Wykert takes top ten in two events at National Junior High Finals
By Samantha Goff
Grant Tribune-Sentinel
The National Junior High Finals Rodeo was held in Des Moines, Iowa and kicked off Sunday, June 22, featuring top athletes from across the United States, Australia, Canada, and more.
Grant’s own Marisa Wykert, a freshman this coming year at Perkins County High School, was one of them.
The top four athletes in each event at the state/provincial level punched their ticket to the national stage, and vied for national titles through June 28.
Wykert competed in her last National Junior High Finals Rodeo and made Perkins County proud, bringing home top ten placements in two events, Barrel Racing and Ribbon Roping.
After two long rounds, the top 20 in each event are brought back for a third round or the coveted “Short Go Round” where only the top 20 in each event are invited to compete in.
World Titles are determined on an aggregate, combining all three times from three rounds.
Out of over 200 Barrel Racing entries, Wykert and her horse, Quincy, ended up ninth in the world with their three combined times in the Barrel Racing.
Wykert has made the Barrel Racing Short Go all three years she has qualified for Jr. High Nationals, which is a difficult feat to accomplish.
“I feel very fortunate to be competitive at the national level. I feel very blessed to have nice enough horses to place in the top twenty of the world the last three years,” Wykert said.
Wykert and her Ribbon Roping partner, Kooper Shrunk of Pender, Nebraska, also made the Short Go Round, their three go round times placed them 3rd in the World.
Wykert also competed in Goat Tying and Pole Bending while at Nationals.
Marisa’s performance in all her events combined, landed her 4th in the National All-Around Cowgirl final standings. She was the Nebraska State Champion Barrel Racer, Goat Tying State Champion, Reserve Ribbon Roping Champion and represented Nebraska at Nationals as the state’s All-Around Cowgirl.
Marisa plans to continue to high school rodeo and said she is “hoping to continue my journey of winning at the national level in years to come. I’m hoping to attend college and be on a rodeo team, adding, “I would say to young people wanting to follow my footsteps, work your butt off and take in all the advice you can because there’s always something more you can learn from someone.”
Marisa is the daughter of Kraig and Jessica, who also have a son Jackson, a PC graduate this year and noteable cowboy in his own right.
“I’d like to thank my parents and all my friends and family that help me be as successful as I have been in Jr high! I couldn’t of done this without the support I have gotten! I’m proud to be a cowgirl,” Wykert said.
Perkins County is looking forward to seeing what this young lady does next!
Congratulations MJ!