story by Lily Weinacht
Breakaway roper Jocelyn Lucsko was the APRA’s Rookie of the Year in 2014, qualifying for the AFR again the following year. But for the 22 year old from Washington, Pennsylvania, roping and running barrels is vital whether she’s high in the standings or not. “For those of us in the rodeo world, it’s a passion,” she explains. “We want to keep getting better. I know I can keep getting better and I’m never satisfied – the group of girls I rope against are great at working on me to improve. And I love the rodeo atmosphere – it’s great to be around, and a lot of us couldn’t live without rodeo in our lives.”
Jocelyn entered the rodeo world when she was eight, starting with fun shows and working into youth and high school rodeo in all of the girls events. “Until I was six, I lived in Pittsburgh, and when we moved here, my aunt and cousins got me into rodeo. I went to the NHSFR my freshman and sophomore year, then decided to focus more on school and basketball. I picked up rodeo again after I graduated. My aunt Kim Buchleitner runs barrels in the APRA, and her hauling partner, Kristin Hogg, I see as an older sister and best friend. Those two and my parents have really supported me. My aunt Kim is a great horsewoman and keeps me positive constantly. I try to never think negative, but when I do, she and Kristin are the ones I go to.”
There’s often a spot in Kim’s trailer for Jocelyn and her horses, Bozo and Oakley. “I mainly rope right now, and Bozo is my main mount,” says Jocelyn. “I got him as a cutting horse three years ago. It took us a while to get into sync, but he was patterned for barrels and was the previous owner’s dominant calf horse. I’m also starting to season my mare, Oakley, in the breakaway.” Jocelyn often hauls her horses a few miles to her friend Beth Papotnik’s house, where she keeps her drag dummy and ropes the family’s calves. “Beth is a really good friend and another person I consider an older sister. I get my hay from her, and I help with babysitting and doing chores, so it’s a win-win situation.”
During the summer, Jocelyn works in her gym’s kids camp, which ties in with her major in middle level education and emphasis in math. “I’ll be a senior this fall at California University of Pennsylvania,” she says. “I want to focus on my grades and competing with the APRA, and once I get my foot in the teaching world, I’d also like to travel with the IPRA. Kids put a smile on my face, so that’s what I want to do with my life other than going up and down the rodeo trail. My parents, John and Amy, are really great about taking care of my horses while I’m doing school, and my dad is always there to take care of anything with my truck and trailer.” Her older brother, Jonathon, is equally supportive. “Growing up, it was very rare when I missed his hockey or baseball games, or he missed a rodeo. We definitely support each other, and if I have a local rodeo, he’s going to be there.
“One of my goals is to come out on top in the APRA and win some of the bigger rodeos, and I’d like to stay consistent all year. My boyfriend, Brent Phillips, ropes calves in the APRA, and he’s really motivated and pushed me to work harder this year. It’s always a goal of mine to go in and do the best I can, and I’m always happy and smiling. Not a whole lot gets me down!”
