Page 8 THE NORTON TELEGRAM Friday, June 9, 2006 Norcatur cowboy is headed to nationals By JIM MERRIOTT munity High School graduate, is his last to compete on the college Norcatur’s Chance Harman spending most of his time in circuit. wants to follow in the footsteps of Curtis, Neb., where he attends the “Currently, I am working to get Casey Tibbs, Ben Johnson, Larry Nebraska College of Technical my professional rodeo card.” he Mahan, Don Gay, Tom Ferguson, Agriculture on a rodeo scholar- said. “A rider must make $1,000 and Ty Murray, all world cham- ship. on a learners permit to receive the pion rodeo riders. His team competes against Professional Rodeo Cowboys As- Harman is proving his point as eight to 12 colleges at rodeos sociation member card, which a professional cowboy with his across Nebraska, Iowa, North and makes them a professional.” second trip to the National College South Dakota. A wiry 5 foot 11 Harman said he started compet- Rodeo Championship in Casper, inch, 160 pounds, Harman won the ing in rodeo after a friend, Logan Wyo., June 10-17. He’s no Great Plains College Regional Glaze, talked him into joining the “wannabe” anymore. He’s the real May 6 allowing him to compete in Decatur Community High Rodeo deal, slapping leather and taking the National College Rodeo team his junior year. A family his bumps and bruises with the big Championship. friend gave him a bronc riding boys. He works as a farm hand in the saddle to get started. Later, he had Chance Harman is a saddle bronc rider. He rides for Nebraska College of Technical He is the son of Renee and Ron summer, working cattle, calving, one made for himself. He com- Harman of Norcatur and grew up artificially inseminating heifers, peted in saddle bronc and bull Agriculture, Curtis, Neb. He is the son of Ron and Renee Harman, Norcatur. on the family farm. hauling cattle to pasture and riding, making it to the state High — Photo courtesy of Dan Hubbell Though he knows rodeo is a mending fence to pay for his entry School Rodeo Championship in He qualified for the state cham- won’t let them down.” eighth and ninth grade years. tough life, Chance is a tough kid. fees and living expenses, as well Topeka, where he won a first-place pionships again his senior year, Harman said he doesn’t train “Ever since I can remember, I When you talk to the soft-spoken helping with his college necessi- saddle. This entitled him to com- winning first place again to bring like regular athletes. He works as have been riding a horse.” he said. young man, you can see the twinkle ties in the fall. pete in Farmington, N.M., at the home another state championship a cowboy. “Mom said that they put me on a in his eye. He has a gift and the guts Harman was born May 27, 1986 National High School Rodeo saddle and buckle. “Over the years, I have learned horse before I could walk.” and grit it takes to be a champion. and turns 20 Memorial Day week- Championships in 2004. His first-place finish allowed to stretch well before I compete,” Few of us have the courage and Today, he is just paying his dues. end. He rides the fall and spring His senior year, he competed in him to compete again at the Na- he said. “I don’t work out with any ability to enter the rodeo ring with He dreams of riding against pro- circuit only, taking off December, Saddle Bronc, Tie-Down Roping, tional High School Championship training program like football over a thousand pounds of thunder fessional saddle bronc riders like January and February. Harman and Team Roping winning many in Gillette, Wyo., where he took players and the like, but if I don’t between their legs. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., the said the team competes in four ro- buckles, bags, and knives. fourth out of 39 riders and won a stretch, I get really sore, and Harman has what it takes to an- No. 1 rider this year. He knows that deos during the fall semester tak- 2004-05 found Harman attend- scholarship. stretching has kept me from any swer the rodeo call, “Cowboy Dan Mortensen, Billings, Mont., ing him him to Iowa State Univer- ing the Junior-Senior High School Oberlin people have sponsored injuries so far.” Up!” has been a champion in the past sity in Ames, among other schools Rodeo at Curtis where he took first Harman the past three years. He attended bronc riding school “Chance has always wanted to years and he wants to ride against — and five rodeos in the spring place and lassoed a college schol- “I would like to thank every- in Burwell, Neb., and learned un- be a cowboy since he was a little Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla. semester. arship to Nebraska College of body that has helped me get der Corey Hughes and Bart kid,” said his mother, Renee, “and Harman, a 2005 Decatur Com- The coming school year will be Technical Agriculture. started,” he said. “I appreciate it. I Macbeth during the summers his has been fortunate in doing well.” Runners, walkers Norton grad scores points for Fort Hays By DICK BOYD in the decathon at the RMAC gular, which included Pittsburg meter hurdles in 14.78 and fourth Jered Sloan, a red-shirt fresh- meet. He earned the gold medal in State University and two other in the with a height of man from Norton who competes the 110 meter hurdles, high jump, opponents from the Mid-America 6’4.25”. take part in annual in for Fort Hays 400 meter dash and 100 meter Intercollegiate Athletics Associa- Sloan was also the champion of State University, has been chosen dash. He set a personal record of tion, of which Fort Hays will be a the 110 meter hurdles in the Fort to the first team of the Rocky 13-feet-9-inches in the . member next season. Hays State University Twilight Mountain Athletic Conference The other events are the Fort Hays scored 188 points to Open with a time of 14.63. Riverless Run/Walk All-Conference Decathlon Team. , javelin, discus, win the quadrangular. Sloan is the son of Wendy and In addition to competing in the and 1500 meter run. Sloan placed second in the 110 Jon Sloan, Norton. By DICK BOYD 10 and under; Luke VanSkike, decathlon, Sloan is also a regular In open events, Sloan placed A large number of men and Norton, 12:59, second; Kevin competitor in the open 110 meter fourth in the high jump with a per- women from a wide area ran Pinkerton, Logan, 13:31, high hurdles and high jump. sonal best height of 6’7” and won and walked in the annual third, 15-19; Eric Krafft, Sloan was also a Spring 2006 his preliminary heat of the 110 Riverless Run/Walk to kickoff Phillipsburg, 15:07, first, 20- RMAC All-Academic selection. meter hurdles with a personal best the Riverless Festival in 29; Lester Peak, Kirwin, He is an art major and had a 3.38 time of 14.6. In the 110 hurdle fi- Phillipsburg on Saturday 15:46, first; Curtis Johnson, grade point average the spring se- nals he hit a hurdle and placed morning. Plainville, 16:27, second, 30- mester. fourth. The top three finishers in 39; Brian Keiswetter, Norton, This season, Sloan ranked 15th The Tiger men won the confer- each age division of the two- 19:10, second; Leonard in the nation in NCAA Division II ence championship. They are ex- mile and five-mile runs re- Robinson, Phillipsburg, in the decathlon. He placed second citing the conference after win- ceived medals and the winners 30:46, third, 40-49; Morris in the decathlon in the RMAC ning the title six of the last seven of both received trophies. No Engle, Phillipsburg, 19:59, Championships which were held in years. Head coach Dennis Weber medals were awarded for the first; Terry Babcock, the Mountaineer Bowl on the cam- was named the RMAC Men’s two-mile walk. Phillipsburg, 27:57, second, pus of Western State College in Coach of the Year. In the five-, Mark 50-59; Kay Kinter, Gunnison, Colo. It is the highest Earlier in the season, the Fort Simonds, Phillipsburg, had the Phillipsburg, 30:37, first, 60- collegiate football field in the world Hays men glimpsed their future best men’s time with a clocking 69. with an elevation of 7,750 feet. when they traveled to Pittsburg to of 34 minutes, 55 seconds and Top time in the women’s Sloan won four of the ten events compete in a four-team quadran- Teresa Chestnut was top runner two-mile run was recorded by for the women with a time of Hannah Pinkerton, Logan, who 45:35. was clocked in 14:30. She ran Simonds won the age 30-39 in the age 11-14 division. division. Other men’s placers Other women’s placers in- Jered Sloan of Norton, a red-shirt freshman for the Fort included: Heath Vincent, cluded: Marcy Gaines, Logan, Hays State University track and field team, competed this Norton, 36:07, first; Luke 22:12, second, 11-14; season in the decathlon, open 110 meter high hurdles VanSkike, Norton, 38:47, sec- Courtney Beard, Phillipsburg, and open high jump. In these photos taken at the con- ond, 15-19; Ryan Manning, 30:34, first, 15-19; Bridgett ference meet, he crossed the finish line to win a race and Norton, 39:54, second, 30-39; Ziola, Phillipsburg, 17:05, cleared the high jump bar. — Photos courtesy of Wendy Sloan Joel Hiesterman, Phillipsburg, first, 20-29; Sheila Solida, 35:40, first, 50-59; Dick Phillipsburg, 17:42, first; Kerri Stroup, Smith Center, 44:43, Thieben, Phillipsburg, 17:43, first, 60-69. second; Kathy Beard, Women’s placers in the five- Phillipsburg, 30:33, first, 40- mile run included Kerri Oliva, 49; Sharon Krafft, Phillipsburg, 50:08, 30-39, Phillipsburg, 18:47, first; first. Carolyn Babcock, Kyle Merklein, Prairie View, Phillipsburg, 27:58, second, recorded the top time in the 50-59; Debres Stroup, Smith men’s two-mile run with a Center, 29:12, first; Joyce clocking of 11:38. He com- Kinter, Phillipsburg, 34:49, peted in the age 15-19 division. second, 60-69. STOCK CAR Other men’s placers in- Heather Harper was the race cluded: Brett Pinkerton, Lo- director. The races were spon- gan, 13:32, first; Caden Vahle, sored by the Phillips County Phillipsburg, second, 15:00, Health Systems. RACES Saturday, June 10 BOWLING DWARF CARS BOWLING Starting Time: 7:00 p.m. TUESDAY HOUSEWIFE 1572; Norton Co-op, 1513; ELMWOOD PARK SPEEDWAY Standings May 16 — The Becky Williams, 510; Sharron Four Dots, 48.5- Smith, 481; Carol Gerlits, NORTON, KANSAS 19.5; Norton Co- 431; High Handicap Admission Fee: Adults—$8; Ages 6-11—$4; 5 & Under Free op, 35-33; D/M Game: Norton Co-op, Service, 33-35; 779; D/M Service, 778; •IMCA Modifieds •IMCA Stock Irene’s, 19.5- D/M Service, 736; Carol •IMCA Hobby •Cruisers 48.5; High Gerlits, 247; Becky Will- Pit Gate Opens 2 Hours Before Start Scratch Game: D/M iams, 218; Sharron Service, 582; Norton Co- Smith, 210; High Handi- For Race Information Call: op, 576; The Four Dots, 563; cap Series: D/M Service, 2160; Don or Paula Bolt (785) 678-2416 Carol Gerlits, 198; Becky Will- Norton Co-op, 2122; Irene’s, BROUGHT TO YOU BY PROUD SPONSORS: iams, 191; Sharron Smith, 189; 2081; Becky Williams, 591; S & R Ready Mix & Norton Fuel Service High Scratch Series; The Four Carol Gerlits, 578; Marie Ritter, Dots, 1591; D/M Service, 576