Named
to All-Star rodeo team
|
Sidney senior Matt Wznick, son of Jerry and Ellen Wznick,
was recently named to the 2004-2005 Wrangler High School All-Star Rodeo team -
an honor rarely bestowed to many high school freshmen.
The team, which is selected based on an athlete's leadership qualities, academic
eligibility and athletic achievements, is fashioned after Wrangler's Champion
Pro Rodeo team including such rodeo greats as Ty Murray, Joe Beaver, Dan
Mortensen, Charmayne James and Hall-of-Famer Jim Shoulders.
Wznick competes in calf roping, team roping and bull riding. Competing in his
first year in high school rodeo, he also competed in the Youth Rodeo Association
this past season. Among his achievements include winning the Rookie State
All-Around this past year in high school competition as well as winning the
Senior All-Around in the YRA.
In the YRA, Wznick won the year-end bull riding and year-end All-Around awards
and finished second in the year-end team roping. At the Montana High School
Rodeo Finals, he reached the short-go round in each of his three events while
placing fifth in team roping.
"I can remember dragging a rope around when I was just
two years old when we moved to Sidney in 1990. My Dad started to get interested
in rodeo, that's when I guess I really began to be serious with competing in
rodeo," Wznick said.
Not having one event that's more favorable than another, Wznick has set a
simple, but ambitious goal for himself. "I want to win as many All-Around World
Championships as I can - hopefully break the record."
The current All-Around World Championship record is held by Ty Murray with seven
All-Around titles. Could eight be Wznick's lucky number? Only time will tell.