It was a week of tough rides and tough lessons for the Northwest College rodeo team at the National College Finals Rodeo in Casper last week. For some, it was a learning experience, but for others it was the end of their college rodeo career.

“They are kicking rocks and frustrated and all that stuff, but it was just luck of the draw,” NWC head rodeo coach Del Nose said.

Casey Fredericks and Tyler Sterner did not have qualifying rides in the bull riding, but neither did most of the cowboys at the NCFR as there was a 23-way tie for 13th.

“The bulls are bucking and they are rank — that is what is happening, bottom line,” Nose said. “One year we had bulls there and nobody rode any of them. Last year, the national championship was decided on two rides.”

Despite not making any qualifying rides, Sterner turned the situation into a positive learning experience — and plans on using what he learned as a freshman in next year’s rodeos as a sophomore.

“I think the week as a whole was a success even though I didn’t ride any bulls because of the experience and the knowledge and stuff I learned from being there and the feel of being around the top 35 guys in college rodeo in my event,” Sterner said. “It brings the motivation to do well up higher than if you are just doing it for fun.”

Only 12 bull riders had any qualifying rides the entire week, none of which scored higher than a 77.5. Nose said this year’s bulls were particularly rank as the competition was still getting underway.

“It opened my eyes on what I need to focus on and where my head needs to be rather than just doing it to do it,” Sterner said.

Riding alongside the rest of the country’s best college rodeo athletes, some with experience at the National Finals Rodeo, was a valuable learning experience, Sterner said. The finals rodeo had a different type of atmosphere compared to the others he’d previously competed.

“I didn’t learn tips per se, but learning the way they act and carry themselves and have confidence no matter what,” Sterner said. “I learned to have the right mindset in riding your bull.”

Instead of having doubts after drawing a bull that’s never been ridden, Sterner said he learned to approach it as a challenge that can be met.

The third bull Sterner drew was the one he was the most excited about because he had wanted to ride him all week, he said.

“I was riding good and I knew the whistle was coming soon and I got lazy and dropped my legs and wasn’t riding aggressive,” Sterner said as he recanted his 6.5-second ride in the third go-round.

Sterner won’t be taking it easy this summer as he will be back in the chutes for some pro rodeos and the Cody Nite Rodeos until the fall season begins.

“It is great practice and close to home,” Sterner said.

This fall, he will be bull riding and team roping with the Trapper rodeo team.

 Fredericks did not return calls to the Tribune in time for publication.

Just like getting bucked around arena, it was an up-and-down week for Trapper bareback rider Jesse Nelson. His first go-round brought in a 73-point ride, followed by a 58.5-point ride in the second go-round. But, he came back with his strongest ride of the week in the third go-round with 76 points.

“We didn’t have any luck with the other guys,” Nose said. “Jesse did a really nice job and really amazing for a freshman.”

Nelson finished out the finals ranking 17th with 207.5 points.

“The horse wasn’t very good and it was just a bad combination of stuff and you can’t really help it,” Nelson said. “I am really happy about my performance since I was lucky to be there and I was really happy with how it turned out.”

Nelson said he plans on spending the summer competing in some professional rodeos and try to make the permit challenge with the NFR before returning to the Trapper team in the fall for more bareback riding.

“It is a once in a lifetime experience that you hope to experience more than once,” Nelson said.

Tie down roper Lane Lahaye also went for a bit of a rollercoaster ride at the NCFR. His time in the first go-round was 23.6; but he came back in the second go-round with more than 10 seconds taken off the clock for a 13.4. Unfortunately, the third go-round didn’t go nearly as well and he ended with a 21.1, ranking 19th in the tie down roping.

“Lahaye broke out twice to come back and he had some back luck,” Nose said.

Lahaye did not return calls to the Tribune in time for publication.

Despite finishing regionals as the top team ropers in the country, Shawn Bird and Zach Schweigert didn’t make any catches during the NCFR.

“Bird had a couple of unlucky draws and the first steer ran hard,” Nose said. “The second steer was an illegal head catch with no time.”

Only six teams in the team roping caught, “so it really fell apart, but our team fell apart with them,” Nose said.

“It didn’t go the way we wanted it to go,” Schweigert said. “There isn’t much to do about it now, we had a bad week but there are plenty more this summer.”

Schweigert plans on team roping in some circuit rodeos on the pro and amateur level in Montana, but will not be returning to college in the fall.

The NCFR was the end of Schweigert’s college rodeo career and he said he will likely get a welding job while roping on the side.

Bird did not return calls to the Tribune in time for publication.

 “Right now we are just looking on for next year, we have some great recruits coming in and some are coming back too so we should be pretty strong next year,” Nose said. 

“Most of us were young, a bunch of are freshmen and we will be back there next year,” Sterner added.