By:Patrick Hall Tuesday, 20 June, 2006

Pratt Community College steer wrestler Chancy Boeser finished 16th at the NIRA College Rodeo National Finals held in Casper, Wyoming, the week of June 12-17. Boeser's teammate, Jake Ritz, finished 25th.

Boeser, the steer wrestling runner-up in the Central Plains Region, finished 4th in the first go and 2nd in the third, for a 16th overall out of 41 qualifiers. Boeser had decent draws early, but in the last go he scored 11 seconds, which was on a steer other competitors had only managed 20 and 24.

"Our boys are technically very strong," said Head Coach Doug Janke. "Chancy and Jake's performances demonstrate their superior technique. Both of them had some rough draws, but they scored much lower than other cowboys on the same steers."

Jake Ritz, split 5/6 in his third go, earning a 25th finish overall. His time on a very bad draw was only 6 seconds, where two other cowboys scored only 18 and 24. Ritz, who was this year's Regional Student President, lost the NIRA Student President contest by only one vote.

"Overall this has been an excellent finish to our best season in years," said Janke. "For these boys to finish this well out of the top 41 cowboys in the country, says a lot about the work ethic, commitment, and talent that these athletes have brought to our program. And we look to be even stronger next year."