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Bulldogs rodeo team rides rough through Gunnison

John Vandelinder

— Two days after competing in the Gunnison rodeo, Eric Fleming still had a look of disenchantment chiseled on his face.

“I couldn’t bring it together.” Fleming said. “I missed a calf, and I got bucked off of both of my bulls. I just couldn’t recover.”

Fleming had his share of bad luck this past weekend, as did his teammates.



Five of his team members didn’t place in the top ten.

“One weekend can be amazing,” Jessi Moser said. “The next, not so much.”



Troy Vernon placed fourth in bull riding and sixth in calf roping.

“Troy’s grandfather has a mechanical bull at his ranch in Maybell,” Fleming said. “I’m going to practice with him. I’ve got to get back to basics and figure out what I’m doing wrong.”

Taylor Vernon placed second in pole bending and eighth in goat tying.

Gabby Miller had a rough start on the first day, but picked it up the second

day, teaming with Moser to capture sixth place in the team-roping contest.

“I’d say we were just average,” Moser said. “I was rushing in between events.”

Moser also competed in breakaway and goat tying.

“I had a lot of trouble with the breakaway,” she said. “The first day my horse just wouldn’t stop, and the second day my calf was so fast I couldn’t catch it.”

Hanna Hegwer improved her time in goat tying but not enough to place.

Coach Jill Hegwer said she was pleased with the performance of Matt Bohrer, Bryanne Runnion and Stevie Brumback.

“Bryanne had a good weekend with a clean run in her poles. She’ll be ready for this weekend,” Hegwer said. “And Matt had a really good effort in the bull riding.

“Stevie had a tough weekend also, but she’s really looking forward to this weekend’s event.”

Moser said she was optimistic that hard work and extra practice will result in a much better performance from the team at the MCHS rodeo this Saturday and Sunday during homecoming weekend.

“Come out this weekend and see,” she said. “We’ll do better.”

John Vandelinder can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 211, or jvandelinder@craigdailypress.com


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