story by Lindsay King
It’s been a whirlwind of swinging ropes and broken arena records for Ellisnore, Missouri, native Coy Rahlmann. He has plans to win big at the PRCA permit holder finals and every other year-end rodeo he has qualified for. His love for team roping comes from gazing through a second-story window down at an arena as a toddler. “My mom (Susie) has old videos of me watching my dad (Chris) from our house because the arena backed right up to it. I’ve been swinging ropes and riding since I could walk,” said the Cisco College freshman. Both of Coy’s parents were highly competitive in rodeo. His dad was on the PRCA rodeo trail for a stint. “Once I got old enough to really rodeo a bunch, my parents gave up their time in the arena. I owe everything to them because they would rather support me than compete themselves.”
While growing up, sports captured Coy’s attention for a while and team roping was just another event for this header. After moving to a smaller town, Coy decided he wanted to be homeschooled. That was his junior year of high school. “I am a real social person, so I missed seeing my friends every day. But as far as my rodeo career goes, being homeschooled was a huge step in the right direction.” More free time and a flexible schedule allowed Coy to experience more of the high-level rodeos, quickly. Extra time in the roping pen paid off last year when Coy won rookie of the year in the ACRA. The year before that, Coy and his roping partner were chasing the IFR when they stumbled upon the ACRA.
“I think the ACRA has some of the best talent of any association and I honestly believe that helped me learn how to win and how to rodeo without going all in just yet. They are really good amateur rodeos, they are on the top level of that.” Coy is contributing to that high level of competition as he is leading the Great Lakes Circuit with his partner Ryan VonAhn. In July, Coy set the arena record during the second round of the NHSFR. The rest of nationals didn’t go as planned, but the jackpots paid big for Coy. “Between nationals and the IFYR, I made a lot of money jackpot roping in just two weeks.” Coy won the high stakes jackpot at nationals, but just prior to that he won all three jackpots in Shawnee raking in over $10,000 with just one of his many partners.
Now attending college in Texas, Coy lives with Paul Eves. “I can’t give enough credit to Paul, he has helped me tremendously with my horsemanship and my mental game.” Self-proclaimed the young guy of the group, Coy gleaned information from anyone and everyone in the last few years. “I’ve learned to really pay attention to my surroundings: the score, the steers. It taught me how to stay in my own game and know what it takes to place.” This fall Coy teamed up with Clay Futrell for the college rodeos. With exclusively online classes this semester, the sky is the limit for the pair. “I have a good partner and I know he is excited about teaming up and so am I. The ACRA finals is unique; it’s pretty tough so it would be pretty special to win that.”
From that first loop, Coy has always been a header. His dad was actually primarily a heeler. Coy has never really wanted to do anything but team rope. “I can’t say exactly why I wanted to be a team roper, but as far as the event itself goes there are so many opportunities in it.” Coy said it is easy to find at least two jackpots or a rodeo to attend every weekend. “To me team roping is the best paying event, especially if you are a header. There are so many great heelers out there that all you have to do is turn a lot of steers for them and you can make a lot of money.” That’s exactly what Coy’s been doing and he doesn’t plan to change that anytime soon.
