Rodeo struggles in final stretch
This weekend’s rodeo took place at Casper College, with neither the men’s nor the women’s team placing overall.
“Physically they were ready, but mentally they weren’t ready,” Dustin Luper, the Chadron State College rodeo coach said.
In Bareback Riding, Collin Chytka, freshman of Broken Bow, took fifth in the first and second round and finished fourth in the average.
Clinton Lambrecht, sophomore of Wood River, placed sixth in the long go at steer wrestling.
Lisa Vroman, senior of Buffalo, S.D., split fifth place with a number of other participants in the long-go of breakaway. BoDelle Mueller, junior of Sutherland, came tenth in the long-go.
“I just made a mistake that never should have happened.” Vroman said. Vroman has high hopes for the upcoming last rodeo of the season, and her last rodeo.
“My goal is to end the last rodeo by proving to myself that I am capable of competing and placing in the top four average,” Vroman said.
Luper said that rodeo is 80 percent mental strength, and 20 percent physical ability. “My strategy would be to prepare them mentally,” Luper said. “Overall, I am pretty satisfied with the season, but I feel that I’ve failed the team in preparing them mentally.”
Luper said that the women’s team could reach second place in the region for the overall season, which will lead them to College National Finals Rodeo.
“If all the girls do very well, it’s very possible that it could happen,” Luper said.
Also, according to Luper, there are three people individually, who could make it to the CNFR.
“Those who practice the most, win the most,” Luper said.
Kaylee Gallino, junior of Wasta, S.D., is currently sitting fourth, 60 points away from first.
Kelsey Scott, junior of Douglas, Wyo., is winning the breakaway by ten points.
Miles Spickelmier, junior of Imperial, is in third place in steer wrestling. Luper said he has a shot at the CNFR.
The last rodeo in the Central Rocky Mountain Region will take place at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo., April 29 – May 1.