JB Moen brought home the buckle in bull riding for Olds College after three days of competition at the 2017 Canadian College Rodeo Finals in Calgary March 31-April 1.
The first-year student from Elrose, Sask. was the season leader in bull riding headed into the championships hosted by the Canadian Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.
He held his position throughout the weekend with strong performances during the first two nights, which all but secured his title despite a less-than-perfect ride on the third evening.
"The bull didn't really have its day today," said Moen about his stock, which bucked straight forward instead of spinning, making it harder to score well. "But it's nothing to be ashamed about. Feels good - glad I could take something back to Olds."
Besides Moen, four other members of the Olds College rodeo team finished in the Top 10 in the season standings this year, qualifying them for the finals at the Agrium Western Event Centre on the Stampede Grounds in Calgary.
Lausanne Hillmuth, an equine science student from Rouleau, Sask. was the only other Olds College competitor to place Saturday evening, finishing fourth in the goat tying. Miss Pro Rodeo Sundre Martina Holtkamp (Rimbey, Alta.) also competed in the event, and opened the evening's program with laps during the national anthem.
Asa Johnson (Black Diamond, Alta.), led the season standings in team roping as a heeler, but the calf got away from him and teammate Tanner Kelly (Sundre) of Lakeland College, keeping him from placing in the finals. Agriculture management student Jaydon Smith (Brownfield, Alta.) competed in the saddle bronc event.
While Moen was the only one to take home hardware this weekend, head rodeo coach Jason Page was happy with the performance, which saw five Olds College athletes qualify for finals this year, up from two the previous year. Further, two women qualified for the event this year, where none made the cut last year.
"Our contestants did really well," he said. "They may not have finished off where they maybe wanted to, but that's part of rodeo. And that's what we want to teach them at the college.
"You try your hardest and if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. You gotta take the good with the bad. And roll on to the next one. That's rodeo."
"The bull didn't really have its day today. But it's nothing to be ashamed about. Feels good - glad I could take something back to Olds."JB MOEN
