KALISPELL — By her own admission, Huntley native Aspen Swenson has little time for much more than the grind of a busy rodeo schedule.
She enjoys it that way, even if it means spending long hours on the road (traveling in the family truck through 25 states so far on the rodeo trail) and spending a lot of time away from her friends in eastern Montana.
“I love my friends and all, but I’d probably choose my horses over my friends nine times out of 10,” Swenson said.
Huntley native Aspen Swenson flies a flag on horseback before the second night performance of the Montana High School Finals Rodeo Friday at the Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell. Gary Marshall, BMGphotos.com ▲
But when you’re as bright a young star in Montana’s high school rodeo scene (and beyond) as Swenson is, can you really blame her?
Racking up accolades left and right in a budding rodeo career that began when she was 3, Swenson, just a freshman, has buckles and saddles on her mind in her Montana High School Rodeo Association debut. High School Rodeo Association. School rodeo finals.
Entering Thursday’s first round as the top-ranked athlete in the state’s overall cowgirl standings, Swenson looks to be the most versatile cowgirl in the state. A busy five-event schedule this season that includes barrel racing, breakaway roping, goat tying, pole bending and team roping (with brother AJ Swenson) has helped with that, as has previous experience competing (and winning ) against some of the best cowgirls in the world. at the secondary level.
With three more years of high school rodeo ahead of him, it’s entirely possible that Swenson is just starting to turn heads on the Montana rodeo scene.
“It’s a lot different than high school was, because I need to be on my game 24/7 to be able to compete with all these other amazing girls,” Swenson said. “It has improved my game by 1,000%.
“I’ll feel like I ran a good, decent race, and then the eight girls behind me just come in and beat me. That gives me good (motivation to) get back in the practice pen (and) work harder so I can be up there. with them.”
Swenson had already accumulated seven years of experience in the rodeo world by the time she was 10, which was also the same age that her mother pulled her and her brother aside and asked them if they loved the sport to the point of pursue a full career. rodeo schedule in the future.
That question got an enthusiastic yes from the kids, and the Swensons have been chasing dreams on the land ever since.
Aspen had a decorated high school career, marked by winning the junior girls’ world title at last year’s Little Britches National Finals Rodeo in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Aspen, who was previously a student in the Huntley Project school district, also turned to homeschooling to find extra time to travel to Arizona to practice her skills in the winter.
Her old school friends still keep in touch and spend time with her when she returns to the Huntley area, Swenson said, while the connections she has made in the state’s rodeo community have never been stronger. She’s seen a lot of familiar faces in Kalispell this week, she noted, finding fierce competitors in the arena and great friends and memories outside of it.
“I’m surrounded by a great group of friends and they are just amazing and cheer me on no matter what,” Swenson said. “Unfortunately, half of them live across the state, so I don’t see them very often, but they support me all the time.
Huntley native Aspen Swenson poses for a photo before the second night performance of the Montana High School Finals Rodeo on Friday at the Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell. Gary Marshall, BMGphotos.com ▲
“Being here in Kalispell is wonderful. I love this facility and it’s great; I’m so excited because the announcers and everyone get you excited. I love my rodeo family because everyone is so sweet and kind… it’s just great. to be around all.”
The next step in Swenson’s rodeo journey can be accomplished during Saturday’s championship rounds, which begin at 1 p.m. and will air live on The Cowboy Channel: qualifying for the first time into the National Finals High School Rodeo High schools next month in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
To secure a spot at nationals, which are scheduled to be held July 14-20, Swenson must first place in the top 16 of a state final event standings following the conclusion of Friday’s round in order to advance to Saturday . Once there, he must finish in the top four in the championship round to advance to Rock Springs.
After all of Thursday’s performances and part of Friday’s (some Friday night results were not available at the time of this publication), Swenson was above the final round cut line in team roping (eighth ), tying with breakaway ropes (9th), tying goats (10th) and bending poles (13th). She noted that her performances in her early rounds did not see her “completely at the top of my game,” but Swenson expressed confidence in her horse and what she herself can do.
Considering the heights he’s already reached in rodeo, don’t expect to count Swenson out of any event he’s in for long.
“I worked with my horse and she feels amazing,” Swenson said before Friday night’s performances. “So let’s keep our fingers crossed that we can have a good race tonight.”
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