Even though the numbers were small, NCHS can boast that it has two, national qualifiers that will represent Team Wyoming at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette, Wyoming July 18-25. Juniors Ace Thurston will compete in the Bareback and Steer Wrestling events while Colton Miller will complete in the Saddle Bronc event. The top four finishers at the end of the season are determined by points accrued throughout the season, including the state finals. The four athletes in each event are the ones who make up the National Team.

However, the journey to the nationals started during the Wyoming High School Finals during the week of June 23-27 in Douglas, Wyoming. Graduating Senior Jessie Sturman ended up 10th in the Goat Tying average with a time of 22.170 on two. She also had a strong showing in very difficult group of barrel racers by posting a time of 18.654 in the first go around. In the 2nd go around, she was 8th in the Breakaway with a time of 3.56. While Jessie did not qualify for the national team, she is going to continue her rodeo career by being a member of the Chadron State College Rodeo Team in the fall. With her strong work ethic and determination, Jessie will continue to excel in the rodeo area as well as the academic arena.

Junior Ace Thurston was 2nd in the Saddle Bronc average after the first two go arounds with scores of 57 and 51 respectively. Thurston was also 5th in the Bareback average by posting identical scores of 68 in both rounds. Then, in the Steer Wrestling, Thurston was 10th in the average with a time of 6.12. After the qualifying round at State Finals, Thurston finished the year by being 3rd in the Bareback by having a total of 241 points and 4th in the Steer Wrestling with a total of 190 points.

Junior Colton Miller had a tough time during the first two go arounds and was bucked off extremely rank horses. He had been riding very tough and had won several of the last few rodeos. However, by the end of the state finals, Miller had accumulated enough points to earn the 4th place spot in the Saddle Broncs with total point score of 157.5.

Freshmen Colby Thurston entered the Cutting and Calf Roping events at the state finals. In the first go around, Thurston was 5th in the cutting with a score of 121. Then, in the 2nd go around, Thurston improve dramatically with a score of 135 for 2nd place. But, in the qualifying round Thurston got 5th with a score of 134. So, Thurston’s average on three for the cutting was 390.5 with was 5th overall. Thus, Thurston just missed making the national team in Cutting. But, he is the designated alternate and he has a lot of rodeo in his future.

After the National Finals, the NCHS rodeo team members get a slight break until the first rodeo of the fall at the end of August. While the team is only losing one senior, Jessie Sturman, the Sturman name will continue to be represented with the addition of it incoming freshmen, Bryce Sturman.



For the complete article see the 07-14-2010 issue.

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