Wyoming High School Rodeo Association (WHSRA) Archives

Associations

Wyoming High School Rodeo Association (WHSRA)

Phone: (620) 465-2297
Fax: (800) 672-4501

Visit Our Website

Members

Meet the Member Chase Stricklin

story by Lily Weinacht Chase Stricklin of Rock River, Wyoming, is the first in his family to travel the rodeo trail. The 17-year-old started out on the roughstock side of the arena when he was 8 after watching a cousin compete, but switched exclusively to steer wrestling after several bull riding accidents sidelined him in 2017. He’s currently sitting second in the WHSRA standings and working hard to keep himself in the top four. “My…

Meet the Member Ellie Anderson

story by Lily Weinacht “I like rodeo because it’s an independent sport—you have factors like your coaches and horses and travel, but it’s all you,” says Ellie Anderson. “You can’t blame anyone else for your mistakes, and it’s a very self-disciplined sport. When you succeed in it, it’s very rewarding.” The 17-year-old from Meeker, Colorado, is in the middle of her fourth season competing in the WHSRA in breakaway roping and team roping as a…

Meet the Member Ellie Bard

story by Lily Weinacht “Rodeo has always been a big part of my life, and I think the most significant part of it is the sportsmanship and the relationships it makes. Traveling all over the state of Wyoming allows you to meet so many people, and they will have an everlasting impact on your life,” says Ellie Bard. The 18-year-old from Sheridan, Wyoming, who is the 2018/2019 WHSRA Student President, is equally passionate about helping…

Meet the Member Winsten McGraw

story by Lily Weinacht “When I started rodeoing, I craved it. I love it—I’m addicted to it, and when I go around the country rodeoing and see how I compete with other people, that’s what drives me the very most to be the best that I can be,” says Winsten McGraw. “The people behind me along the way always motivate me—my friends, family, and mentors—and I want to make them proud.” A highlight for the…

Meet the Member Jake Deveraux

story by Lily Weinacht Jake Deveraux of Newcastle, Wyoming, is the 2018 WHSRA Tie-Down Roping Champion. “I came in number four to state, so I had to go pretty hard to have a chance at it, and I ended up doing just good enough to get it,” says the 17-year-old. “It surprised me, but it’s what I was hoping for. At Nationals, I was too long on two calves and I ended up 31st, but…

Meet the Member Makayla Seely

story by Lily Weinacht For Makayla Seely of Riverton, Wyoming, finishing sixth in the nation in barrel racing at the 2017 NHSFR was the highlight of her high school rodeo career. And while she was just two places out of qualifying for the NHSFR again last season, the 18 year old is taking her high school rodeo skills into her freshman year on the Casper College rodeo team. “This year I got a new horse,…

Meet the Member Bryan and Jared Lemmon

story by Lily Weinacht Bryan Lemmon may be eight minutes older than his twin brother, Jared, but he’s the second one to leave the roping box, waiting for Jared to get the perfect handle on their steer. The 18-year-old brothers from Torrington, Wyoming, have been team roping together since they were in first grade and qualified for the NJHFR together in eighth grade. Last season, they earned their first qualification to the NHSFR and finished…

Meet the Member Donny Proffit

story by Lily Weinacht Donny Proffit is one of the three bareback riders in the WHSRA, and the 17-year-old from Diamondville, Wyoming, finished 8th in the nation after competing in his first NHSFR. “I probably could have gone at my first two horses a little more, but on my last one in the short round I thought I did the best I could,” says Donny, who also competes in bull riding. “It’s easier for me…

Meet the Member Jessyka Smith

story by Lily Weinacht Jessyka Smith from Rock Springs, Wyoming, is the 2018 Miss Wyoming High School Rodeo Queen. The 17-year-old first competed for the title in 2017, and though she didn’t win that year, she learned and came back with the determination and skills that earned her the crown this year. “I really enjoyed the personal interviews with the judges, and they asked really fun, deep questions,” says Jessyka. “I enjoy horsemanship, and this…

Meet the Member Sage Kohr

story by Lily Weinacht Sage Kohr nearly didn’t compete in the WHSRA this season. The 18-year-old senior from Gillette, Wyoming, tore her ACL playing basketball last fall and was told it would take 4-6 months for her knee to heal before she could ride again. Sage didn’t play basketball over the winter, but she recovered from reconstructive knee surgery and was back on her horse by April for the first of the spring high school…

Meet the Member Kal Fuller

story by Lily Weinacht The 2017/2018 season marks Kal Fuller’s fourth year of high school rodeo, but his first in the WHSRA. The tie-down and team roper from Bozeman, Montana, chose to go from Big Sky Country to The Cowboy State to team rope with Carson Johnson of Casper, Wyoming, and the friends are leading the WHSRA team roping. “I’ve always wanted to rope with someone I knew I could win a national title with,…

Meet the Member Alexis Manley

story by Lily Weinacht Alexis Manley of Laramie, Wyoming, is sitting first in goat tying and second in breakaway roping—her two favorite events—while she’s third in the all-around standings. The 18-year-old cowgirl has made it to state every year since she joined the WHSRA as a freshman, and she wants to cap off her senior year with a qualification to the NHSFR. “I just love my horses and I love the people in rodeo. I…