story by Lily Weinacht
This is the first year Trey Holston covered his bulls at the NHSFR, and the 18-year-old from Fort Scott, Kansas, walked away the 2017 NHSFR Bull Riding Champion. “This was my third year out there, and the first two years it was a really big deal and kind of overwhelming,” says Trey. “This year, I had a lot of fun and relaxed, and it wasn’t as nerve-wracking.” He also came away the KHSRA state bull riding champion for the second time, stacked up against his friends Brylen Dees, Coy Pollmeier, and Shad Winn in the top four. “Kansas boys are tough to ride against, but I was lucky enough I came out on top.” His freshman year, Trey was the reserve state champion in bull riding, even after taking half the season off when a bull stepped on his leg and broke it. “I was at a bull riding in my hometown at Fort Scott Community College and got my leg stepped on. It broke a couple bones in my lower leg and ankle. I got seven screws and a plate put in, so I was out for a while.”
Trey says that setbacks like his injury or not covering his bulls lit a fire under him, and drove him toward the national title. In seventh grade, he was the NJHFR Bull Riding Champion, and that accomplishment was addictive. “The older you get, the harder it is and the more work it’s going to take,” he says. “It’s been a long road and I finally got there, and I’ll see what’s in store next for me.”
His dad, Todd Holston, and Trey’s traveling buddies, Coy and Tate Pollmeier and Shad Winn, keep him motivated. Todd, whom Trey calls his number one role model, rode bulls in Pennsylvania before being recruited to rodeo for Fort Scott Community College. Todd later coached the college rodeo team for several years. He now drives truck for Twister Trailers and is a crop adjuster, and he continues to help Trey when he needs advice. Trey also works out and gets on practice bulls with his friends. “Steward Gulager, Jason Marberry, and Mark Pollmeier have a lot of bulls to get on, so that’s a big help,” he adds.
Trey is also a timed event cowboy, competing in tie-down roping and team roping as a heeler with Hunter Brunson this upcoming season. “It’s definitely fun trying some different events, especially calf roping, which was a new one for me in the last few years. But bull riding is my favorite. It’s an adrenaline rush and I have a lot of buddies that do it, and it’s a good time all around.” Trey rides a 7-year-old gelding, Mouse, in the team roping, and rides his friends’ horses in the tie-down roping. “Mouse is a little lazy, but he’s got a real personality to him, and he’s pretty close to humanness for a horse.” Trey also rides bareback occasionally to strengthen his legs and gets on his barrel, and he helps his sister, Tacy (15), keep her goat horse legged up. She recently started goat tying and breakaway roping.
A senior at Fort Scott High School this fall, Trey enjoys his Ag. Mechanics class, where he welds projects like square bale and round bale feeders, and horse tack racks. “My Ag. teacher, Kyle Parks, is real good to me, and I can build anything I can think of.” Trey also works at Twister Trailers as a maintenance man and helping wherever needed. He’s considering getting his welding certification in college, and plans to college rodeo. With the two PRCA permits he has from his state and national titles this summer, Trey plans to compete in some pro rodeos this fall and hit the season hard come the new year. “Right now, what’s on my mind is another national title for high school. Then a college title and on to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. I’d like to win the NFR.”
