Douglas High's Austin Beemer will have a great deal to live up to this upcoming rodeo season.
Beemer has been named to the Wrangler National All-Star High School Rodeo Team in bullriding for 2002-2003. The top two contestants in each event from all 50 states are chosen to the all-start team. Beemer competes for the Carson rodeo program.
"I guess I've got a reputation to hold up now," said Beemer, who is also a running back for the Douglas football team.
"I guess I've got to go out there and show them," said Beemer about deserving the honor. "I've got to go out there and show them why I'm on the all-star team. It's a big accomplishment that I probably never expected.
"It's pretty exciting. It's like a dream come true. I never thought I would be that good. It's pretty cool."
Beemer said if it wasn't for his father, Richard, he wouldn't have even gotten involved in rodeo.
"I just want to thank my dad for being there for me," Beemer said. "My family, too. They came with me on the weekends and they helped me out a lot."
Beemer would have likely qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals this past summer if not for an injury. He still placed fourth at the state finals in Winnemucca, just missing a national finals berth. The top three advanced to the national finals.
On his first ride, Beemer was bucked off a PRCA National Finals bull at 7.8 seconds, just missing the legal ride of eight seconds. After he was bucked off, the bull landed on his calf.
Beemer had to be taken to the hospital and was on crutches. But he came back to ride his next bull, another one that had been in the PRCA National Finals.
"I watched him on T.V. for years," said Beemer about the bull. "I was pretty psyched about that, but my leg was hurting. I was hurting all weekend."
On his final bull, which weighed 2,200 to 2,300 pounds, Beemer was disqualified when he touched the bull with his free hand after it turned back to the left.
There's no thought of finishing just second or third place at state to qualify for next year's national finals, Beemer said. He said he wants to win the state title.
Beemer has also wrestled, but he said he will not wrestle this year to concentrate on rodeo. He's already set to compete in rodeos this fall.
As a member of the Wrangler All-Star team, Beemer will be furnished with Wrangler All-Star rodeo team shirts and has signed an agreement to only wear his Wrangler shirts with Wrangler jeans.