U.S. Air Force Academy fields rodeo team

By Jim Bainbridge,
ProRodeo.com

Pilot school or bull riding? Now that's a choice that doesn't come up much in your typical collegiate rodeo program.

At the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., where Master Sergeant Randy Kwiatkowski is constructing the school's first full-fledged entry into the sport, it is an ever-looming consideration.
"If you are up for one of the pilot slots," Kwiatkowski said, "you hesitate to risk competing in roughstock events because the possibility of injury is so great."

There are other complications, too, starting with the fact that this club team has just a $4,000 budget, no scholarships and there's really no such thing as a team practice.
Everybody gets in their time whenever they can, and there are occasional ranch rodeos in Calhan, on the plains south and east of campus. Ropers and the team's one barrel racer go to the Cactus Creek Ranch south of Colorado Springs or north to Castle Rock. Roughstock contestants go to practice pens in nearby Fountain and Fowler.

"Everybody's busy, so practice can be impromptu," Kwiatkowski said. "One member of the team may say to another 'Hey, I can be clear at 4 o'clock' and they'll just hop in the truck and go."
Still, nobody's complaining. A program has to start somewhere, and the nine-member team that has been assembled will compete in four National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association events this semester, starting in Riverton, Wyo., Sept. 21-22. If sponsors can be found, they'll expand their schedule in the spring.

In the past - most recently in 2001 - there have been small groups of cadets who have competed in college rodeos independently, a sub-group of the academy's equestrian club.
Earlier this year, a small contingent of rodeo competitors created their own club program, gaining their own modest funding and autonomy to decide their schedule.

"There were about five or six guys trying to get it started last spring," said bull rider Cadet 2nd Class Mike Chidester, "but we weren't able to get it done until the fall season. Now we have some money to do stuff. We have a team and when we leave here, we will have that for others to be a part of."
Chidester is a fairly typical member of the academy's rodeo team. A native of Virginia, he had never ridden a horse - let alone a bucking bull - before enrolling at the academy three years ago.

He got involved in the sport after he started riding at the academy stables, then went to a few practice pens with a friend who is a bull rider.

"I watched him ride and decided I wanted to give it a try, to say I'd done it, if nothing else," Chidester said. "But I loved it. The first ride, I got bucked off after the bull took two jumps and I got up smiling. My third ride I got stepped on, but by that time, I was hooked."

Chidester rode in three Canadian Professional Rodeo Association events this summer and has competed in some local jackpots in Calhan and Fountain to gain more experience.

"I wanted to be a pilot from the age of 5," he said, "but when I got here the doctor told me I was color blind, so I'd probably never get into flight school. I've kind of come to terms with it now, and it means I don't have to worry about bull riding affecting my assignment. It's harder for guys like Chris Wiedenmann who wants to bull ride, but is going to be a pilot, so he will stick to roping."

Kwiatkowski, Lt. Col. Ron Machoian and Chief Master Sgt. (retired) Bob Diehl are seeking sponsors to help advance the program and assure that those who might qualify can compete in the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., next spring. Contributions may be made by calling Donna Mohler at 719.333.4415 or Jill Stevens at 719.333.6796

(Editor's Note: Master Sgt. Kwiatkowski commented after this story was published that the team competed in four rodeos this fall and "each competition showed a significant improvement, and we received personal recognition from Mr. Bill Vossler (head of the Laramie Community College Rodeo) while we were in Cheyenne, boasting our level of improvement over the course of the semester. Of course our goal is to have at least one cadet qualified for the Collegiate National Finals next August, but for right now we are taking it one performance at a time, focusing on developing the underclassmen to take over the hard work our dedicated cadets have already put into the program."