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Last Updated on Friday, 12 August 2011 09:57

Written by Tressa Lawrence

Shoshoni – The Spratt girls didn’t start rodeoing on a whim – these girls were riding horses long before they could walk.
For cousins Coralee and K.L. Spratt, growing up rodeoing was just part of life. The two girls are five days apart in age, and seem to be inseparable, as they learned how to ride together, walk together and rodeo together.
Coralee resides in Shoshoni year round with her parents T.J. and Jennie Spratt, and she’ll be a senior at Shoshoni High School this fall, where, in addition to being active in rodeo, she also plays basketball.
K.L. is the daughter of Ace and Shelley Spratt, and her family spends their summers in Wyoming, moving south for the winter months. Although she splits her school year between Wyoming and Arizona, K.L. makes sure to be in Wyoming for the high school rodeo season.
Being so close in age and other aspects of life, the girls are often associated together and are compared to each other.
“We try not to make it too competitive. Everyone tries to compare us all the time, but that takes the fun out of it. We just try to ignore it and have fun,” says Coralee.
Both girls travel to rodeos every weekend, and they have been neck and neck in the standings over the 2010/2011 high school rodeo season.
“We’ve been going back and forth all year. One week I would be first in the all around, and the next week KL would jump ahead. It was close right up to the end,” says Coralee.
The girls work very hard not just during the rodeo season, but also year round. They practice every day, and understand what it means to work for what they want.
“I practice every day. People don’t realize how much work rodeo really is, but even if you’re tired or whatever, it’s got to be you that goes out and practices. You have to push yourself,” says Coralee.
Coralee earned her title as Wyoming High School Rodeo All-Around Cowgirl this year by doing just that – she participates in five events, including barrels, poles, breakaway roping, goat tying and team roping.
“This year was tougher, I got hurt in the goat tying, and but I still managed to finish in the top six in goats,” explains Coralee.
For the Spratt family, rodeo is more than just a hobby – it’s also tradition.
“I don’t know if we ever really had a choice – we were just brought into it, which is fine because it’s so fun! Our families have always rodeoed, so when we practice our whole families are involved, including our grandparents, which is neat,” says Coralee.
Both girls plan to continue with rodeo into the future, continuing the tradition.
“To be honest, rodeoing is what I really aspire to do, ever,” jokes K.L.
The girls come from a long line of rodeo participants – their families make regular appearances at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the National High School Finals Rodeo, the Junior High National Finals Rodeo and other rodeo circuits across the country.
“We’ve been rodeoing forever. When we were little and our parents were at the pro rodeos there are pictures of us riding around double on the little pony we had,” laughs Coralee.
“It’s cool to be able to share something like this with my family, especially since Coralee and I are so close. It’s great to have someone there to support you at all of the rodeos, too – someone to cheer for you,” says K.L.
The girls are not only good at what they do, but they are good sports about the competition, as well.
“It’s cool, because your best friends are your competitors, too. You learn to be not only a good winner, but a gracious loser, as well. You want to support everyone and just try to help, because of course you want to win, but you also want to do it fairly. Of course you want everyone to do well, you just want to do better than them most days,” says Coralee.
“Rodeo teaches a lot of great values, like being a good sportsman and the ethics of competition,” adds K.L.
Coralee will ride her horse Twister at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette this year, which runs July 17-23. Her parents breed horses, and Coralee has raised Twister since he was foaled.
“It’s really cool having raised him, and growing with him in the rodeo world. We’ve been through a lot together, so it’s really rewarding to be able to ride him at the finals,” says Coralee.
Going into her senior year, Coralee is looking toward the future, as her basketball skills leave additional options beyond rodeo in college.
“I’ll always be able to rodeo, so I’m leaving my options open for college. I just want to do what I love and learn something along the way,” notes Coralee. Her immediate focus, however, is on the finals and doing her best.
K.L. is also focusing on the finals, where she will compete in three events – breakaway, goat tying and cutting.
“I’m pretty excited. With three events I will hopefully have a pretty good chance at the all-around,” she says.
Coralee and K.L. will continue to rodeo throughout next year on the high school circuit, and even with their successful seasons this year they hope to continue onward and upward with their rodeo careers.
For more information on the National High School Finals Rodeo, visit nhsra.com. Tressa Lawrence is editorial intern for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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Last Updated on Friday, 08 July 2011 13:17

Written by Tressa Lawrence

Casper - The best that Casper College Rodeo Coach Tom Parker can figure, it’s been about 25 years since Casper College has had a team go to the finals.
This year, the 2011 Casper College Men’s Rodeo Team won the Regional Championship this spring and will compete at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR), scheduled for June 11-18 in Casper.
Although there are 30 people on the Casper College Rodeo Team, only six from the men’s team will compete at the CNFR: Brayden Huxtable of Douglas, Riley Krassin of Lander, Chance Madsen of Pine Bluffs, Justin Moldaschel of Minnesota, Ray Tom Meiers of Casper and Chris Newman of Casper.  
Not only did Casper College claim the team championship title this spring, but two of the individuals on the team also won individual championship titles. Riley Krassin was the co-winner in the steer wrestling for the year, and Chance Madsen won the title and the saddle for the bareback riding.
Joining her male counterparts at the finals will be Megan Schrock from Farson, who took third in the breakaway roping for the region and will be one of three women to represent the region at the CNFR.  
“Megan is the one lady from our team that will be competing at finals, and our team is supporting her 110 percent,” says Parker.
Recently the CNFR announced that Casper will continue to host the finals for the next 20 years, making winning the regional title all the more exciting for not only the team, but also the school and the community.
“It means a lot not only to me, but to the school as well, to win the championship.  The caliber of students whom we recruit and their dedication to the program is incredible.  The school always supports us and has amazing dedication to the program,” Parker notes.
All of the team members have been working extremely hard and preparation will continue through the week of competition.
“The kids have worked hard and have done all that we asked in preparation for competing for the championship. This year everything finally fell together – we won the championship and now here we are at the finals!” Parker says.  
The only freshman on the team is no exception. Hailing from Lander, Krassin was a freshman at Casper College this year, where he majors in general agriculture.  
“It feels awesome to be on the winning team,” says Krassin.
Krassin has been participating in rodeo his entire life and plans to continue his rodeo career into the future, hopefully even making it to the National Finals Rodeo one day soon.
The team members who will compete in the finals say the support they’ve received from all of their teammates is phenomenal, and is inspirational to others. The team effort is a reflection not only on the six young men on the team, but the entire Casper College Rodeo program, says Parker.
“One of the things that I’ve said all along is that, even though we only have six of the guys competing at the finals, it took a total team effort for all of us to get here. Even the members who didn’t qualify to compete at the finals were practicing everyday, and pushing the other team members as hard as they could,” he says.
This is a dream come true for Casper College Rodeo Team members, and for the men’s and women’s teams alike.
“It wasn’t just those six working hard all year, it was all 30 members trying their hardest,” notes Parker.
The team has become known across the Casper College campus for their 6 a.m. workouts, five days a week. Casper College alumnus and rodeo team assistant coach Kelly Timberman has kept them busy with routines and fitness regimens that have left more than one rodeo member stiff and sore.
“The guys have been out on their own practicing, continuing their fitness regimen and working hard. The preparation hasn’t changed any – it’s been the same as it has been all year. It was successful for us, so we decided to stick with it,” says Parker of the time that has lapsed between the regional finals and the CNFR.
With the finals right around the corner, the men’s team will soon arrive back in Casper to represent Casper College and compete for the championship.  
“The other team members will be here supporting the guys and Megan throughout the week, and we will all root for them,” says Parker.
Parker says the team wouldn’t be where they are now without the support of Casper College, the community and everyone else.
“We just want to thank everyone for their support this past year. We’re just going to do what we’ve done all year and go out and try to win a national championship,” Parker concludes.
For more information on the College National Finals Rodeo, visit cnfr.com. Tressa Lawrence is editorial intern for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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Last Updated on Monday, 04 January 2010 08:50

Written by Christy Hemken

Las Vegas, Nev. – “I feel like fantasy rodeo games really get the fans in touch with the cowboys, and when they know what the contestants are doing that heightens their popularity and markets them,” says Rodeoteam.com owner Jason Vohs.
    Vohs says he and his wife Natasha bought the existing website three years ago, and this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is their second game.
    “I played Pro Fantasy Rodeo and then found Rodeoteam.com and thought ‘What a way to get involved with rodeo,’” says Vohs.
    “Me and my wife work on the site. I have a guy that does all the programming, but other than that it’s my wife and I,” he says. “It takes a lot of time, but it’s fun and I’m enjoying it. It’s growing fast, and I love rodeo so much I know it’ll take off. I’m enjoying the process.”
    When not managing the website Vohs rodeos and recruits for the U.S. Army. He grew up roping calves and team roping. “I wanted something else to involve myself in the sport of rodeo and help the sport grow, and this is a way,” says Vohs, who’s from Las Vegas. 
    Of the people who log into the site and buy teams, Vohs says it’s amazing how accurate their picks are. “People go in there and really do their homework,” he notes. “They study the contestants and they pick people I wouldn’t even know are good. It’s neat how informed the players really are.”
    He says players get their information on cowboys from a lot of sources, including prorodeo.com, the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association website. “Eventually I’ll have a guy doing all the stats on my site, and have them available during the NFR,” says Vohs. “Then people can really learn and know the averages on each person going in, and how much they win per year, and it’ll make a scientific way of guessing, but really in the top 15 at the Finals anyone can win.”
    In addition to the WNFR Vohs says the site will add the Timed Event Finals this year, as well as World’s Greatest Roper. “Hopefully there’s more to come,” he says.
    “The more we market the cowboys the better rodeo will be,” says Vohs of the site’s goal. “It’s mainly to promote the cowboys.”
    Anyone can log onto www.rodeoteam.com any time during the finals and buy teams to put together. Teams must be entered 30 minutes before each night’s round for nightly payouts.
    According to the website, the objective of the game is to select a rodeo team, using no more than $1,000,000, that will win the most money at the WNFR. This will be the total money earned by all nine of the team members combined, including rounds and average money.
    In addition to nine-member teams, players can select two barrel racers from each of three brackets, with those who pick the fastest cowgirls winning the game. The more money your cowgirls win, the more you will win in the Barrels Only game.
    Christy Hemken is assistant editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 04:38

Written by Christy Hemken

Casper – In late October the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) and the city of Casper were honored with a national award recognizing the quality of the event.
    The rodeo claimed the title of “Best Collegiate Multi-Sport or Multi-Discipline Event” from SportsTravel magazine. Events were nominated and voted upon by readers of the magazine, which is the sports world’s event publication.
    Six finalists in each category were announced in August. The CNFR was ultimately chosen ahead of the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa; the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Johnson City, Tenn.; the NCAA Division II Winter National Championships Festival in Houston, Texas; the NJCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Buffalo, N.Y. and the STIHL TimberSports Collegiate Challenge in Columbus, Ga.  
    “It’s a family event, and appealing to a lot of people and this award shows the community support the CNFR has gotten from Casper,” says CNFR Ticket Chairman John Phillips.
    Criteria for the award included superior organization of and attendance at the event, a superior experience for competitors and/or spectators and the event’s host city or venue serving to enhance the event.
    Other events that won awards were the 2009 NCAA Men’s Final Four in Detroit, Mich. as the Best Collegiate Sports Event Series or Circuit and the 2008 Texas vs. Oklahoma football game in Dallas, Texas as the Best Collegiate Single-Sport Event.
    Of the CNFR’s success in Casper, Phillips says, “They like what we have going on here, and the CNFR leadership has told us they’re not looking to move elsewhere.”
    He adds that kids and parents enjoy traveling to Casper. “All the feedback we get is positive. There’s been some competition from other cities with more money, but the leadership likes what Casper does.”
    Casper Area Convention & Visitors Bureau CEO Aaron McCreight says a lot of people come from all over the country to participate in or watch the rodeo. “Natrona County and the CNFR committee put on a great show,” he says. “It’s a great event, with nationwide participation.”
    Phillips says Casper is geographically perfect, located in the center of the West, and the weather is mild in June when the rodeo’s held. “A lot of people come from hot weather and humidity, and it’s a real treat for them to come here to compete,” he says, adding that there’s also tourism and other locations to visit and make the trip bigger than the rodeo itself.
    The 2009 CNFR marked the 11th year for the event in Casper. This year’s CNFR welcomed 363 participants from 87 colleges and universities, representing 33 states and four Canadian provinces. The 2009 event recorded a 15 percent jump in ticket sales from the previous year as nearly 19,000 fans flocked to the Casper Events Center for the competition.
    “This national award was the total package of city, county, state, and college rodeo working together to produce a highly successful event that is recognized throughout the United States,” says National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Commissioner Roger Walters. “This monumental achievement of the College National Finals
Rodeo Committee and College Rodeo just goes to prove that together, with one purpose, great things are achievable.”
    Looking to the 2010 CNFR, McCreight says a celebration of the award will certainly be included. Although the nightly performances haven’t yet been laid out, he assures the event will be bigger and better than last year.
    “We’re hopeful that people will follow a winner,” says McCreight. “We hope people who haven’t been for a few years or have never taken part will see they’ve missed out on a big deal, and hopefully they’ll come out and support or sponsor the event.”
    Of the award, McCreight says it’s amazing that an event held in the city of Casper would beat out the other nominees. “Some of those other places have subdivisions the size of Casper, but we still garnered attention and praise on the nationwide level. That’s a testament to every single person involved in the CNFR, including fans, sponsors, participants, coaches and everybody. It’s all hands on deck, and everybody has a piece of this award.”
    Christy Hemken is assistant editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .