story by Ruth Nicolaus
Cole Dwyer has several females in his life, and they’re all the four-legged equine kind. The Burwell, Neb. cowboy, a member of the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association, has three mares that he rides for his events, the team roping and tie-down roping.
For the team roping, he rides a fifteen-year-old roan mare named Foxy, who is his main heel horse. He also ropes on Annie, who is his backup mare.
For the tie-down, he rides a bay mare named Carmen, who is eleven years old.
As of press time, he is in search of a header he can partner with, as his former header is injured.
As a senior at Burwell High School, Cole loves hanging out with his friends and playing basketball. His favorite class is metals and fabrication, where he is making new saddle racks for his trailer. He enjoys helping his buddies with their projects.
His favorite teacher is his shop teacher, Mr. Max, because he relates well with his students and is funny.
For fun, Cole likes to shoot hoops at the outdoor court in Burwell or at the school gym, and loves to hang out with friends. When they’re hanging out, they might be driving around or heading to Ord to eat Arby’s cheese sticks, his favorite.
He likes to fish and often frequents the Calamus Reservoir and local ponds, where he can snag a blue gill or bass, and a few years ago, a really nice northern pike. But the fish go back into the water, as his mother won’t cook them, because they stink up the kitchen.
If he had the choice of any food at any buffet, he’d first head for the prime rib with au jus, then his second stop would be chocolate pie at the dessert bar.
The best meal his mom makes is biscuits and gravy.
Cole has qualified for the state finals in Hasting twice, as a sophomore and junior, both times in the team roping, and he’s currently in the top twenty in the standings right now.
After high school, he will attend college, possibly out of state. He plans on competing in college rodeo in the team roping.
His mom, Billie Pelster, loves how her son is so big-hearted and helpful. “He’s a lot of help, and I sure appreciate that,” she said. He enjoys being around kids, too. “He’s pretty sweet with his sister and with kids who are younger than him.”
He’s always throwing a rope, she said, and puts a lot of pressure on himself to do well. “He has high expectations of himself,” she said. He’s had some good mentors: Bubba Buckaloo, his grandpa Richard Atchley, and his step-dad. He and Ashley Odenbach finished in fifth place at state, as alternates for Nationals in the team roping.
Cole’s younger sister is Lainee Pelster, who is eight years old. He is the son of Jack Dwyer and Dalton and Billie Pelster.
