Longtime friends and Powell High School graduates Kyle Cheney and Caden Gines will be heading to Casper to compete in the College National Finals Rodeo next week. Cheney will be making his second straight appearance in bull riding for Dodge City Community College while Gines will compete as a header in team roping for Central Wyoming College.

Cheney finished tied for second in bull riding with 240 points in the Central Plains Region, completing his goal to make it for a second straight year while still having bigger goals in mind.

“It was important, but it wasn’t that important to me. I have bigger goals than the CNFR, but I’m blessed to make it again,” he said. “It’s not every day that you make it two years in a row. I just tried to get my bulls rode one at a time.”

Gines had a different experience this season compared to Cheney, as Gines transferred from Northwest College to Central last year and was able to put it together this year alongside his heeling partner Jace Mayfield as the duo placed third in the Central Rocky Mountain Region with 350 points.

“This being my first time, it actually means a lot,” Gines said. “I had a rough go here at Northwest. It just didn’t work out for me. Didn’t get to practice enough, and I think to be at the level that he (Kyle) and I are wanting to be at, you’ve got to be able to practice a bunch.”

So Gines transferred to Central last year and had to skip three rodeos due to transfer rules.

“Then this year, I started my first full year of college at Central and ended up making it,” he said. “That was pretty important to me, that was the biggest thing I’ve achieved really in my rodeo career.”

COMPETING IN CASPER

In Casper the pair will get to experience an atmosphere that draws a significant crowd, as Cheney noted that last year brought on nerves during his first experience as the 2024 CNFR experienced a record breaking crowd at the Ford Wyoming Center.

“My first year, I kind of got jittery and anxious, just because I’d never been there before. This year … I’m gonna go in there just calm, cool, collected and ride my bulls like I should.”

Cheney was unable to record a ride of eight seconds in his debut at the CNFR, but said there wasn’t a bull he didn’t want to ride despite it sometimes coming down to the luck of the draw in bull riding.

“Last year all the bulls were good. They didn’t bring one that wasn’t good and that I didn’t want to get on. I mean at the end of the day you’ve got to get them rode. It doesn’t matter what you draw, you’ve got to get them rode.”

Gines had prior experience as a bull rider as well, but has transitioned primarily into team roping. With that transition he has brought a different perspective to maintaining a friendship with his partner while continuing to perform each week.

“I’ve been team roping since I’ve been riding bulls too. I’ve probably team roped for the past 10-12 years, but it’s definitely been becoming a bigger thing in my life,” Gines said. “I had to learn the hard way, don’t be friends with your partners. I mean you’ve got to be friends with them, but not best friends; don’t hang out every day … it’s kind of more like a business deal, doing it because we’re more wanting to win than have fun.”

While the duo are ready to head to Casper, Cheney said he is looking to keep things calm heading to the final rodeo of the college season.

“I’m not really thinking about it too much just because it ain’t even here yet,” Cheney said. “I’m working hard at it still, but I mean, I’m just treating it like it’s another rodeo.”

Gines echoed the importance of keeping things calm while focusing on the larger goal before heading to his first attempt at the CNFR.

“I’ve gotta stay calm and cool for sure,” Gines said. “Gotta be level headed. Every time I think about it, it’s how it’s gonna be after the short run is over … My head’s not there. My head’s walking away with the championship really. That’d be really cool if I could go out there and win nationals. That’s my goal, that’s everyone’s goal. But I just need to stay level headed and cool.”

SUPPORT AND REPRESENTING POWELL

Competing for different schools the duo said they have received significant support both at their new schools as well as from family and friends back home in Powell.

“I am really thankful for my friends, family and the lord. My coach, Jarrod Ford, and the coaches all over in Dodge City (Kansas),” Cheney said. “I feel pretty blessed making it two years in a row, and I’m also just ready to be on the bigger stages too.”

Gines said it’s cool that two cowboys from Powell will both be there this year.

“The support from friends and family and everyone that we went to school with and everything’s been really good,” he said.

Gines added that knowing they are representing Powell is just part of the equation, as he said they both know they have to go out and do it for themselves as the duo has big plans in the future beyond the CNFR.

“At the end of the day, I’m doing it for myself. I owe it to myself to go do the best I can there, so I’m gonna give it everything I have,” Gines said. “Kyle and I are so dedicated to this it’s not even funny. Every waking hour, every minute it’s all we’re thinking about … I think it means a lot to Kyle and means a lot to me that we both are best friends, and we both know that we’re both working hard at it and not trying to piggyback off each other’s talent which it’s really easy for someone to do that. But I think us as best friends since middle school and now going into the pros. We pro rodeo’d together last year, we hauled together. I’m just ready to go do it with Kyle and be badass.”

The CNFR will kick off on Sunday in Casper with the Bulls, Broncs and Breakaway, before slack rounds begin on Monday. The championship round will be on Saturday, June 21.