Strathmore teen heads to nationals

Times Reporter

 

The Alberta High School Rodeo Association, AHSRA, finals were held in Ponoka from June 10 to 12, and three teens from the Strathmore and District High School Rodeo Club had a chance to participate. 

Lance Dowler and Blake Williamson made it in tie down roping category and Shane Krywcun made it in steer wrestling.

“It was good, (I’m) pretty proud of the kids. They did well, they tried hard, and it worked out very well for Shane. He had a very good weekend,” said Dan Dowler of the Strathmore and District High School Rodeo Association.

Krywcun, 17, was able to get his steer down all three days of finals, which showed consistency and kept his score high enough to advance. He placed fourth overall in Alberta and will be moving on to the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyoming.

“When you’re able to finish within the top four in the province, and get the opportunity to head south to compete at that level, that’s a very, very successful achievement for sure,” said Dowler. 

“Anytime the kids can do as well as they have in here it’s something to be proud of.”

Though Lance and Williamson won’t be heading to Gillette with Krywcun, they both had a good weekend. Despite the stiff competition in the tie down roping Williamson placed 25th overall and Lance placed 30th. 

“I was pretty proud of them, they tried hard, they had a couple of catches each, and it looked really solid. This was Blake Williamson’s final year in the High School Rodeo, his goal that he set out for himself at the beginning of the year was to make it into finals and he achieved that,” said Dowler.

“We’re happy for him, he worked hard at it and he did a great job, so it was good to see.”   

Dowler said he is sure many of the kids will continue honing their rodeo skills by joining clubs whose season may just be beginning. Next year the Strathmore and District High School Rodeo Association is hoping to host two rodeos after having to cancel the High School Rodeo, which had been scheduled for the May long weekend. Dowler said they are waiting to hear back from the Alberta High School Rodeo Association, to find out which dates will work.