On their fourth weekend of rodeo, the Malad High School Rodeo Club and District 9 participants competed at the Oneida County Fairgrounds for their back to back rodeo beginning the evening of Friday, May 9.  The rodeo events include bareback riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, bull riding, goat tying, pole bending, saddle bronc, team roping, and tie down roping.  While Malad’s club may be small, the various cowboys and cowgirls have not only competed but found their way to the top more often than not.

Over the two day event, the Malad rodeo team competed against other participants from around southeastern Idaho, northern Utah and southeastern Wyoming in a daily rodeo.  Throughout the course of the spring and fall rodeo season, the contestants have been accumulating points earned by placing in the top ten for each rodeo.  At the end of the season, the top six cowboys and cowgirls by points will qualify to compete in the state high school rodeo held in Pocatello, Idaho mid June.

Malad’s team consists of eight contestants, seven of which are ranked in the Top 10 of at least one event.  Karsen Thornock competes in three events including place barrel racing where she is currently ranked in 9th place, breakaway roping, and pole bending.  Bella Smith also competes in barrel racing, as well as breakaway, ranked in 8th place, and team roping.  Brylee Jones competes in first year of high school rodeo in barrel racing, goat tying and pole bending.

Having a very successful season this year, Ruger Smith is leading in the top two of all of his events.  With 91 points, Ruger leads the steer wrestling in first place, shares second place with his brother and roping partner Oak Smith in team roping, and sits in second place in tie down roping.  Oak Smith has multiple leading rankings as well as, sitting in first place in the tie down roping with 88 points, fourth place in the steer wrestling and second place in the team roping.

Also competing in the steer wrestling from Malad is Alexander Marshall, trailing Ruger in second place.  Marshall and fellow Malad roper Colter Bennett currently hold fifth place in the team roping event.  Bennet also competes in tie down roping and steer wrestling where he is ranked 3rd and 10th place respectively.  Rounding out the Oneida County competitors is Cooper Branch of Stone, competing in the team roping and currently placed in 6th place.

Malad will host the upcoming District Rodeo, beginning Thursday, May 15.  The three day event will consist of three rodeos- two full go’s, followed by a short go Saturday that will feature only the event leaders.

District 9 HS Rodeo

Malad, Idaho

May 9, 2025

BARREL RACING

SMITH, BELLA 18.763

THORNOCK, KARSEN 18.952

JONES, BRYLEE 24.903

BREAKAWAY ROPING

5.  THORNOCK, KARSEN 3.940

SMITH, BELLA NT

GOAT TYING

10.  JONES, BRYLEE MALAD, 12.370

POLE BENDING

THORNOCK, KARSEN 22.838

SMITH, BELLA 24.790

JONES, BRYLEE 33.912

STEER WRESTLING

1.  SMITH, RUGER 6.060

5.  MARSHALL, ALEXANDER 15.920

6.  SMITH, OAK 16.660

8.  BENNETT, COLTER NT

TEAM ROPING

3.  SMITH, RUGER (HD) & SMITH, OAK (HL) 9.270

4.  BRANCH, COOPER (HD) & STEPHENS, JASON (HL) 9.620

THORNOCK, KARSEN & HESS, HAILEY (HL) NT
SMITH, BELLA (HD) & DOLAN, MYLEE (HL) NT

MARSHALL, ALEXANDER (HD) & BENNETT, COLTER (HL) NT

TIE DOWN ROPING

1.  BENNETT, COLTER 9.950

6.  SMITH, OAK 13.980

7.  SMITH, RUGER 14.790

May 10, 2025

BARREL RACING

THORNOCK, KARSEN 19.003

JONES, BRYLEE 20.471

SMITH, BELLA 20.976

BREAKAWAY ROPING

THORNOCK, KARSEN NT

SMITH, BELLA NT

GOAT TYING

9.  JONES, BRYLEE 10.120

POLE BENDING

THORNOCK, KARSEN 28.255

SMITH, BELLA 28.651

JONES, BRYLEE 35.245

STEER WRESTLING

1.  SMITH, OAK 7.760

3.  SMITH, RUGER 8.580

MARSHALL, ALEXANDER NT

BENNETT, COLTER NT

TEAM ROPING

3.  RIVERA-MARSHALL, ALEXANDER (HD) & BENNETT, COLTER (HL) 12.020

SMITH, RUGER (HD) & SMITH, OAK (HL) NT

BRANCH, COOPER (HD) & STEPHENS, JASON (HL) NT

SMITH, BELLA (HD) & DOLAN, MYLEE (HL) NT

THORNOCK, KARSEN & HESS, HAILEY (HL) NT

TIE DOWN ROPING

1.  BENNETT, COLTER 10.140

2.  SMITH, OAK 11.440

3.  SMITH, RUGER 11.590