ADS
From Showing Cattle to Wrestling Cattle, Sutton Hennessy is Making Moves
Sutton Hennessy of Berthold, North Dakota brought home a coveted award. The Levi Wisness traveling trophy is presented each year to the champion high school rodeo bulldogger in Watford City.
“It was an honor and exciting to receive something like this,” said Sutton with a huge smile.
Sutton Hennessy pictured with the Levi Wisness Memorial Trophy [Photo: Jay Hennessy]
The cowboy that got his start showing cattle at county, state, and national venues across the United States with North Dakota’s legendary Hennessy Show Cattle is well on his way to a career that doesn’t exactly require the pristine genetics his family’s cattle have to offer, rather their support. He is the son of Jay and Karen Hennessy of Berthold and is a sophomore at Des Lacs/Burlington High School.
“My family and my friends push me to do my best. My family is very helpful with everything I do. They always give me a talk before every run and wish me the best. My friends also keep pushing me, and they always show me what I have drawn in cattle and how they are to handle. Trey Bohmbach and Hadley Erickson are two of the many and best supporters I have from the practice pen to giving me talks to win,” added Sutton.
Hennessy says his favorite event by far is steer wrestling. Even though he brought home a championship buckle in the team roping at Watford City’s High School Rodeo on the heading side with Holden Meyer as his heeling partner — he loves roping the horns, but physically putting them in the ground is now in the young cowboy’s veins.
Sutton said he is inspired by people like Bridger Anderson, because he shows that a kid from small town North Dakota can make it far in rodeo. And that shows in the arena. Having some treacherous wrecks in the arena, Sutton bounced back with a vengeance and took home a first-place go-round win at the latest MHA Nation rodeo finals and is currently tied for first place in the NDHSRA standings in steer wrestling.
“I am proud to be a part of the NDHSRA, because it is just a great group of people and I love that everyone is supportive toward each other,” added Sutton.
Five Events Make Tioga Junior Smile Every Rodeo
Allie Wolla, a junior from Tioga High School, stays busy with a lot of rodeo events and rodeo associations. Goat tying, team roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing, and pole bending all take the cake for her when it comes to NDHSRA. Allie is the daughter of Ryan and Brittany Wolla.
“What keeps me going is my family and close friends. Without everyone in my family, I don’t think I would be where I am today, and they have made the sport of rodeo so enjoyable,” said Allie, “My parents are always there giving me the best opportunities possible.”
Allie Wolla Breakaway Roping [Photo: Don Anderson]
Barrel racing seems to give the ‘speedster’ an adrenaline rush. “The feeling after having a good run is rewarding. Competitiveness and always trying to achieve your goals really adds to the event as well,” Allie stated.
She says her favorite subject in school is science. “I love science, because you can never stop learning about it and it just comes easy to me. Having a teacher that is always there and trying to help you, like my chemistry teacher, Mrs. Moe, makes learning so much easier,” Allie said.
When it comes to looking up to people like Mrs. Moe, Allie also said she likes the people that put their horses first such as horseman Kerry Kuhn and barrel racing trainer Brandee Wardell. “These two compete in two different sides of rodeo. Brandee has been so helpful in helping me figure out my barrel horse and another aspect of barrel racing. Kerry’s level of horsemanship is something else,” added Allie.
Allie Wolla Team Roping [Photo: submitted]
“I am proud to be a member of NDHSRA, because I love the background of it. The NDHSRA really shows the time, effort, and dedication it takes to rodeo, and see how your hard work has paid off. The committee never fails to help and is always willing to lend a hand,” smiled the cowgirl.
‘Cowboy’ is his Middle Name
Stran Sorenson, a junior from Watford City, is in a lot of North Dakota high school rodeo events. Boys cow cutting, team roping, tie down roping, and now his latest venture — the saddle bronc riding. Being a cowboy on the ranch outside of Watford City crosses paths with the rodeo arena quite well and brought home this young vaquero his first high school All-Around Cowboy Title at his hometown rodeo in Watford City.
“I’ve always team roped and that’s been my favorite, but just started saddle bronc riding and that’s pretty exciting,” said Stran. He is following in his dad’s, Jarvis Sorenson, footsteps and crawling atop some athletic broncs.
Stran Sorenson at state finals with his back number [Photo: Dakota Horse Magazine]
Stran said his favorite subject in school is science and that he looks up to his dad and aspires to be like him.
“I think high school rodeo has given me the opportunities to meet lots of friends and a great opportunity to get better at my events against kids that are my age,” said Stran.
When it comes to keeping his head up when things don’t happen just right in the arena, Stran said, “I know there will be another rodeo, and I need to practice and stay positive.”
Stran is the son of Jarvis and Kadie Sorenson.
Football and Fast Feet Make this Cowboy Shine
Will DeMontigny is a junior at Bottineau High School and plays running back on offense and is outside linebacker on the defensive end. Late Friday night games run into early Saturday morning high school rodeos and morning slacks, but this all-around cowboy said he takes it all in stride.
DeMontigny [Photo: 4-C Photography]
Currently leading the bareback riding in the NDHSRA, Will said that his cousin, Lathan DeMontigny, has led the way for him in quite a few events. “The friends I have made in high school rodeo and the memories that I have had will last a lifetime,” said Will.
Tying calves and spurring bucking horses come ahead of his favorite subject in school, which would be a good lunch with his athletic schedule, however that isn’t a grade, so he said foods class takes the prize.
DeMontigny playing football [Photo: Submitted]
Will says he considers the bad things that happen to him on the competition side as a reason to push himself harder and makes him stive for more. He is the son of Brett and Joni DeMontigny.
Kami Guty’s Life is Rodeo and Training Horses
Kami Guty says she absolutely loves training horses. The cowgirl from York, North Dakota competes in the reined cow horse, goat tying, barrel racing, and pole bending. “I believe high school rodeo makes you a better person,” said the sophomore. “It’s very competitive and a good community to be a part of.”
Kami Guty goat tying [Photo: 4-C Photography]
She says science is her favorite class, because it offers it a wide variety of things. “I aspire and look up to many people around me, especially my mom, Kindra; and dad, Steve; and Mika, my sister,” said Kami.
Guty on the end pole [Photo: Craig Maley Photography]
“It’s a hard decision between goats and pole bending. My pole horse, Chili, and I are really clicking right now, so pole bending is really on the top of my list,” said Kami.
Iron Sharpens Iron, Carson Hildre Keeps Raking Bareback Horses
Carson Hildre, a junior from Velva, is a rodeo rough stock staple in North Dakota. Coming off a hot national high school rodeo finals and World Championship crowning in the Bareback Riding of the National Little Britches Rodeo Finals, the wrestler from Velva is also sitting atop the standings in the North Dakota Rodeo Association. He competes in high school rodeo in the bareback riding, tie-down roping, and team roping.
World Champion Bareback Rider, Carson Hildre [Photo: Chuck Miner 4-C Photography]
Don’t be surprised to find him caring and feeding the stock as well or taking care of the rodeo arena grounds. His grandfather, Jim Hystad, is a rodeo stock contractor, and Carson may be the first call for assistance when he isn’t strapped to a bucking horse.
“North Dakota High School Rodeo gives me a great opportunity to grow the skills that I need when hopefully I get to the next level. Additionally, the stock contractors have been great at allowing us the right level horses to sharpen our skills to be ready for that tougher horse in the future,” said Carson.
Carson says he looks up to people like his grandpa, Jim, because he got the cowboy started riding. “I was told a long time ago to surround myself with champions, because ‘iron sharpens iron,’ and this message I heard from the great Tim O’Connell at a rodeo church service,” added the bareback champion.
Stay tuned for more in Part II of ‘Trailer Talk’ from the Fall N.D.High School Rodeo Season. A complete list of up-to-date results can be found at ndhsra.org.
Tisa Peek is a long-time horse trainer, competitor in barrel racing and team roping, and writer about the equine. Rodeo and horses run deep in her roots. JT Family Equine is where she calls home, south of Bismarck, ND. Tisa, along with her husband, Jon, and boys, Blu and River, train horses and host clinics. Tisa is the host for Dakota Cowboy on BEK TV.