Home-state cowgirl Hadley Thompson of Yoder, Wyoming, made her mark on the 76th edition of the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR), held at the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs, Wyo, earning an impressive three national titles.
Making history, the Cowboy State athlete took home the coveted All-Around Cowgirl, Breakaway Roping, and Goat Tying titles. In addition to the prestigious honors, Thompson beamed as she carried her new Todd Slone saddles and Gist buckles home.
“It was a very surreal moment. It felt great and is a win I’ll never forget,” Thompson said.
After finishing as the Reserve All-Around Cowgirl at the 2024 NHSFR, Thompson returned to the 2025 finals with one goal in mind—to capture the prestigious title.
“It was a full-circle moment to come back to nationals and complete this goal. It wasn’t until after my short-go goat tying run that I realized I had done it. I tried not to focus on it too much before then. I knew I had to just focus on doing my job and let it all work out.”
In breakaway roping, Thompson topped the competition with an aggregate time of 7.24 seconds on three runs. In goat tying, she dominated again, finishing with a total time of 20.02 seconds—nearly 1.5 seconds faster than reserve champion Sophie Hruby.
“I just wanted to keep doing my job and hoped it all worked out in my favor. Regardless of my position going into the short go, I wasn’t going to let up or play it safe,” said Thompson, who went full throttle in every round of competition.
Thompson, who comes from a large family of accomplished rodeo athletes, has had a historic summer. She captured the International Finals Youth Rodeo (IFYR) goat tying title just weeks earlier in Shawnee, Okla., and continues to chase success doing what she loves.
A true competitor at heart, Thompson also emphasized the importance of staying present and maintaining a strong mental game.
“I’d like to give all the glory to God. He did it all, and I’m grateful for all of it,” she said.
Recapping the 76th Annual NHSFR
With 1,779 contestants, 2,169 entries, $358,760 in added money, six countries, and 53 states and provinces represented, the 2025 NHSFR was one for the record books.
In the bareback riding, Braylon Johnson of Prescott, Ariz., earned the championship with a 236-point aggregate. He narrowly edged out Brody Dent of Bend, Ore. (234.5) and Daxtyn Feild of Roosevelt, Utah (234).
The barrel racing title went to Rylee Jo Maryman of St. Francisville, La., who posted a combined time of 51.79 seconds, narrowly ahead of Raegan Chance of Mendenhall, Miss. (51.802) and Sam Mai of Albion, Idaho (51.814).
In the boys cutting, Cody Gann of Leighton, Ala., took top honors with 676 points, followed by Tate LeBlanc of Pampa, Texas (646) and Landon Beason of Philadelphia, Miss. (644).
Girls cutting was won by Makenzie Cowan of Ardmore, Okla., with 672 points, edging out Preslie Green of Perrin, Texas (670.5) and Ashtyn Brown of Culleoka, Tenn. (664).
In bull riding, Ty LaVergne of Sulphur, La., led with 253 points, followed by Wyatt Bowman of Plain City, Utah (229.5) and Carter Shaw of Haughton, La. (228).
Pole bending champion Gracie Snyder of Hendrix, Okla., posted a time of 59.121 seconds. Zoey Wagoner of Arnegard, N.D., and Maci Herrington of Bassett, Neb., completed the top three.
The reined cow horse title went to Talen Barry of Augusta, Kan., with 877 points, followed by Callie Olson of Bloomfield, Neb. (873.5) and Landri Lisac of Pueblo, Colo. (872).
In saddle bronc riding, Trey McFarlane of Wilder, Idaho, won with 229 points. Fellow Idaho rider Bryett Larsen of Park Valley, Utah, and Sutton Avedisian of Kenansville, Fla., placed second and third.
Steer wrestling was won by Riley Currin of Clements, Calif., with a time of 17.25 seconds. Dally Trussell of McLoud, Okla., and Ace Austin of Spanish Fork, Utah, rounded out the podium.
In the team roping, Dexton Hoelting and Jhett Vander Hamm of Kansas won with a time of 21.2 seconds. Hayden Hutchison and Trey Bohmbach of North Dakota (21.48), and Koda Peterson and Heath Hammerstrom of Utah (23.97) followed.
Calf roping was won by Brodey Clemons of Weatherford, Texas, with a time of 26.05 seconds, followed by Kyan Wilhite of Clovis, N.M. (27.5) and Kolton Grimsley of Nazareth, Texas (28.99).
With champions crowned in every discipline, the 2025 NHSFR once again proved to be the premier stage for young rodeo athletes, highlighting the dedication, skill, and heart that define the sport’s future.