Nolan Hall, who will be a junior at Timber Lake in the fall, scored a 65 in the first go at the South Dakota High School Rodeo Championships in Belle Fourche on June 21-23. He tallied a 69 in the second go to wrap up a state title with a total of 63½ points. The win also qualified him for the National High School Rodeo Finals in Rock Springs, Wyo., on July 14-20.
Along with the high school bull riding championship, Nolan, 16, was awarded a belt buckle and a brand new saddle.
For his efforts, Nolan was named the Aberdeen American News Athlete of the Week.
Hall was satisfied with his rides at the state finals but wouldn't have minded if the bulls would have kicked it up a notch.
"I had good rides. Not so much the bulls. I think the bulls could have been a little bit better. I rode good and everything went good," he said.
Hall left the rodeo arena a year ago with a feeling of unfinished business.
"I was trying to get to nationals last year but couldn't make it," said Hall, who finished second in the World Little Britches competition in 2011. "Last year, I got bucked off all my bulls in the region."
This time around he rode three of four bulls in the regions and was the only competitor to ride two bulls in the finals.
It's been his dream to ride bulls.
"I watched it growing up and I wanted to do it," he said. "When I was about 12, I got on my first big bull. I wasn't scared. I dang near rode him. I lasted six seconds."
Hall practices on bulls at friends' ranches and rides bareback a lot to prepare for bull riding. Hall doesn't spend much time studying the bulls and their tendencies.
"I don't care what they do as long as they jump," he said.
Unfortunately, injuries are also a part of the sport for the cowboys.
"Last weekend I sprained my hand, but I think I'm getting healthier. I'll ride again soon," Hall said.
Hall also participated in team roping in high school rodeo but his attitude towards roping differs from that of bull riding.
"I have fun team roping," he said. "The serious one is bull riding."
Personal
Family: Uncle and aunt, Doug and Kari Jo Lawrence; Wynn Lawrence (4); grandparents, Ed and Jean Hall; aunt, Dianne Primbeaux; uncle, Nelson Hart; and aunt and uncle, Patty and Todd Hall.
Favorite athletes: Professional bull riders, Douglas Duncan and Gary Leffew.
Sports: Bull riding and roping in rodeo.
Future plans for the summer: Attend the National High School Rodeo Finals on July 14-20 in Rock Springs, Wyo.
Future plans after graduation: Become a professional bull rider.
Best athletic memory: Riding bulls and winning the high school title at Belle Fourche.