Cowboys head to national rodeo

Two Lake County athletes will be heading to Rock Springs, Wyo., this week to compete at the National High School finals rodeo. 

Will Powell of St. Ignatius and Bridger Fitzpatrick of Polson will compete along with over 30 other Montana athletes from across the state, going up against the toughest competition in the country. The event, which runs from July 12-18, will determine the best high school rodeo athletes in the country.

To qualify for nationals, competitiors had to be in the top four in the year end points for the state of Montana. Powell was ranked first in team-roping with his partner, and fourth in steer wrestling. Fitzpatrick was fourth in bull riding.

Powell will be competing in steer wrestling and team roping. Caleb Guardipee of Cut Bank is his team-roping partner. This isn’t the first time Powell has made it to nationals; in fact, he’s been there all four years of high school. The highest Powell has finished at nationals is nineteenth. “I’ve had tough luck at nationals in the past, but this year I feel pretty confident,” he said in a phone interview last week, as he made his way to one of the many Northern Rodeo Association rodeos he is participating in this summer, where he has had great luck, including a first place finish in steer wrestling at the Choteau rodeo this past weekend.  

Powell has won numerous state championships in steer wrestling and the St. Ignatius native has been roping since he was around nine. Growing up on a ranch, Powell got involved in rodeo early, as his dad has competed for most of his life. 

Powell will continue on in the rodeo world, going to Montana State University in the fall on a rodeo scholarship, where he will pursue a degree in business management.

For Bridger Fitzpatrick, rodeo is a little more of a new endeavor. Fitzpatrick has been riding bulls for only two years and will compete in the event at nationals. He said he decided to pursue it after watching his dad. “I saw some video of my dad riding bulls,” he said, and after that he decided to give it a try. Fitzpatrick said he started out on minis, then moved up to the bigger bulls. 

For just two years of experience, Fitzpatrick must be doing something right to make it to the national rodeo. He said he was excited to compete. This summer, Fitzpatrick had been competing in NRA events, along with a few of his cousins, who also ride bulls.