Posted: 6/18/03

Rodeo rides into town

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

The Deadbroke Arena in Hugo was home to the Minnesota High School Rodeo state finals this past weekend. The rodeo featured competitors from all over the state, as well as competitors from Forest Lake, Chisago Lakes, and North Branch.

The rodeo had everything you may expect one to have such as an entertaining rodeo clown, exciting competition, and 5-year-old Oron Jones singing the National Anthem.

The rodeo started Friday night and ran thru Sunday afternoon when the best of the best competed for the coveted state championship buckle. The Minnesota High School Rodeo Association also crowned their new king and queen prior to Sundayís performance.

The crowd favorite for the weekend had to be Forest Lakeís own Pete Slipka.

Slipka said of the advantage of competing so close to home, ìI was able to come home and sleep in my own bed, and if I had a problem with my riding I could come home and practice unlike the other competitors.î
Slipka has made it to the state finals all four years of his high school career and enjoyed performing in front of a home town crowd.

ìThe first time it was cool because it was in my home town, and everyone would cheer a little bit louder for me,î Slipka said.

Sundayís finals started off with the bareback competition. Mathew Piche and Joe Gunderson were the only ones to stay on their horse for the required 8 seconds. Piche scored a 64, but Gundersonís 69 gave him the win.

Kallie Agre came out on top in the poles event as she guided her horse in and out of the poles in a time of 20.715 seconds.

In the team roping event, the tandem of Josh Foutch and Kyle Grinager won with a time of 7.795. The next closest time was 10.070 by Casey Barrett and Chance Weldon.

Slipka and teammate John Buchanan turned in a time of 25.775 to finish sixth.

ìI was a little disappointed in the team roping because I can usually catch the two feet on the first try, but I was having a problem this weekend,î Slipka said.

Eryn Kuntz of Chisago Lakes ran away with the goat tying title with her time of 9.255. Close behind was Jolene Nordik at a time of 10.210.

Tyler Corrington was able to tame his bronc long enough in the saddle bronc competition as he held on for his 8 seconds while accumulating a score of 72 to win the event.

Breakaway roping was just that as Tina Louise Maher registered a time of 3.965 to blow away the competition.

Fouch was the big winner in calf roping as he caught and roped his calf in a time of 13.110.

In between events, rodeo clown Slim Garner entertained the crowd with his crazy antics and jokes. At one point, Garner came out into the arena to barbecue himself some chicken, but all he ended up doing was bowing the top off his grill.

As the competition continued, Paige Thorson guided her horse around the barrels in a time of 17.205 to edge out Courtney Elm who managed a time of 17.267.

The finale of the day featured bull riding. John Buchanan wowed the crowd with his run as he impressed the judges enough to earn himself a score of 78.

Going into the bull riding, North Branchís Buchanan said, ìI had hoped to do better in the bull riding (for the weekend), but Iím coming off an injury and itís always hard to come back after an injury.î

The 2003 MHSRA queen was Amber Hultman of Chisago Lakes, and Tyler Corrington was named king.

2003 Minnesota
High School Rodeo Finals Event Winners
and Forest Lake Placer

Barebacks - Joe Gunderson

Steer Wrestling - Nick Coulter

Poles - Kallie Agre

Team Roping - 1, John Foutch and Kyle Grinager, 6, Pete Slipka (Forest Lake) and John Buchanan

Goat Tying - Eryn Kuntz, Chisago Lakes

Saddle Bronc - Tyler Corrington

Breakaway Roping - Tina Louise Maher

Calf Roping - 1, John Foutch, 7, Pete Slipka, Forest Lake

Barrels - Paige Thorson

Bull Riding - John Buchanan

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