Maui County cowboys, cowgirls headed to NHSFR
Trending
The Maui News
Nine Maui County cowboys and cowgirls will head to Gillette, Wyo., next week to compete in the National High School Finals Rodeo following their top finishes at the state finals last month.
Elizabeth Miranda -- who was recently crowned All Around Cowgirl of the Makawao Stampede -- will be competing in girls cutting, breakaway roping, reining cow horse and team roping with Frank Bonacorsi at nationals. She earned the title of 2023 Hawaii State All Around Cowgirl, was state champion in reining cow horse and goat tying, as well as reserve champion in breakaway roping and barrel racing.
Bonacorsi won the state titles in tie-down roping and boys cutting as well as Hawaii's Own double mugging with Kahiwa Augustiro. He was also reserve champion in steer wrestling. In addition to team roping, Bonacorsi will compete in tie-down roping, steer wrestling and boys cutting at nationals.
Augustiro earned 2023 Hawaii State All Around Cowboy honors after winning steer wrestling, bareback bronc and team roping with his cousin Bailey Sproat, in addition to placing second in bull riding. At nationals, the Molokai teen will compete in bull riding, steer wrestling and team roping with Sproat.
Sproat also qualified for girls breakaway roping.
Emily Coflin will compete in pole bending, reining cow horse and girls cutting -- she was the state champion in pole bending and girls cutting.
Malie Kahaleuahi-Cockett was crowned 2023 Hawaii State High School Rodeo Queen.
Also qualifying for nationals were Nanea Bonacorsi (girls cutting, goat tying), Luna Graham Milligan (girls barrel racing) and Eva Jarman (girls goat tying).