After earning Rookie of the Year honors and finishing as the reserve all-around champion, Kooper Schrunk is already focused on what comes next.
For Schrunk, the 2026 Nebraska high school rodeo season was filled with growth across multiple events, including tie-down roping, steer wrestling, cutting and team roping. He said the year brought strong results but also showed him where he can improve.
“The season’s been pretty blessed to me,” Schrunk said. “I had a really good fall and ended up pretty good in calf roping and bulldogging. This spring, I started getting my cutting figured out and picked up some points there too.”
Schrunk said consistency across multiple disciplines helped fuel his success throughout the season. Even when results were not perfect, he continued to build confidence and gain valuable experience.
Rodeo is deeply rooted in the Schrunk family, and Kooper said that family support has played a major role in his development. His brothers, who also compete, have helped create a competitive environment that pushes everyone to improve.
This season, that competition was especially strong between Kooper and his brother, Kaddo.
“We want each other to win, and we both want to win ourselves,” Schrunk said. “It’s a good rivalry between us because we’re always pushing each other.”
Despite competing against each other, Schrunk said the rivalry never becomes personal.
“When we show up to the rodeo, we’re never really against each other,” he said. “We’re just trying to do the best we can on the draw we have or the stock we drew.”
Schrunk credits much of his rodeo knowledge to his father, whom he considers his biggest role model.
“My dad is probably my biggest role model,” Schrunk said. “He’s very consistent with his roping, and he knows about everything you can know.”
Like many successful rodeo athletes, Schrunk knows strong horsepower is essential. He said he feels fortunate to have dependable horses behind him in each event.
His heel horse, raised by his mother, has become a dependable partner. He also relies on a seasoned cutting horse and a trusted steer wrestling horse that helps him stay sharp in practice and competition.
Preparation is a major part of Schrunk’s routine. Between school and rodeo, he spends as much time as possible working on his craft.
“Normally we try roping about every night that we can,” Schrunk said. “If it’s dry and the wind’s not blowing 100, we’re normally out there roping and doing something.”
That work ethic is driving his long-term goals, and Schrunk made it clear he is not satisfied with simply winning.
After feeling like he left opportunities on the table at the state finals, he has set a high standard for himself moving forward.
“Next year, I don’t only want to win — I want to dominate,” Schrunk said. “I want to go out there and win everything and leave no doubt.”
With three years of high school rodeo still ahead, Schrunk’s rookie season may have only been the beginning.