Tandem twirlers
A team roping duo attempts to drop the flag on a steer during Sunday action at the Wrangler Team Roping Championship. The two-day event featured 1,200 entries. Gary Oram photo
Wrangler team roping draws 1,200 entries, awards $80,000
By Gary Oram
Dillon Tribune sports
The South West Wrangler team roping championships got underway in Harry Andrus Arena, at the Beaverhead County Fairgrounds, Aug. 22, and spilled over into Aug. 23.
With about $80,000.00 worth of prizes and prestige on the line, ropers from all over North America competed against the elements to become known as the elite. Following Wrangler Team Roping Championships format #2, there were about 1,200 entrants in this function, which played host to eight different categories of roper.
Since the Andrus Arena is primarily a rodeo arena, and it’s not set up to for jackpot roping, function facilitators burnt up about five hours Friday afternoon closing it in with stock panels in order to make it more applicable to team roping standards. “This is a harder place to set up. But, it was alright, just a day’s work and we were ready to go,” said event leader Dennis Tryan.
Roping started both days at 10 a.m. and ended when all the scheduled ropers got their go at the rounds. With only 20 teams back in each short go, prizes included: 2 Trophy Cactus Saddles, 10 Trophy Breast Collars, 2 Team Equine Pads, 2 Trophy Sweatshirts, 2 Trophy Jackets, 2 Crooked Stirrups, 2 Rope Contacts, and 4 Montana Silversmith Buckles.
With the Dillon Jaycee Labor Day rodeo just two weekends away the WTRC wanted to come into Dillon before Montana’s Biggest Weekend, and chose Aug. 22-23 for many reasons. “A lot of the local cowboys wanted us to come here,” said Tryan, “and we finally did, and we’re glad we did. Everybody’s been good to work with, the city has been real receptive, you know it’s a cowboy town as far as Montana goes.”
The Dillon Jaycee PRCA rodeo is scheduled for Sept. 5 and 6. Rodeo action gets underway Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Results: #9– Average champions Tim Chadwick/Rod Lyman, 31.57 seconds, $594. #8 – Average champions Bridger Chambers/Grey Chadwick, 32.13 seconds, $758. #7 –Average champions, Tim Guest/John Vermedahl, 30.18 seconds, $1,128. SENIOR #6 – Average champions John Strub/Duane Shelhamer, 28.82 seconds, $793. #6 –Average champions John Strub/Levi Britton, 37.96 seconds, $1,013. #5 – Average champions –Cody Craig/Bob Griffith, 24.78 seconds, $2,001. #4/#3 INCENTIVE – Average champions Carson King/Race King, 23.42 seconds, $981. ALL GIRL – Average champions Rhonda Schuchard/Ronni Nace, 37.03 seconds, $536
Dawgs building towards opener with Montana Tech
By Gary Oram,
Dillon Tribune sports
The University of Montana Western Bulldog football squad held an unofficial scrimmage, Thursday, August 20, on the practice field behind Campus facilities.
“We had about 120 plays. We did some 8 play drives. We did some situational stuff: some 3d and 8, some 3d and 6, some 3d and 3, and 3d and 1. And, we did some Red Dawg,” commented head coach Rich Ferris.
At present it looks like Ferris will have Mike Moefu, at left tackle, Stetson Spooner, at left guard, Hone Roback, as center, Andrew Marcure, at right tackle, and Brandon Heine, at right guard. This is of course still un-official in itself, because coach Ferris also mentions other names he has been looking at.
Behind the line, Micah Mamiya is still Western’s no. 1 quarterback, even after a thumb injury on his throwing hand put him out of practice for a week or so. On offensive strategy Mamiya said, “I think we’re running a little bit more this season.”
Backing up Mamiya is Jeff Logan, a true Freshman from Graham Kapowsin High School in Washington. When asked if practicing without his starting quarterback was hurting the team, head coach Ferris stated, “I don’t know that Jeff he’s doing good. He’s got them things to learn.”
At nineteen, Logan is a Physical Education major with hopes of becoming a college football coach himself. “I got a lot of people on the team that are willing to help me out, pick me up, and they’re kind of leading the way,” said Logan when questioned whether stepping up to the college ranks and being thrown into the practice mix as the no. 2 man was bringing him down.
DFL signup opens
The Dillon Football League Kids: Flag Football opened for registration today. The league, for boys and girls ages preschool through eighth grade, will kickoff the 12th season when games begin Sept. 19.
Registration forms are available at Dillon schools and at the Dillon Tribune. The fee is $15 per player with a $30 family maximum and a discreet scholarship program. No players are turned away. A year ago over 360 players competed on 39 different teams in four separate divisions.
For more information call J.P. Plutt at the Dillon Tribune (683-2331).
UMW rodeo will make a mark
By Gary Oram,
Dillon Tribune sports
The University of Montana Western Rodeo Team spurs into action Sept. 5-6 in Cody, Wyo.
"I'm going to have a good team," commented rodeo coach Olie Else. "I've got a lot of young kids; I've got a lot of seasoned kids."
Like golf and equestrian at Montana Western, rodeo started with the first day of class. However, because of conflict the team held its first meeting on Tuesday, when team members and coaches got squared away on the details and the team’s practice schedule. Since Else has a large number of rodeo members, and most travel with coach and horse trailer, parking issues seem to plague them in the smaller arenas.
"We're spread at different arenas, it's just kind of whoever will put up with us all over town," Else said.
Coming back this year, for his fifth season, is Montana Western cowboy Taylor Narhgang. College regulations dictate that a student can only rodeo for four years. However, every year a student is elected to represent the Montana Big Sky Region on the National Collegiate Board. Each student that is chosen is awarded a fifth year, and Narhgang was this year’s elected representative. Unfortunately for UMW, Nahrgang will compete as an independent entry and his points won’t go toward Western’s team total.
Along with his election in the Big Sky Region, Taylor was also elected as President of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.
Willet sets record at Sleepy Hollow
Dillon’s Phil Willett set a new nine-hole course record at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course Aug. 20. Willett fired a round totaling 23 strokes breaking Jon Allen’s standing record of 24 on the par-28 layout. Willett’s scorecard inlcuded six birdies, two pars and one bogey.
Witnessing the record round were Clint Rouse, Tom Bramlette, Blake Huntley, Rick Nield, Max Nield, and Ken Smith.
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