Ethan Wessel was crowned the Central Plains Rodeo Association (CePRA) 2013 reserve champion saddle bronc rider and has returned, in his fourth season with the organization, aiming at a championship title. “I’d like to win the whole deal; the finals and the year-end,” he said. The 25-year-old cowboy is well on his way to accomplishing those goals as he is currently sitting on top of the standings with approximately $2,000 won throughout the season with an approximate $1,300 lead over his closest competitor. “The CePRA has a great family atmosphere, strong competition and is run smooth by great people,” he said.
Climbing over the buckin’ chutes is something that the Marion, Kans., resident is well acquainted to as he started as a youngster in the mutton busting in a jumpstart from his uncle (Raymond Wessel, Wrangler National Finals bull rider and one of only three men who rode Pete Burns Rodeo Company’s Mr. T). “I’ve been around it my whole life,” said Ethan. While neither of his parents (Roy and Brenda) were rodeo competitors, Ethan says that it was their support that carried him to where he is today. “They are very supportive and they try to go to all the rodeos they can,” he said.
Advancement in his events found Ethan progressing to larger roughstock over the years and as a high school athlete competed in the bull riding. By 2004, Ethan expanded his events and was sitting in a bronc saddle. Unfortunately, he experienced a setback in the fall of 2007, when he broke his back during his senior year in the bull riding and was forced to veer away from his true passions. The obstacle was a short lived delay for Ethan and he found his way back to the arena as a steer wrestler for a single year at Pratt Community College. A full recovery found him returning to the bucking chutes, where he made saddle bronc riding his primary event about four years ago, but bull riding remains in his veins as he still travels with athletes (Jesse Schelhammer and Kenny Upton) from the event. Support continues to surround Ethan through his girlfriend (Karli Stucky). The two have been together a little over a year and Karli often hit’s the rodeo trail with Ethan. “She travels with me to almost every one,” he said.
In an attempt to better himself, Ethan is also a permit holder within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and occasionally enters shows within the International Professional Rodeo Association and the American Cowboys Rodeo Association. “I just try to ride as many horses that I can,” he said.
When he is not on the path of rodeo, Ethan has made is living at Rafter P feedlots going on 14 years. “I grew up into the deal. I really like it and get to work with my dad everyday,” he said. “He has taught me so much and the things that I’ve learned from him are things that you’ll never learn in school.”
story by Lindsay King Third generation rodeo competitor 13-year-old Libby Berger from Udall, Kansas, has a need for speed. “Barrels or breakaway roping is my […]
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August 9, 2019
Bareback Riding
1 Danny Weil 3015.55
2 Ty Pope 665.36
3 Dakota Procobio 331.82
4 Mike Fred 253.8
5 Colt Eck 167.63
Sadde Bronc Riding
1 Tim Williams 1457.4
2 Luke Rush 735.44
3 Sage Dierks 371
4 Cable Wareham 324.3
5 Bryce Eck 248.16
Bull Riding
1 Cash Toews 2649.83
2 Brylen Dees 1194.97
3 Richard Schleicher 998.75
4 Ivan Gutierrez 916.5
5 Jackson Ward 472.82
6 Luke Mast 161.91
Team Roping Heading
1 Jake McCullough 5416.64
2 Kelton Hill 4240.63
3 Cole Pearson 3761.53
4 Curry Kirchner 2400.83
5 Tyler Hobert 2316.61
6 Nick Becker 2069.97
7 Layne Lagasse 1724.48
8 Cole Remington 1707.04
9 Brett Christensen 1528.41
10 Troy Boone 1526.31
11 Zane Leftwich 1160.9
12 Billy Peters 1091.6
13 Ethan McDowell 812.25
14 Justin Brown 699.12
15 Kass Bittle 630.38
Team Roping Heeling
1 Linden Stueve 4647.14
2 Raylen Stueve 3761.53
3 Jaydon Laubhan 3648.96
4 Dawson McMaster 2069.97
5 Derrick Jantzen 1910.78
6 Taylor Schotte 1724.48
7 Tyler Mahlandt 1709.91
8 Mitch Murray 1707.04
9 Chase Boekhaus 1528.41
10 Tanner Nall 1526.31
11 Toby Mentzer 1369.59
12 Kyle Pontious 1160.9
13 Troy Gaston 769.5
14 Aaron Paul 699.12
15 Shawn Hollenbeck 182.4
Steer Wrestling
1 Brandon Volker 2458.88
2 Tyler Garten 1336.42
3 Ryan Swayze 963.68
4 Hunter Crawford 647.66
5 Scott Schaefer 532.98
6 Riley Westhaver 522.87
7 Joby Allen 485.74
8 Logan Mullin 355.32
9 Kyle Van Doren 155.4
Calf Roping
1 Tyler Garten 1357.38
2 Taylor Donaldson 752.89
3 Joe Macoubrie 718.16
4 Kyle Winslow 689.1
5 Zane Arnold 638.73
6 Jerome Schneeberger 611.82
7 Bryce Loyd 503.72
8 Kelly Wood 446.5
9 Travis Tetrick 384.22
10 Luke Blanton 267.9
11 Kelton Hill 142.02
Barrel Racing
1 Sarah Johnson 1379.28
2 Shauni Leftwich 1178
3 Libby Berger 1053.07
4 Amber Scales 967
5 Toni Shaw 893.55
6 Marsha Nelson 742.83
7 Cheyenne Larson 681.13
8 Jacey Bair 647.96
9 Ashley Forred 616.64
10 Katie Larson 498.31
11 Prairie Rose Robbins 474.7
12 Deb Massey 462.48
13 Britt Widrig 386.82
14 Kim Harland 344.44
15 Melissa Wanger 272.62
All Around
1 Kelton Hill 3158.77
2 Tyler Garten 2693.8
3 Joe Macourbie 1316.26
