Colorado High School Cowgirl Sets Sights On An All-Around Title

As Colorado State High School Rodeo wrapped up the 2023 fall season, one fierce cowgirl is in good standings to secure an all-around title, but she must enter the spring rodeos with her game face.

Maci York is tired of being the runner-up. After three consecutive years winning the Colorado State High School Rodeo girls all-around Reserve Champion, this year she has set a goal to clench the title. With a strong start to her senior season and a support system to keep her consistent, York and her string of talented equine athletes must perform well at the spring rodeos.

Small town Wellington, Colorado, is where York and her parents, J.C., and Jody York call home. She attends Branson School Online and plans on pursuing a college degree and rodeo career after high school. In the future, York is interested in training barrel horses and working with cutting horse trainers. Outside of rodeo, York enjoys hanging out with friends but would describe her lifestyle as western.

"We are with horses no matter what," York said.

How Does Colorado High School Rodeo Work?

Colorado State High School Rodeo Association held four scheduled rodeos this fall. Contestants traveled to Craig, Cortez, Grand Junction and Colorado Springs. Rodeo committees dedicated time to host families of both high school and junior high competitors in these locations.

The association standings are based on a points system, generated by placing in events that accumulate throughout the year to produce the aggregate standings. Once they reach the end of their season, the top four competitors in each event travel to the National High School Finals Rodeo, taking place in Rock Springs, Wyoming,  July 14 through 20.   

In the fall season, York earned 226 points. Taneal Braslin, the cowgirl second in the all-around has 173 points, giving York a considerably large lead heading into the spring. 

For York, it is no small feat to travel to the high school rodeos. Most of them are a ways away; the average distance this fall was 280 miles on the road. Safe to say, this cowgirl is dedicated to the sport. 

This (Cow)Girl Is On Fire

York competes in five events: barrel racing, girls cutting, team roping, pole bending and breakaway. In an ultra-competitive field, York currently sits first in the barrel racing, first in the girls cutting, fourth in the team roping, third in the pole bending and eighth in the breakaway.

"It takes a lot of hard work and grit to get up to the top because there is so many talented young kids and competitors I am rodeoing against," said York. "And there are so many talented horses out there, it’s amazing to watch."

York accredits her equine partners to her all-around success. She has a horse dedicated to each event, but that doesn't mean her athletes lack the ability to switch events. 

As a proud owner of her 10-year-old pole bending horse, she recognizes the improvement in her riding and horsemanship due to this palomino. She even went on to say, "They say the hard ones are the good ones."

After battling an injury with her barrel horse last year, the team figured out how to climb to the top at the fall rodeos.

York added cutting to her resume her sophomore year of high school. Her mentors for this event push her to be the best and she proudly stated that cutting secures her spot in the all-around.

"Not every cowgirl has the attentiveness and discipline to compete in the event," said York. "Cutting has taught me to be more quiet with my hands and have better horsemanship."

In the breakaway and team roping, York states that her horses are faithful and do their job every time. Consistency is key in these events, having a dependable string of horses makes all the difference for the young lady. 

Into The Spring

All York needs to claim victory is high-energy rolling into the spring high school rodeo season. She will compete in Penrose, Loveland, Lamar, Craig, Elbert, and eventually, at the state finals in Craig. 

To keep her momentum in the spring, York says she will "keep grinding and practicing the basics to get to the top."