Micayla Crimmins of the Saratoga/Encampment High School Rodeo Team is happy to have the 2013 spring season finally in full-swing.
Crimmins, the team’s primary member, and senior Tate Terrill of Encampment High School are the two girls who belong to and help run the four-member team, which is open to and split between Saratoga and Encampment High School students. The team’s two male members are freshmen, Daynon Mowry and Jace Berger of Saratoga High School.
The team, so far, has participated in two spring rodeo meets, one in Laramie and another in Rock Springs. Crimmins is happy to be back on the horse and meeting new competitors again.
“Being part of the team has been great because I get to meet tons of kids and other people from around the state,” she said. “Right now we just have four kids, but we hope that more kids get interested and we can increase the membership. The team has had a ton of support from parents and other family members and friends, and Daynon and Jace will be taking over when Tate and I graduate.”
The team’s riders participate in breakaway roping, which involves roping calves, and team roping, which involves roping steers. Some also participate in cutting, which is when the horse and rider are judged on their ability to separate a single animal away from a cattle herd, as well as keep it away for a short period of time.
Crimmins, who performed in horse shows and other riding events when younger, has been with the school’s team for three years, while Terrill, who was in the Wyoming Juniors during junior high, has been with the team for all four years of high school. Both girls have also worked hard to try and get funding for the team.
“Rodeo is not sanctioned by the Wyoming High School Activities Association, so that’s why we don’t get funding,” Crimmins said. “Tate and I represented the team last year, and got involved with the school board to try and get funding for the team.”
Crimmins would like to see the team become larger again, and one day grow to the size of those found in larger schools.
“Some of the bigger schools in bigger towns have 20 or more kids involved in their teams, but even some small towns like Lusk have big rodeo teams,” she said. “The bigger schools get funding for their rodeo teams, but most of the small schools don’t get support. One possible reason we don’t have a big team is because it could be hard for kids to balance rodeo with other spring sports events on the weekends, especially since rodeo can be hard on your body.”
This fall, Crimmins plans to attend Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, and participate in the college rodeo team as well. She also wants to encourage the team’s freshmen to stick with it, as well as get more school support.
“I plan on doing rodeo in college, as well as for the rest of my life, and I also want to support Daynon and Jace to help them continue doing it throughout high school,” Crimmins said. “I would also like to see the school board help fund the rodeo team in the future.”
The team’s next rodeo meet is Saturday and Sunday in Big Piney.
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