Your future, our focus
The Northwest College Trapper rodeo team is back in the chutes and kicking up dust in their practice arena as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Last season ended with the Trappers ranked 15th in the nation for men and third in the Big Sky region for men and sixth for women.
“We are excited and ready to go and chomping at the bit,” said NWC head rodeo coach Del Nose. “There is no game plan, just work hard and win, win, win — practice hard and hope everything goes right.”
Trapper practices began Aug. 24 and the season was off to a good start, Nose said.
The Trappers’ first rodeo, and only home competition, will be held Friday and Saturday in Cody.
“We hope to win, that is what we are all about,” Nose said. “We are concentrating and focusing on technique and sportsmanship — also have kids in the gym getting physical.”
In addition to rodeo practice sessions five days a week and weekend rodeo competitions outside of the college regional circuit, the Trappers are also working out at 6 a.m. twice a week, focusing on pilates, weights and cardio, Nose said.
Six of the Trapper’s riders competed at the National College Finals Rodeo over the summer and five of them are back for more this season. Jesse Nelson, Shawn Bird, Tyler Sterner, Casey Fredericks, and Lane Lahaye are back in the arena practicing alongside a team that’s nearly an even split of freshmen and sophomores.
Bird was one of the top team ropers in the country heading into the college finals with 1,040 points.
Nelson ended last season fourth in bareback riding for the Big Sky region with 870 points.
“Our bareback riding is strong, Jesse Nelson was rookie of the year,” Nose said. “Two bull riders are returning and hope for the (college) finals — got a few kids in the timed events and our girls are going to be really strong.”
Lahaye finished regionals with 670 points in tie down roping, good for second place.
“I’m going to try to do the same thing as last year, work hard and stay focused and try to catch everything I can to make it to the college finals again,” Lahaye said. “I feel good. Last year didn’t lose any seniors in calf roping, so it will be a tough year, but a fun year that way.”
Lahaye will compete in team roping, tie down roping and steer wrestling this year with the goal of winning the coveted All Around title for the region.
“I was close last year,” Lahaye said. “I’m going to keep working hard, coming to practice and listening to some people and hopefully catch everything I can — the more I catch, the better chance I have,” Lahaye said.
This season, Sterner will ride bulls and team rope. Sterner was ranked second in the region for bull riding with 270 points and Fredericks was close behind in third with 240 points.
“Over the summer, I worked out some of the kinks I had and my goal is to just keep everything focused and stay uninjured, and ride more bulls and be consistent at both team roping and bulls,” Sterner said.
Sterner has steel plates in his legs, and last season he dislocated his thumb — but he’s all healed up and ready to go for the season.
Sophomore Kelsy Robinson narrowly missed her spot at the college finals last year, ranking fourth in the barrel racing with 607 points for the region.
“I don’t want to be runner up again,” Robinson said. “We are shooting for the CNFR and hopefully it goes as planned.”
Consistent riding and a healthy horse are Robinson’s game plan for the upcoming season.
“She is accident prone,” Robinson said about her barrel horse.
After a rough year in the breakaway roping, Robinson will be back at it this year too, she said.
“I want more self-confidence in the roping department — I don’t want to doubt myself,” Robinson said, noting she was excited about the newcomers to the NWC rodeo team.
If college rodeo is anything like cards, the Trappers have been dealt two sets of pairs with the Doney twins and the Magpie twins competing in the team roping.
“We have some really quality talent freshmen,” Nose said.
Freshmen Tyler (header) and Clay Doney (healer) hail from Lame Deer, Montana, and are bringing a lifetime of rodeo experience to the arena.
“I’ve roped with a lot of guys, but he is the only one I know that I know where he is going to set it and how hard,” Clay Doney said. “I know how he will set them and how quick he will set them.”
The Doney duo have roped together since they were in third grade and those years of teamwork led to the college level of competition.
“We rodeoed all through high school,” Tyler Doney said. “I am looking forward to competing at the college rodeos — it keeps you at the top of your game.”
The Doneys competed at the Montana High School Finals Rodeo in 2011 and in 2013 with average times of about 5 seconds, Tyler Doney said.
Tyler said he will be working with his backup horse since his main one is retired due to injury, and try to improve his consistency.
Clay is aiming to improve his spacing.
“Nose is a good instructor, and strict, which is good,” Clay Doney said. “Just go out and do what you got to do.”