SPORTS

Ropin’ and Ridin’ Rodeo

t’s not just any mad bucking bronco. It’s a raging, stampeding, nostrils flared, 2,000-pound stead. Staying on Ione of these beasts for an 8-second count is challenging to say the least. Rodeo is one of the oldest, traditional American sports. According to the Ramona Home Journal, the first recorded rodeo in Arizona occurred in 1834. Rodeo has evolved into a spectator sport that includes solo and team calf roping, bullriding, bareback and saddle bronco riding. Cowboys are scored on a 100-point scale. In bullriding and bronco riding, competitors are judged on how hard and high the animal AMBER bucks and how long the rider can stay on. The NEATE cowboy must use one hand to hold on to the ASSISTANT saddle or girth strap and keep the free hand SPORTS EDITOR raised high. If he touches the bull or his own body during the ride, he receives no score. Sun Tribune reported Wade Leslie to be the first and only cowboy to score a 100-point ride in 1991 at the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo in Oregon. Bullriding is the most popular and the most dangerous rodeo event. Riding a bull is a fight for survival — it’s like playing Russian Roulette with a 1-ton muscle machine. Seniors Geordie Beamish and Tyler Day run laps around the Feb. 27. MacKenzie Brower | The Lumberjack Cowboys need to avoid getting trampled, gored, or horribly mangled when they are inevitably flung to the dirt. That’s where the rodeo clown comes in. He may look like a fool, but he has an important job. The rodeo clown works to distract the bull while the fallen cowboy Checkmate: That’s eight scurries to safety. It takes a brave man with a dare devil spirit to put himself in the way of an angry bull with the strength Nathan Manni Lomong said. “Winning means everything to me because it’s not and stability of a brick wall. To be a rodeo clown, you sure as my victory, it’s for the entire school.” hell better be fast. Understanding how the bull will react in any Editor’s note: Tyler Day is a staff writer for The Lumberjack. The Lumberjacks took off and never looked back, literally. situation is crucial. Northern Arizona placed first in the 200-meter dash, 60-meter According to ESPN, retired bullrider Cody Lambert umberjacks are not usually known for their ability to run. dash, 3,000-meter dash, weight throw and in the mile run. The designed the first safety vest for professional bullriding a few Chopping wood and growing an impressive beard sounds 3,000-meter dash belonged to NAU completely. A combined years after his friend legendary bullrider Lane Frost was killed in more like their forte, but in Flagstaff, there is a long and seven Lumberjacks placed in the top 10, and each of the top five 1989 when a bull’s horn pierced his side. Fox News reported “All L rich history of quick-footed loggers. finishers wore blue and gold. The Lumberjacks also dominated circuit riders must wear a protective vest, but wearing a helmet Starting in 1980, NAU built an empire within their the mile run, filling four out of the top five spots in the event. is mandatory only for riders born on or after Oct. 15, 1994.” men’s track and field program. Since then, they have racked Senior Geordie Beamish took first place by running his mile in Unfortunately, sometimes a padded safety vest just isn’t enough. up a conference-leading total of 21 Big Sky Indoor Conference 4:10.90. New York Post reported 24-year-old rider Giliard Antonio Championships, with the latest captured this past weekend. Senior Tyler Day has given his all to this indoor season. got his hand stuck in the harness during his ride at the 2018 The Lumberjacks traveled to Bozeman, Montana to compete His time of 13:31.36 in the 5,000-meter run is the fastest in the Rodeo in Maringa, Brazil and was trampled in front of a live in the and emerged victorious after country among college runners. March 8 through March 9, he, audience. Antonio suffered a cervical fracture and cardio- posting 178.5 team points, en route to a along with teammates sophomore Luis Grijalva and Beamish will respiratory failure. record of eight consecutive titles. head to Birmingham, Alabama to represent NAU at the NCAA Rodeo competitors put their lives on the line every day. It was a collective effort across the board, but junior Blaise Indoor Track and Field Championships. The three-time All- Being a cowboy is so much more than a shiny belt buckle and Ferro was awarded the 2019 Big Sky Indoor Men’s Most Valuable American humbly credits his peers for the achievement. some $500 chaps. It’s about passion, endurance, bravery and Athlete. Ferro won the men’s 3000-meter race, clocking in at “I wouldn’t be here without my teammates. They push me thrill. Bullriders have some of the biggest egos out there, but it’s 8:28.90. Senior Peter Lomong finished in second place with a to my full potential. They let me know when I’m doing good and justifiable. Do you want to risk your life on an 8-second ride? time of 8:32.98. Lomong, who is originally from South Sudan, they also tell me when I’m not on my game and need to check up Probably not. has had plenty of success in his collegiate career. He approaches on some things,” Day said. “Also, the coaching staff at NAU, I each meet with routine preparation to honor his team. know for being a non-Power Five school, they can be overlooked “For me, it’s the same mindset as always. My goal is to do as as not having great coaches, but at NAU, they’re some of the best much as I can to get as many points as I can for my teammates,” in the nation.” 20 THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG