– Samantha Tenpenny<\/p>\n
***The writer is enrolled in Comm 240 News Reporting.***<\/p>\n
Despite wintry conditions in Garden City, Fort Hays State University Rodeo Team members rode into the short round.<\/p>\n
Jacob Willems, Marquette sophomore, and Tennille Ouellette, Yoder, Colo. junior, both placed high enough in the long round of Garden City Community College\u2019s National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association event, held Feb. 28-March 2, to qualify for the short round in their respective events.<\/p>\n
On the men\u2019s side, Willems placed third in the average after combining his score of 67, good enough for a third-place finish in the long round, with his 69-point ride that landed him second in the short round.<\/p>\n
Representing the women’s team, Ouellette made a 6.9 second run in the goat tying to place ninth in the long round before tying her second goat in 7.5 seconds, landing her 10th in the
\naverage.<\/p>\n
The competition wasn\u2019t the only thing Willems, Ouellette and the rest of the FHSU Rodeo Team had to battle. Saturday morning, March 1, contestants woke up to a dusting of snow. By the end of the morning\u2019s slack session, the wind had picked up immensely, conditions had worsened and the temperature had dropped to below freezing. As with any sport, rodeo athletes must keep warm and stay loose prior to competition. With two inches of snow on the ground and a below-zero wind chill, staying warm was no easy task.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a bareback rider, I didn\u2019t have it too bad,\u201d Willems said. \u201cUnlike the timed event guys, I never had to go outside to get ready, so that was nice. I just made sure I stayed moving and tried to keep loose.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ouellette was fortunate enough to draw up Friday morning, Feb. 28, during the first slack session when the weather was ideal. However, she too had to compete in chilly conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey moved the short-go up to 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 2, because it was so nasty out. It wasn\u2019t quite as bad as Saturday, March 1, night\u2019s performance, but it was still miserably cold with snow on the ground. That\u2019s part of it [rodeo], though. Rain, sleet, or snow, we still compete,\u201d Ouellette said.<\/p>\n
Both Willems and Ouellette also competed in the Kansas State University Rodeo and the Ft. Scott Rodeo.<\/p>\n
After qualifying for the short round Feb. 23 at the Kansas State University NIRA Rodeo and March 9 at the Ft. Scott Community College NIRA Rodeo, Willems said he plans to use his positive momentum as the team continues into the spring season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve made it back the last three weekends. I\u2019m covering my horses, riding correctly and getting more confident. I just want to stay positive and healthy and see what I can get done,\u201d Willems said.
\nHe has jumped to third in the regional standings with 136 points and is trailing the leader by less than 20 points with four rodeos left. So a trip to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., this summer is a very real possibility for the FHSU bareback rider.<\/p>\n
The next competition for the FHSU Rodeo Team will be at the Southeastern Oklahoma State University rodeo, scheduled for April 3-4 in Durant, Okla.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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