story by Ruth Nicolaus
Dillon Micheel is the reigning Nebraska High School Rodeo Bull Riding champion. The eighteen year old cowboy grew up with rodeo running through his veins. When he was a young kid, his granddad, Bernie Micheel, who was a stock contractor from Newell, S.D., would load a calf in the chutes right before the bull riding. Then Dillon would ride out on the calf to the cheers of the crowd. His uncle, Stan Micheel, was a bull rider, and his dad, Stacey Micheel, fought bulls.
Dillon, who lives on the outskirts of Ainsworth, Neb., loves everything about riding bulls and rodeo, even though it can be frightening. “If I told you I wasn’t scared (when he gets on a bull), I’d be lying. But the adrenaline rush is always there,” he said. He also loves the people he meets and the places he gets to go to.
As a senior at Ainsworth High School, the best part of the year is that his toughest classes are out of the way. Now his biggest job is to decide where to go to college. He’s leaning towards schools in Texas, but he’s unsure yet. He plans on riding bulls in college, and he’d like to work towards a doctor of veterinary medicine title.
Dillon has been on the honor roll throughout school and has excelled as a wrestler as well. He was state runner up in Class D in the 120 lb. division his sophomore year, and has qualified for state all three years of high school. He also golfs, and made it to state two years ago. He is a member of FFA.
The bull rider is competing beyond the high school ranks. He is in his second year of competition in the Mid-States Rodeo Association, where he is ranked fourth. In the Nebraska State Rodeo Association, he’s ranked fifth in the standings.
When he and his buddies hang out, they love to cruise the streets of Ainsworth. Sometimes Dillon heads to Ord, where his traveling partner Clayton Miller lives.
He has qualified for state finals all three years, and has gone on to the National High School Finals Rodeo his sophomore and junior years. His sophomore year, he finished sixth in the nation.
Dillon has two younger sisters: Trista (15) and Dakota (nine), and a younger brother, T.C., who is four. If T.C. travels with Dillon when he’s rodeoing, he makes sure to get in on the sheep riding.
He is the son of Stacey and Char Micheel.
