Rodeo may not breed philosophical cowboys. But it certainly has a way of humbling even the best.

At last week’s National High School Rodeo Finals in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Kimball’s Nick Stull twice set out to score points in the saddle bronc competition. Both times, however, he ended up brushing arena dirt from his chaps. Last year’s event champion, Oklahoma’s Shade Etbauer, suffered the same fate.

Both riders watched Rusty Wright out of Milford, Utah, capture the national title.

“I didn’t have my head straight,” Stull said moments after being thrown in Friday’s second go. “I think I’m still psyched out about just being here.”

Stull’s mount broke from the far west stall, bounding directly toward center, driving low and kicking high. Just over two seconds in, the horse broke suddenly to rider’s left. A deft yet powerful flick sent Stull tumbling off the side.

The entire ride lasted no more than five seconds.

“He didn’t do anything,” the Kimball senior reported—an assessment suggesting he might have reached full time on another day. “I wasted him.”

Only one cowboy held on for eight seconds Friday morning, however, underscoring what some might call the luck of the draw. Rodeo directors selected from a different pen on that particular day, releasing broncs clearly eager to spill their young charges. Strider Leverton out of Utah led off the performance, toppling quickly. Oregon’s Lou Banderas followed, with similar results.

Riding just before Stull, last year’s national champion—Etbauer—flew over his mount’s sharply dipping head. A cowboy following Stull left the ring with a bloodied face.

The pen used during mid-week sessions allowed the majority of full time rides. In fact, Friday morning’s draw was from the same pen as the first two sessions, when only three qualified rides were recorded.

Stull slotted into the rodeo’s third performance on Monday. He remained upright in his saddle for just a fraction over two seconds.

After picking himself up from the arena mud—it rained earlier that day—Stull had tipped his hat to the horse.

“She was good,” he said, explaining the salute. “I was impressed.”

The national rodeo finals drew some 1,500 cowboys and cowgirls from the U.S., Canada and Australia to Rock Springs’ Sweetwater Events Center. Both grandstands were packed, fueling every young rider’s adrenaline.

“It makes you want to try even harder,” Stull said, gesturing toward the crowd.

Although individual events moved at an efficient pace, the very size of the competition meant that some—including Stull—waited several days between go rounds.

“It drags,” he admitted, referring to the three days spent watching other riders between his performances. “It’s irritating.”

Following Monday evening’s schedule, Philip Shields of Philipsburg, Montana, held the reins in saddle bronc. He was the only cowboy to chalk up a full time ride Friday morning, keeping him well in the hunt for a national title.

The more productive mid-week sessions, however, vaulted Garrett Smith of Rexburg, Idaho, into the second round lead, followed by CoBurn Bradshaw (Beaver, Utah) and Shields. Overall, Bradshaw held top spot heading into the short go, with Shields one point behind.

Wright, the eventual champion, entered Saturday’s final round before the short go in seventh.

In the championship session, Wright topped Bradshaw by a narrow 76-74 margin. Smith and Shields faded as only six of the 20 cowboys scored full time rides.

When results were tallied, Wright took the national title with 227 points. Bradshaw earned 213 and Smith 200, to finish third.

Looking back on his first national finals, Stull could only smile, despite results.

“It’s a wild ride,” he said. “This is where you want to go.”

Already he is focused on the fall high school rodeo schedule, with sights set on next year’s gathering in Rock Springs.