By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
Rock Springs, Wyoming was the stage this July for the National High School Rodeo Finals, one of the largest youth rodeo events in the world.
More than 1,500 contestants from across all fifty states and several other countries gathered for a week of tough competition.
Among them was Wyatt Lumbrezer, an Archbold student and Four County Career Center student, who represented Michigan in steer wrestling, calf roping, and team roping.
Wyatt’s biggest highlight came in steer wrestling, where he delivered two strong runs under ten seconds each. That consistency pushed him into the short round, an achievement reserved for only the top twenty competitors in the world.
Although his steer in the finals cut in front of him and prevented a clean run, Wyatt still finished among the very best at the high school level, a major accomplishment for any young cowboy.
In calf roping, Wyatt faced a setback before even entering the arena. His main calf horse was sidelined with an injury right before the trip.
He was still able to compete thanks to friends who lent him their horses, but he was unable to post a qualifying run. Even so, Wyatt said he was thankful for the support that allowed him to take part.
In team roping, he and his partner battled through two rounds but ran into tough luck with a miss in the first go and a hard-running steer in the second. The pair did not advance, but the experience gave him valuable lessons to take forward.
Back home, Wyatt practices several times a week during the season and keeps at it even through the winter with the help of an indoor arena.
Events like jackpots at WB Ranch in Swanton also give him chances to face riders from other states. He carries with him a saying that guides his effort: “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
That mindset brought him to Wyoming this summer and carried him through an impressive showing that made his family and community proud.