GILLETTE – The best cowboys and cowgirls in the nation converged on the CAM-PLEX in Gillette, Wyo., for the National High School Rodeo, running from July 16-22. The rodeo saw competitors from around the country, along with Canadian provinces and other locations around the world. In terms of combined team standings, Wyoming finished sixth overall in points, with Texas finishing first overall.

Three local competitors from Sublette County advanced to the biggest rodeo event of the year, including Rylee Whitman, Karson Bradley and Wyatt Phelps.

In girls cutting, recent homeschool graduate Whitman of Big Piney put up a pair of strong performances, but wasn’t able to make it to the short-go round. From her two runs, she picked up a total score of 284.5 points to finish 27^th overall. Whitman made it to nationals four consecutive years in high school after earning four State Champion titles in girls cutting.

Big Piney High School graduate and current barrel-racing state champ Karson Bradley had a pair of runs at the event, but wasn’t able to pick up the times she needed to make it to the short-go. From her two runs, she earned a total time of 40.43 seconds to finish 132^nd overall.

Incoming Pinedale High School junior Wyatt Phelps also attended the rodeo for bull riding. He competed in two Wednesday performances, but was bucked off in both rides. He plans to return to nationals next year to give it another shot with more experience. Phelps finished second overall at the Wyoming High School Rodeo in early June.