story by Riata Cummings
Kamryn Carlsen, 16-year-old rodeo athlete from Neola, Utah, is the 2018-2019 Utah High School Rodeo Student Vice President. She is the daughter of Duke and Angie Carlsen and has two younger sisters; Kynadee (12)and Kayla (6). Kamryn recently finished her sophomore year of high school at Union High, and will soon be moving to Richfield, Utah, and begin her junior year. After high school Kamryn would like to attend college and purchase her membership card for the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association and begin competing professionally.
Kamryn started competing in the Utah 5th and Under as a 1st grader and has worked her way up the ladder to high school rodeo. Her freshman year she qualified for nationals in the barrel racing and had the fastest time of the week during the short go-round. She finished 5th in the world high school barrel racing last year and earned the title Rookie of the Year. This year she was the reserve state champion barrel racer, earning herself another trip to the National High School Finals Rodeo. During the upcoming season, Kamryn would like to keep improving with her horses and become the state champion barrel racer.
This year Kamryn will be serving as the UHSRA student Vice President, and she is looking forward to the opportunity to, “get more people to be involved. Sometimes I feel myself being just an observer, but I want people to be involved because it is a great time and there are so many great experiences that come with rodeo.” She would advise her fellow contestants to remember that, “You get what you work for, not what you wish for. If you don’t buckle down and work for the things you want, you will eventually take them for granted. The work will pay off and you will be further for it in the end.”
Competing in the barrel racing, breakaway roping, and team roping, Kamryn is an all-around cowgirl. Her favorite event is the barrel racing, and she uses a horse named Charlie. She has had Charlie since he was 5-years-old, doing much of the training herself. She has learned to enjoy the “highs” and work through the “lows”, with a faith that her dedication will pay off. Rodeo has also helped her develop her outgoing nature, giving her the opportunity to meet a variety of people and athletes.
Kamryn’s mother is also her hero. She looks up to her mom’s ever encouraging nature, and it grateful for the motivation to constantly improve.
