High School Rodeo Season Ropes in a Dramatic Finish
The 2024-25 high school rodeo season concluded last week in Pocatello, Idaho, with the state’s best young riders competing in the Idaho High School State Finals Rodeo. Among them were seven athletes from Star Valley and Cokeville who demonstrated grit, determination, and true cowboy spirit in a closely contested championship.
Standout Performances from the Valley
In Team Roping, Ross Hilton of Star Valley and Smith Kruz of Bear Lake stood out. Despite missing two of their three runs, the duo advanced to the Short Go and won the round in 5.770 seconds. Their performance ranked them fifth overall, one spot shy of qualifying for the National Finals.
Afton brothers Case and Ryder Kerr impressed by qualifying for the Short Go in Team Roping, though they were unable to advance to the final round.
Other local athletes who reached the state finals but did not advance were:
Bridget Scaffide of Alpine – Barrel Racing
Brooklyn Brown of Afton – Breakaway Roping
Clay Teichert of Cokeville – Bull Riding
Kutler Keetch of Cokeville – Tie Down Roping
Case Kerr – Tie Down Roping (pictured in action, photo credit: Ken Timothy)
National Finals Rodeo Ahead
The season now focuses on the National High School Finals Rodeo, scheduled for July 13-19 in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Only the top four finishers in each category advance—a narrow miss for some, but a proud finish for all.
