605 Sports Staff

GILLETTE, Wyo. — With a full-second lead in the barrel racking competition heading into the short-go of the National High School Finals Rodeo, Piper Cordes and her horse “Fiesta” delivered again.

In the short-go round, Cordes clocked in at 17.063 seconds, finishing third in the round. She finished with an average of 50.803 to earn the barrel racing crown.  

Sturgis’ Kashton Ford delivered a 78 in the short-go of the bareback riding competition and finished in second place (235) just behind Wyoming’s Tuker Carricato (240). New Underwood’s Eastan West scored (72) in the saddle bronc short-go, finishing second (221) behind Oregon’s Shane Scott.

Kashton Ford from Sturgis finished second in the bareback riding competition - Rodney Haas - 605 Sports

A brilliant last couple of days helped the South Dakota girls move from 10th place in the team standings Thursday, all the way to fourth place by the end of the rodeo.

The South Dakota boys finished in sixth in the team standings.

Girls Team Standings: 1. Texas, 4,680; 2. Utah, 4,040; Oklahoma, 3,491; 4. South Dakota, 3,035. 

Boys team standings: 1. Texas, 7,825; 2. Utah, 5,545; 3. Wyoming 3,565; 4. Iowa, 3,545; 5. Colorado 3,405; 6. South Dakota, 3,270. 

Overall Team Standings; 1. Texas, 12, 505; 2. Utah, 9,585; 3. South Dakota, 6,305. 

South Dakota short-go Results: 

Barrel racing: 3. Piper Cordes, Wall, 17.063. 

Bareback riding: 3. Kashton Ford, Sturgis, 78.

Goat tying: 2. Landry Haugen, Sturgis, 7.45; 14. Brylee Grubb, Spearfish, 8.45; 15. Mataya Ward, Fruitdale 8.47. 

Pole bending: 13. Sophie Hruby, Hemingford, Neb., 20.839. 

Steer wrestling: 13. Gage Gilbert, Camp Crood, 6.95; 17. Grey Gilbert, Buffalo, 10.31.

Saddle bronc: Eastan West, New Underwood, 72. 

New Underwood's Eastan West finished second in the saddle bronc competition - Rodney Haas - 605 Sports

South Dakota overall results:

Barrel racing: Piper Cordes, Wall, 50.803.

Bareback riding: 2. Kashton Ford, Sturgis, 235.

Goat tying: 6. Brylee Grubb, Spearfish, 23.4; 9. Landry Haugen, Sturgis, 23.58; 11. Mataya Ward, Fruitdale, 23.85. 

Pole bending: 10. Sophie Hruby, Hemingford, Neb., 61.642

Saddle bronc: 2. Eastan West, New Underwood, S.D., 221: 15. Thayne Elshere, Hereford, S.D., 144