Local Student Qualifies for National Jr. High Rodeo Association’s National Competition

Louisiana Junior High School Rodeo Association Rookie of the Year Cooper Phelps will compete in the NJHRA Nationals in Oklahoma.

Cooper Phelps, a fifth grader at Napoleonville Elementary School, has been named the Louisiana Junior High School Rodeo Association’s “Rookie of the Year” and has earned a bid to compete in the 2026 National Junior High Rodeo to be held June 21-27 at the Lazy E. Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Phelps turned in a stellar performance at the Louisiana Junior High Rodeo Association’s state finals, which were held in the Lake Charles Burton Coliseum, to qualify him for the national competition.

He won the bareback steer riding competition, placed 2nd in the Average bareback steer riding competition, was named the Reserve State Champion in bull riding and placed 1st in the Average bull riding competition. He also placed in the Top 10 of the final two rounds of the goat tying competition.

The combined accolades earned him the title of LJHSRA Rookie of the Year.

Phelps has travelled across Louisiana over the past year to compete in a variety of rodeo events. Students must earn the required number of points in sanctioned LJHSRA rodeos to qualify for the state competition. Points are only awarded to the top 10 competitors in each rodeo.

Phelps had to finish in the Top 4 at the state competition to earn a bid for the nationals. He qualified to compete in bull riding and bareback steer riding.