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Show Scene '77 PAUL HARVEY WEEK'S TV GUIDE THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1977 LARGE NUMBER FROM TREMONTON AREA Rocky Mountain Rodeo Finals This Weekend It doesnt get the attention given to collegiate basketball or football, but yes, Viriginia, there is a college rodeo circuit. And Bear- River Valley fans have a chance to get an upclose look at it Friday and when Saturday, May Utah State University hosts the Rocky Mountain Region20-2- 1, al Finals Intercollegiate e rodeo at the Logan-Cach- County fairgrounds. Action gets underway at 7:30 p.m. each night with a semi-finround slated for 1:30 p.m. Saturday also. Top ten contenders in each event will compete Saturday evening in the final Faces are from the Tremonlon area. al d. Teams representing the Rocky Mountain region include USU, BYU, Dixie College, Southern Utah State College, Salt Lake Trade Tech, Provo Trade Tech, Weber State, College1 Of Southern Idaho, Boise State, Idaho State University, Snow College and the University of Utah. College rodeo is one of those unique sports not governed by the NCAA where participants can win prize money. But on the other side of the fence participants also have to put out entrance fees from their own pockets. We get most of our travel expenses paid by the un- iversity, explained Vicky Leavitt of Fielding, Utah, a member of the USU womens team. But entrants pay fees for $20 for the man and $15 for the women in each event. There is no added money in each event so prize money comes strictly from competitors entry fees. If you dont win its a little bit hard to get your fees said Linda Munns, back, one half of a husband and wife team which competes for USU. The USU team is well represented by Box Elder County residents. Six of the 15 or so team members who regularly travel the circuit are from Box Elder County. And three of the five womens team members hail from either Garland or Fielding. The girls team is currently sitting in first place in the region. Linda Munns of Garland stands first in the first in barrel racing and breakaway roping and fifth in goat tying. Cindy Coombs of Fielding is first in goat tying, second in breakaway roping and second in the Vicky Leavitt of Fielding is fourth in goat tying and fifth in breakaway. Debbie Wilde of Harper Ward competes in the barrel racing as well. The USU mens team currently sits in fourth place. La Mont Miller, a Fielding cowboy, stands second in the calf roping currently. Randy Munns of Garland is in third place in the steer wrestling. Dan Massey of IOgan is in third place in the saddle bronc riding. Becky Brcitenbeckcr, another Harper Ward cowgirl, will represent the USU team as queen of the regional LINDA MUNNS GOES AROUND THE BARRELS budget of $1,800 a year and turns all the proceeds from their annual rodeo back to the university, one club member pointed out. Thats considerably less than is spent on tape to wrap the ankles of basketball, football and track athletes. The only scholarships we get are the ones that we win. another member added. The US Tobacco Company provides $100,000 which is split up between the 13 college rodeo regions in the nation and the finals which will be held in Bozeman this year to be awarded to finalists as scholarships. ; But the rodeo team members take a back seat to no one in considering themselves athletes. Were professionals, said Randy Munns. We put $100 a week on the line and say I can beat anybody who shows up. i . Of other athletes. Munns noted, I think those guys are missing out. They have no realization of what rodeo is all about. Theres more of a closeness in rodeo than any other sport." added Mike Garn of Fielding. It's the only sport where one cowbo' is willing to help everybody else win. We don't have a team coach to say go out and practice, said another team members. If you want to practice thats up to you. Team advisor is Dr. Darwin Neilson. Agriculture economist. at USU. If it wasn't for him, Utah State wouldn't have a team, a team member said. Linda Munns points out that the rodeo competitor such as a roper or bull dogger is not only training themselves but are training a horse as well." The sport can also be a grueling as football and as injury-plague- I lift weights all winter and run to get in shape, revealed Munns, who bull dogs steers as well as ropes. And like any sport there is also the element of luck and chance. If you're the best roper and you draw the best calf and he kicks the whoopee out of you you're not going to win, Munns observed. Unlike football or basketball, rodeo athletes even have to furnish their own equipment which often consists of a horse, a trailer to transport that animal and all the things that go with it. The horses, themselves, are another thing which draw many competitors to the sport. I think the big thing is probably an interest in horses, Munns acknowledged, when asked why he continues in the sport. It gives you if y, -- .. Y finals. First attendant is Alice Weston of Lakelown, Utah, and second attendant is Susan Thackery of Morgan. Utah. Collegiate rodeoers somee times resent the that football and basketball get all the attention. The USU team gets a 'v. Tj fact-of-lif- 1 MIKE GARN RIDES THE BAREBACK 1 CENOY COOMBS GOES AFTER A CALF a use for your animals. Other USU rodeo team members include: Bill Stu- art. Woodruff, Utah; Alan Sulser. Heber. Utah; Kim Erickson. Fish Haven, Idaho; Buck Freeman, Jacksonville, Illionois; Bill Cornia, Randolph, Utah; Stan Hogan, Logan, Utah; Pepper Murry, Bountiful, Utah; Ben Farrer, Salt Lake City, Utah; Jack Dahl, Logan; Fete Cornia, Randolph, Utah; and. Lane Gubler, St. George, Utah. |