Wykert seventh at national junior high finals rodeo

Jackson Wykert of Grant put the cap on a successful junior high rodeo career during the National Junior High Finals Rodeo held last week in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Wykert qualified for the nationals in two events—breakaway roping and goat tying— after finishing second in both events in the Nebraska junior high rodeo finals. 

He competed against 98 contestants from 38 states and Mexico in the breakaway and 139 boys from 40 states, Mexico and Canada in the goat tying.

Wykert finished among the top 20 contestants after the first two go-rounds in each event to make the short-go Saturday night. 

In the first go of the breakaway, he looped a time of 3.67 seconds to finish 13th in the go-round. He followed that up with a 4.11 to place 25th in the second go-round. 

His combined times put him in the top 20 for the short-go.

There, Wykert notched a time of 3.09 seconds to finish seventh in the short go and seventh overall in average. 

In the goat tying, he put down a time of 10.35 to finish 10th in the first go. 

He came back with a 13.47 in the second go to finish 65th. 

Both times combined were good enough to get him into the short go. 

There, he tied his goat in 11.27 to finish 11th in the go-round and 16th overall in the average. 

Blaze horse of the year

In January, the Wykerts’ family horse, Blaze,  was recognized by the National High School Rodeo Association as January’s Jr. High Professional’s Choice Equine Athlete of the Month.

The NHSRA selects Equine Athletes of the Month for both a boy and girl, selected from members across the nation.

At the national finals, Blaze was named the boys Equine Athlete of the Year. 

Junior High Season

Wykert competed in the six fall and six spring junior high rodeos, earning enough points to qualify for the state finals. There, he finished second overall in breakaway and goat tying to qualify for the national junior high finals. The top four in each event at state qualify for the national finals.