

Jumping into rodeo

Thurston has been competing in rodeo for about 14 years. He began after realizing it was something he really wanted to do.

“I decided to rodeo competitively, and I’m really glad I made the choice,” he remarks.

His season has included saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down events.

Of all his events, he favors saddle bronc riding the most.

“It’s a thrill to be able to ride, to have everything come together and to be able to make it eight seconds and get a score,” he explains.

As of June 1, Thurston’s saddle bronc score is 1,464.36, and his all-around score sits at 3,715.51.

Over the season, he has worked hard to participate in events every weekend to build up his all-around score.

“I’ve tried to be consistent in every event,” he remarks.

Besides taking the all-around next week, Thurston says, “I am going to try to win bronc riding and steer wrestling.”

Headed to the contest

When Thurston competes, he loads up a trailer, taking three different horses along for the ride.

“One of them is my bulldogging horse, and his name is Lucky. I also have a calf roping horse named Moses, and a team roping horse named Luda,” he explains.

He has owned his calf roping and team roping horses for four years.

“I’ve had my bulldogging horse for about nine years,” he adds.

This will be the last high school finals rodeo for Thurston and his horses, since he recently graduated.

Next steps

Next, Thurston notes, “I am going to go to college at Central Wyoming College in Riverton.”

He plans on rodeoing at the college, saying, “I’m going to see where that takes me.”

Thurston also has other rodeo plans, including another set of finals this summer.

“I’m going to the National Little Britches Finals at the end of July,” he explains.

As he looks forward to all of his upcoming events, Thurston expresses gratitude to the love and support he has received.

“I would really like to thank my parents and my family for helping me out,” he says.

Natasha Wheeler is editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be contacted at natasha@wylr.net.