SEMPER FI Two Nebraska High School Rodeo Athletes to join the Marines
story by Ruth Nicolaus courtesy of the Adams County Ag Society
Crawford, Neb. (April 15, 2019) – Two Nebraska High School rodeo athletes are headed for the U.S. Marine Corps.
Dodge Daniels, Scotia, Neb., and Ralph Saults, Big Springs, Neb., are Marine recruits and will head to boot camp this summer.
Daniels, the son of Joan and Leroy Leth, has wanted to be a Marine since he was young. A friend of his mom’s, Kip Hughman, was a Marine who left a big impression on him. “He’s a really great guy,” Daniels said. “He’s smart, and has a level head. I’ve just always looked up to him.”
Saults has also wanted to be a Marine since he was young. “When I was little, I drew pictures all the time of the Marine Corps symbol, of Semper Fi.” His mother’s cousin and her brother-in-law are retired Marines, and their influence on Saults had an impact on him.
Daniels will graduate from Central Valley High School next month. In high school, he played football, wrestled, and was involved in FFA. He loves to hunt and fish, and would like to make a career out of the military.
Dodge Daniels, a bull rider in the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association, will join the U.S. Marine Corps this August. He lives in Scotia, Neb. – KC Creations.
Ralph Saults, a senior from Big Springs, Neb., will join the U.S. Marine Corps this September. He is a roper in the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association. – Jenny Reichman Photography.
Saults, the son of Scott and Jill Saults, will graduate from Big Springs High School in May. In high school, he played basketball, was in FFA, FCA, and was on the quiz bowl team. Saults was on the honor roll every semester from seventh grade throughout high school. Like Daniels, he loves to hunt.
Both men are planning on going into infantry, and both will attend Camp Pendleton, near San Diego, Calif. Daniels will leave in August, and Saults will go in September.
After boot camp, both will go to the Marine Corps MOS (Military Occupational Specialty), where they will refine their studies for more specialized roles.
Saults is looking forward to being a “leatherneck,” for several reasons. “Their morals are great, they strive for perfection, they are loyal, they emphasize teamwork, honor and leadership,” he said. “Everything about the Marine Corps is good. It’s a brotherhood. It’s something I like.”
If the men stay in the Marine Corps for four years, their college will be paid for.
Saults isn’t sure, but he thinks he’ll like it. “The way I see it, if I love it, I might stay, or not. It’s only four years out of my life. They pay for my college, and they set me up for greater things. If I hate it, it’s only four years of my life. More than likely, I’m not going to hate it. I’ll like it.”
Both men are members of the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association. Daniels competes in the bull riding; Saults is a tie-down roper and team roper. Daniels finished the 2017-2018 high school rodeo year in third place in his event, and went on to represent Nebraska at the National High School Finals Rodeo. Saults competed at state finals the past three years and is the 2017-2018 state high school rodeo light rifle champion. He competed in the light rifle shooting at the National High School Finals Rodeo.
The Nebraska High School Finals Rodeo will be held in Hastings at the Adams Co. Fairgrounds June 13-15. The rodeo is held at 10 am and 6 pm on Thurs., June 13 and Fri., June 14, with the finals at 1 pm on June 15. Tickets are $7 for everyone ages five and up and are available through the office and at the gate. For more information, visit AdamsCountyFairgrounds.com or hsrodeo-nebraska.com, or call 402.462.3247.
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September 20, 2020
Girls All Around
1 Madison Mills 3176.75
2 Brooke Mccully 2248.35
3 Elle Ravenscroft 2232.8
4 Wacey Day 2219.93
5 Clancy Jo Brown (R) 2068.18
6 Jessica Stevens 2060.55
7 Mekenna Fisher 1996.93
8 Faith Storer 1756.85
9 Emma Ohm 1720.71
10 Abigail Lawton 1577.7
Boys All Around
1 Cooper Bass 2348.35
2 Rhett Witt 2238.35
3 Zane Kreikemeier 1579.85
4 Cody Miller 1548.61
5 Sage Schrunk 1521.75
6 Tanner Drueke 1520.7
7 Jate Saults 1379.6
8 Coy Johnston 1225.65
9 Cole Kerner 1079.25
10 Sid Miller 1076.6
Bareback Riding
1 Tanner Drueke 73
2 Tate Miller 63
3 Cole Kerner 47
4 Spencer Denaeyer 46
Barrel Racing
1 Elle Ravenscroft 87
2 Taci Flinn 57
3 Brooke Mccully 57
4 Madison Mills 56
5 Jenae Whitaker 35
6 Bailey Bell 32
7 Ashlyn Henderson 30
8 Ashlyn Jensen 30
9 Mekenna Fisher 28
10 Morgan Rosander 28
Boys Cutting
1 Cooper Bass 81
2 Cody Miller 73.5
3 Tatum Olson 66
4 Hayden Jennings 63.5
5 Bo Bushhousen 60.5
6 Frazier Kaelin 56
7 Matt Symonds 54.5
8 Trey Vance 45
9 Devin Konicek 41.5
10 Hayden Stump 32.5
Breakaway Roping
1 Emma Ohm 49
2 Summer Richardson 38
3 Tehya From 38
4 Ali Vaughn 38
5 Wacey Day 37
6 Jaya Nelson 34
7 Jessica Stevens 27
8 Jace Hurlburt 24.5
9 Shayda Vaughn 24
10 Whitney Jennings 24
Bull Riding
1 Jett Sjeklocha 28
2 Cole Kerner 27.5
3 Dalton Garey 20
4 Tanner Drueke 19
5 Drew Farrell 10
6 Hunter Boydston 9.5
7 Brady Painter 9
8 Cooper Kursave 8
Girls Cutting
1 Faith Storer 112
2 Mekenna Fisher 99
3 Emma Pearson 74.5
4 Peyton Fisher 68
5 Gracyn Hicks 64
6 Whitney Jennings 62
7 Jenna Rutar 36.5
8 Jordan Downing 11
Goat Tying
1 Jessica Stevens 77
2 Wacey Day 68.5
3 Emma Ohm 56
4 Abigail Lawton 49
5 Kaci Wickersham 49
6 Ally Micheel 43.5
7 Ashlyn Henderson 43
8 Emma Warren 42
9 Kinley Greenough 39
10 Clancy Jo Brown 29.5
Pole Bending
1 Madison Mills 100
2 Clancy Jo Brown 65
3 Abigail Lawton 58
4 Jenae Whitaker 53
5 Emma Pearson 44
6 Lauren Lehl 34
7 Ashlyn Jensen 29
8 Brooke Mccully 28
9 Jordan Peterson 27
10 Elle Ravenscroft 24.5
Saddle Bronc
1 Brody Mcabee 60
2 Monte Bailey 30
3 Leif Meidell 19
4 Dean Schroder 9
Steer Wrestling
1 Rhett Witt 60
2 Dane Pokorny 50
3 Tucker Ravenscroft 46
4 Sage Schrunk 42
5 Coy Johnston 40
6 Thayne Kimbrough 39
7 Dalton Kunkee 35
8 Cody Miller 33
9 Gage Davis 33
10 Kaden Wooters 33
Team Roping
1 Jate Saults 58
2 Brent Charlton 52
3 Cooper Bass 43
4 Zack Bradley 43
5 Jasper Neal 38
6 Sage Dieter 38
7 Zane Kreikemeier 33
8 Coy Johnston 33
9 Ryan Shepherd 30
10 Carter Anderson 30
11 Sage Schrunk 30
12 Hayse Wetzel 30
13 Cinch Painter 28
14 Roper Wetzel 25
15 Chance Symons 23
Tie Down Roping
1 Rhett Witt 62
2 Zane Kreikemeier 56
3 Matthew Miller 50
4 Sid Miller 47
5 Tate Talkington 46
6 Layne Wallinger 43
7 Jate Saults 31
8 Sage Schrunk 30
9 Trace Travnicek 28
10 Carter Anderson 25
