By SARAH OTTO
Student Reporter
The Miller’s, Nelson’s, Allred’s, and the Munsell’s make up eight of the athletes on the Ranger rodeo roster this year.
Shayna Miller, a highly recognizable name from winning championship buckles last year, not only made the trip back to Oklahoma from South Dakota for her senior year, but brought her younger sister along with her.
Her sister, Katy Miller, is two years younger, but just as talented. This is her sophomore year, but first year to go to school at Northwestern.
As a senior in high school, she won the state high school finals in goat tying. Shayna said, “I love having her here! We have practiced together since we were little kids, and she has always been my biggest competition. We push each other, and to rodeo with her at the collegiate level will keep us both striving to be our best.” Younger sister Katy agrees, “It’s awesome! We push each other harder than any coach could, and we are both critical for the other’s success.”
Tearnee Nelson, also a South Dakota native, begins her second year as a Ranger. She brought her younger brother, Wylee Nelson, a freshman, along with her. Tearnee said, “It’s nice to have family down here, it feels like I am at home practicing. It also takes a little pressure off of me knowing he will help me whenever I need him too.”
Older sister Tearnee has high hopes for her younger brother. She expects him to do well in both of his events, and to have confidence in himself. She said, “He will be rodeoing against tough competition down here, which will only make him better.”
She has set the goal of being a tougher competitor for herself this year. The brother and sister duo will be team roping together at the college rodeos. Wylee said, “Rodeoing is always fun, but when you can with your sibling, it is even better.”
Utah natives, Laremi and younger brother Grayson (Buba) Allred are both back to rodeo for Northwestern this year.
Buba made the college finals last year as a freshman, and Laremi ended her season in the top 15 of the Central Plains Region in the goat tying. “We constantly get asked if we live together, and yes we do, which I think is a really good thing for the both of us. We push each other to practice harder,” said Laremi.
The siblings have enough horses amongst themselves that they can pretty much mount for any and all events, which comes in handy for the Utah pair.
Buba is pretty fond of his 13 month older sister, he said, “She is a good influence on my rodeo career, and pushes me to be my best. She doesn’t cut me much slack when it comes to working out and practicing.”
Oklahoma locals made the hour and a half trip from Harmon to Alva to compete for the Ranger rodeo team.
Taylor Munsell is a freshman, and older brother Hunter Munsell is a senior. Hunter is a transfer from WOSC where he finished fourth in the team roping Central Plains Region. Talent runs in the family because in high school Taylor was a two time national rodeo qualifier for Oklahoma, and finished third at the International Finals Youth Rodeo in breakaway roping.
Taylor got released to start roping three weeks ago from having shoulder surgery, which her brother helped her get through.
She said, “He kept my horses working for me the last four months.” She continued, “It’s pretty neat to be college rodeoing with him, I have looked up to him my whole life in the team roping, and it is nice to have him here to help me with my horses and to get me out of slumps when I have an off day.”
Hunter agrees with his younger sister, “It’s nice to be able to help each other out. Whatever the case may be, a traveling partner to the rodeos or if one of us needs a horse to ride.”
The four sets of siblings will definitely be pushing each other to do their best, and will be athletes to keep an eye on as the season progresses.