After a Disappointing 13th Place Finish Last Year, South Dakotan Teenager Soars to World Champion in Barrel Racing

The National High School Finals Rodeo ended with a bang on Saturday. Eleven South Dakotans had traveled to Gillette, Wyoming, for the prestigious event, hoping to make their mark in the world of rodeo. Among them was a determined teenager who had set her sights on redemption after a disappointing 13th-place finish the previous year. Wall’s Piper Cordes became the 2023 high school national champion in barrel racing, stunning spectators and competitors alike with her incredible performance.

The last time a South Dakotan had clinched victory in the nationals was in 2018, with Cash Wilson. The competition meant a lot for the young athlete as it not only showcased her skills but also gave her the opportunity to make her state proud.

A fulfillment of dreams and a defining moment

Piper Cordes has been dreaming of this moment since she was in sixth grade. She used to collect pictures of other riders and envision herself in their place. For Cordes, this was the biggest achievement in her life, and she felt happy with her performance. She also participated in the National High School Rodeo in 2022 but finished in the 13th rank. After that disappointment, the high schooler worked tirelessly to improve her skills and prepare for the next opportunity. She participated in a state championship in Ft. Pierre and won it with extraordinary skill.

Just before the Nationals, Piper Cordes got the shock of her life. On the day of the race, she went to check up on her horse Fiestas and found him coughing. She gave him antibiotics, and luckily he recovered on time before the match. In the go-round, she won the race in 16.725. She spoke to South Dakota Public Broadcasting about this victory, saying, “I didn’t really think about how I was winning the average by a second”. Piper did not want to think about this achievement for long because she had an even greater hurdle to overcome. She had the short-go ahead of her where she needed to do better to win the championship.

Rising to the challenge

Piper Cordes faced another adversity before the short-go race when she drew a problematic starting point. Piper Cordes was starting the race after everyone else, which meant she was at a disadvantage from the start. The announcer mentioned that Cordes would need to run 18:02 to win. She stayed calm throughout the race, and when she looked up at the scoreboard from the finishing line, Cordes could not believe her eyes.

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“I looked up at the screen, and I saw that 17…my heart kind of did a little jump”, said Cordes. Everyone clapped in joy and cheered for her incredible achievement. Piper Cordes not only brought home the national title to South Dakota after five years but also achieved the historic distinction of becoming the first South Dakotan since Maxine McCullough in 1968 to win the world title in barrel racing. With her help, South Dakota came third as a team in the championships. Piper Cordes gave credit for her success to the support she received from her town. She is set to begin her senior year in a few weeks and cannot wait to return for the 2024 National High School Finals Rodeo, which will be her last time competing at the high school level.

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