Rodeo Recognizes True Athletes

by Cassidy Mutchler, staff

South Dakota is well-known for the sport of rodeo. The one aspect many people overlook is the athletes it takes to compete in this competitive sport, the animals. Society gives a lot of credit to the cowboys and cowgirls who participate in the demanding sport, but the importance of great stock is most of the time overlooked.

“Having good stock is really important; it can either make or break you. Bad stock means a bad time or an awful score. It is really just the luck of the draw,” said senior Bailey Long, a top contender and a member of Sturgis’ rodeo team.

“It’s amazing how big of a role having a good horse plays in rodeo. It is not like any other sport, in rodeo you have to work with another living thing and they have good and bad days just like you do. It’s important to have a good horse that is going to be consistent and competitive every year,” said senior Kristi Steffes, who placed 7^th in the Pole Bending at the National High School Rodeo held last June.

“It’s important to have quality livestock at the rodeos to give a fair chance of winning instead of just having a few good head of bulls or steers so it’s not a drawing contest,” said senior Tanner Bothwell who received 8^th place in the Bull Riding at Nationals.

Although being a great athlete is stressed immensely, so is having an animal working towards the same goal as you, winning the buckle. Being great does not always mean winning; it is most important that you do your best and achieve the goals that is set for individual happiness.