Meet the Member
Teigen Finnerty
story by Siri Stevens
photo by Jennings Rodeo Photography
Teigen Finnerty is a senior at Wheatland High School. He is playing football this year, after taking a year off. “I really like our new coach, he knows how to have fun and be serious with the kids at the same time,” said the 18-year-old linebacker and running back. He admits that he doesn’t get as much practice time in rodeo, but football keeps him in shape.
One of the things that sets Teigen apart from the rest of kids in high school is his beard. He decided four years ago to grow one and he fell in love with it. “Other kids have tried but they can’t do it and they have to shave it off.” He plans to keep it as long as possible.
Teigen competes in team roping, calf roping, and steer wrestling. His favorite is a tie between steer wrestling and calf roping. “I trained my mare and she’s just another level up and it’s ten times more fun. I’m riding my dad’s good horse in steer wrestling and he knows his job.” Teigen’s dad, Dean, still competes in steer wrestling, concentrating on local amateur and circuit rodeos. He has been competing for 30 years, which is where Teigen got his start. “I started bulldogging three years ago,” said Teigen. “I chute dogged and slid the dummy at my dad’s bull dogging schools, but I wasn’t into it until three years ago, and I started jumping a few. I’ve been successful since then.” Teigen’s grandfather, Jack Finnerty, has been involved in rodeo his whole life and still serves on the Wyoming High School Rodeo board.
photo by Rodeo News
Teigen hopes to make another trip to the high school finals, and go on the college rodeo. “I have had a few coaches call me to come look, but I haven’t gone to any colleges to see them yet.” He is planning to get a welding degree and add business in there somewhere, but he mostly wants to rodeo. “I want to make the College Finals and then go on to the NFR. My dad was 16th two years in a row and I’m going to try to beat that.”
Teigen has one brother, Tell, who prefers taking rodeo photos to competing.
