A Timber Lake High School freshman is a world champion.
Tatum Ward and her horse Scooter won the Junior Barrel Racing title at the 2012 Indian National Finals Rodeo World Championships in Las Vegas earlier this month.
They placed fourth in the first round with a 15.478-second run and sixth in the second round with a 15.496 run. Those runs qualified them for the top 10 for the finals, or short-go performance.
Sitting fourth in the average going into the championship round, Ward and Scooter made the fastest run of the week. They smoked through the cloverleaf pattern with a 15.137-second run.
Along with championship buckles and a saddle, Ward earned $1,734. Ward just got Scooter in March, and in a sport where it can take years for horse and rider to click, this Timber Lake duo found their stride almost immediately.
The 14-year-old Ward has been riding horses since she was 3 and has been barrel racing for three years. She is the daughter of Tater and Laura Ward of White Horse and granddaughter of John and Cathy Alley of Timber Lake and the late Dick and Deloris Ward. She is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Timber Lake Topic
Inspirational message
The Aberdeen Roncalli volleyball team got an inspirational message last week before the State A Volleyball Tournament.
Former Northwestern volleyball coach Kathy Graves spoke to the Cavaliers at a team function prior to the tournament that was held in Watertown.
"She is so funny," Roncalli coach Janelle Bierle said. "She has just got a lot of stories and talked for about 30 to 45 minutes. She kept the girls attention. She is just really fun to listen to."
It was Bierle's idea to invite the legendary coach to speak to the team. Graves and Bierle are longtime friends. Graves led the Wildcats to three State B volleyball titles from 1999-2001.
"The girls really benefited from it and as I did," Bierle said. "She made me feel good anyway."
Graves' main message to the girls?
"Just enjoy it," said Bierle, relaying Graves' message to the team. "Because it doesn't happen very often."
Sports writer Ryan Deal
Experienced volunteer
One of the volunteers who helped keep statistics during the State B Volleyball Tournament in Mitchell was Hitchcock-Tulare coach Jordan Opp.
"They send out an email to ask all the coaches, 'Who wants to volunteer to take stats?'," Opp said. "I think it's just a great time to talk with other coaches and to see some good volleyball at the same time."
Opp, who has helped out at state tourneys for about five years, said there is a big difference between coaching and taking stats.
"As a coach, you're watching both teams to see what the other team does. Here, you're just watching one team," Opp said. "When you're coaching, it's a lot more nerve-wrecking than taking stats."
Opp enjoys watching volleyball, especially in the postseason. "It's just fun volleyball to watch when you've got two good teams and everything is on the line," he said.
Opp said being at the state tourney also gives him a chance to pick up an idea or two that he can use with his own team.
"You always learn," Opp said. "Even if you take one thing away, it's worth the time."
Sports writer Dave Vilhauer
Well represented
Coaches, members of the media and tournament officials commented on the size of the Aberdeen Central student and parents' sections.
The blue-and-gold was a prominent color when the Golden Eagles played at the State AA Volleyball Tournament at Rapid City Central High School. It was one of the largest representations of Central fans I've seen in years. The weather was nice, which helped, but fans had to travel hundreds of miles from Aberdeen to Rapid City.
"It's amazing that as far as we traveled that we had this much great support," said Central volleyball coach Dennis Northrup. "I know everybody had great expectations, but I think our expectations were met. We didn't get to the championship game. We did the best we could do after that."
Aberdeen Central was upset by Rapid City Stevens in the first round, but fired back with wins over Huron and Sioux Falls O'Gorman for fifth place.
Sports writer Deb Smith
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