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Wheaton Williams heading with Jerren Johnson heeling - Western Edge Photography

Meet the Member Wheaton Williams

story by Lily Weinacht

Wheaton Williams has grown up giving his all to whatever he sets his mind to, and since he was a young boy, it’s been roping. The 18-year-old from Sheridan, Wyoming, is a team roper and tie-down roper in the WHSRA, while also heading in the USTRC, WSTR, and Wrangler Team Roping Championships. As a sophomore, he won four Wrangler ropings in one week – including one with his dad – and nearly $30,000. Wheaton bought a Ford F-250, and put the rest of the money into entry fees. “My dad roped his whole life and got me into it at a young age. I picked it up and I’ve loved it ever since,” says Wheaton. “It’s a fun sport to do as a family. My parents both push me a lot and have told me that if I want to do something, then I put my heart into it and do the best I can. That’s really helped me keep going year after year.”
Team roping is easily Wheaton’s favorite event. “I like having people to compete with. You get to meet a lot of great people, and it’s an all-around fun sport to be a part of,” he says. Wheaton has been roping with heeler Jerren Johnson since eighth grade. “We’ve roped together ever since, and it’s been fun. We went to the NHSFR my sophomore year and last year, and we finished eighth in the nation. I tie-down roped for two years, and it was fun, but I struggled with it, and I wanted to focus on team roping this year and win the state title.”
Wheaton especially looks up to his dad, who has coached him from the start. “I have two good head horses he’s helping me with, along with the little things to help me be a better roper. He’s gotten me to where I am now, and I’m really thankful to him for helping me travel everywhere.” Wheaton’s main rope horse, Diamond, took him from a one to a five in the Wrangler ropings. “He runs hard and does anything. My buckskin I haven’t had as long, but he’s a great all-around horse to do what I want on him. We call him Buck.”
Wheaton and his parents, Stan and DeAnn Williams, make their home near Sheridan, while Wheaton has two older sisters, Winsom and Madison, who are both out of college. They rodeoed in high school, and pursued volleyball and basketball. The Williams live near the foot of the Bighorn Mountains, and Wheaton loves the scenery but not the snow. He takes the winter off rodeo to play basketball for Bighorn High School. “We struggled at state, but we had a fun year. Our group of seniors have been playing together since second grade, so we all have that chemistry together.” Wheaton has also enjoyed studying American Government, particularly the history. “I like learning about how America became what it is. I’ve also always liked math,” he adds.
Before rodeo season picks up, Wheaton spends as much time with friends as possible, along with his grandparents. “They’ve supported me through everything and they come to my rodeos. If we’re staying somewhere for a while, they’ll bring their camper and stay with us.” He recently signed his letter of intent to go to Casper College, where he’ll be rodeoing and majoring in Ag. Business. “I’d love to graduate college with a bachelor’s degree, and one day I’d love to ranch,” he finishes. “Something I’ve always wanted to do is pro rodeo full time, and I’ll probably work on my permit this summer. I hope to get to all my dreams one day, but if not, that’s okay, because I’ll still rope and do what I love every day.”

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May 12, 2019
Bareback Riding
1 Donny Proffit 120
2 Riggen Myers 71.5
3 Derrick Robinson 10
4 Dimaggio Hamilton 9
5 Denton Pavlenko 9
6 Drake Amundson 9
7 Cameron Henson 8
Barrel Racing
1 Shelby Petersen 109
2 Shay Hough 102
3 Maddie Fantaskey 91
4 Taylor Nichols 89
5 Ellie Bard 83
6 Haiden Thompson 78.5
7 Cedar Kohr 75
8 Isabelle Camino 51
9 Baily Coombs 37
10 Halle Hladky 32
Boys Cutting
1 Wes Bray 111
2 Hunter Hayden 100
3 Preston Schwartzkopf 92
4 Joseph Hayden 91.5
5 Kasen York 91
6 Broc Schwartzkopf 15
7 Kall Mayfield 11.5
Reakaway Roping
1 Ellie Bard 67
2 Ellie Anderson 59
3 Jordyn Mcnamee 56
4 Rayne Grant 56
5 Kaydin Davis 49
6 Hadley Furnival 45
7 Shaylee Terry 42
8 Haiden Thompson 40
9 Hailey Hardeman 36
10 Kyra Corson 35
Bull Riding
1 Brody Hasenack 90
2 Dalton Mccaslin 84
3 Zain Fitzgerald 82
4 Wyatt Phelps 74
5 Donny Proffit 43.5
6 Matthew Fenton 41.5
7 Cjay Firnekas 41.5
8 Landen Brownlee 34
9 Tipton Wilson 28
10 Derek Grant 18
Girls Cutting
1 Ayanah Winsor 115.5
2 Emme Norsworthy 100
3 Taylor Gibson 92
4 Aniya Teppo 88.5
5 Maddie Fantaskey 34
Goat Tying
1 Tavy Leno 118
2 Haiden Thompson 109
3 Brooke Worman 92.5
4 Shaylee Terry 79
5 Karissa Phillips 76
6 Mckenna Clingman 56
7 Ellie Bard 49
8 Rayne Grant 47
9 Baylee Delbridge 41
10 Lanna Jordan 38
Light Rifle
1 Colter Nunn 30
2 Stratton Kohr 27
3 Tipton Wilson 23
4 Cody Caldwell 20
5 Peityn Manor 19
6 Alexis Wilson 14
7 Kennedy Sheehan 10

Pole Bending
1 Shay Hough 118
2 Halle Hladky 99
3 Shelby Petersen 73
4 Rayne Grant 66.5
5 Ellie Bard 64.5
6 Madison Wolff 61
7 Jordyn Mcnamee 45
8 Hailey Hardeman 44
9 Haiden Thompson 42
10 Amber Salazar 42
Reined Cow Horse
1 Clay Kinnison 38
2 Preston Schwartzkopf 32
3 Kasen York 30.5
4 Maddie Fantaskey 27
5 Tierney George 23
6 Peyton Kottwitz 21.5
7 Ayanah Winsor 19
8 Morgan Vaughan 12.5
9 Scotlyn Flitner 11.5
10 Hanna Griemsman 3
Saddle Bronc
1 Jase Longwell 63
2 Kayson Dory 49
3 Donny Proffit 38
4 Cian Ahern 20
5 Parker Manor 18
6 Wyatt Phelps 10
7 Guston Lozier 10
8 Cody Acord 8

Steer Wrestling
1 Winsten Mcgraw 98
2 Kaden Berger 78
3 Kagen King 73
4 Skyler Lubkeman 69
5 Jake Deveraux 63
6 Chase Stricklin 60
7 Danny Goold 52
8 Derrick Robinson 37
9 Chance Sorenson 33
10 Donald Quick 19
Team Roping
1 Jade Espenscheid 95
2 Coy Johnson 95
3 Kolby Bradley 62.5
4 Arye Espenscheid 62.5
5 Blake Afdahl 61
6 Clay Reiner 61
7 Carson Johnson 53
8 Teegan Leno 51
9 Bryan Lemmon 51
10 Jared Lemmon 51
11 Jase Longwell 48
12 Winsten Mcgraw 44
13 Lane Anderson 44
14 Cooper Deveraux 40.5
15 Jake Deveraux 40.5
16 Tanner Handy 40
17 Cameron Klatt 40
18 Bryton Scheller 37
19 Teagan Bentley 36
20 Dawson Mccuin 36
Tie Down Calf Roping
1 Jake Deveraux 83
2 Preston Schwartzkopf 77
3 Cooper Deveraux 69
4 Colter Ellis 67
5 Clay Reiner 63
6 Teagan Bentley 46
7 Cody Caldwell 45
8 Teegan Leno 45
9 Coy Thar 44
10 Weston Mills 43
Trap Shooting
1 Colter Ellis 28
2 Bryson Bartholomew 27
3 Carsten Hughes 25.5
4 Kolton Miller 17
5 Dawson Mccuin 12.5
6 Quincy Reynolds 12
7 Brodee Barkhurst 11.5
8 Alexis Wilson 10.5
9 Kagen King 8.5
10 Clay Reiner 7.5

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TENTATIVE SPRING RODEOS
May 25 Sheridan (Held in Buffalo)
May 26-27 Buffalo

FINALS
June 3-8 WY HS State Finals – Gillette
July 14-20 NHSFR – Rock Springs, WY

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