Olds College Sports Information
Oct. 7, 2022
OLDS, Alta. - The 2022-23 season will be far from Guy Kelley's first rodeo.
However, the veteran coach of the Olds College Broncos rodeo team, flanked once again by assistants Tanner Girletz and Rayel Daines, has a much deeper stable of contestants to choose from this season, as 36 out of 39 eligible contestants are making the trip to Dawson Creek, B.C. this weekend for the first Canadian Collegiate Rodeo Association (CCAA) rodeo of the season, hosted by Northern Lights College.
Northern Lights College will be streaming the season opener on Facebook beginning at 11 a.m.
Kelley will send Rhett Tattrie (Youngstown, Alta. / Bareback Riding), Kegan Bishell (Consort, Alta. / Bull Riding), Becky Bradley (McLure, B.C. / Goat Tying) and Maysa Powelson (Welling, Alta. / Breakaway Roping) into Saturday's varsity competition, but the depth of this year's Broncos team meant Kelley had to make some tough decisions.
"The four I picked have probably been the most consistent at our practices over the last couple weeks," Kelley said of his selections. "I probably could have picked three quarters of our team. So, we talked it over, and it wasn't an easy decision, but I think we're all pretty good with the decision we made on the four."
On top of this weekend's varsity roster, the Broncos also feature Cody Fraser (Quorm, AUS), the rodeo program's first international recruit, along with reigning CCRA Cowgirl of the Year Cassidy Maffenbeier (Hoosier, Sask.).
The season opener will also break new ground in the rodeo world as the first collegiate rodeo event in British Columbia's history, which Kelley believes to be significant for rodeo's development in the post-secondary space.
"It's gonna be pretty neat to come up here and see what they've done," he said. "They have trophy saddles for all the events and buckles for high point cowboy and cowgirl, so they really put the money into it to get everybody up here."
The Broncos will have a busy October in the arena, with a trip to Vermillion in store for next weekend's rodeo hosted by Lakeland College, then playing host on Oct. 22-23 at Brawn Arena. The Broncos will close out the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule with a trip to Fort MacLeod on Oct. 29-30 for a rodeo hosted by the Southern Alberta Intercollegiate Rodeo Team.
Overall, the depth of this year's Broncos roster has Kelley going into the season with high expectations.
"With the calibre of athletes we have, I think we have a legitimate shot at a number of Canadian titles," he said.
For a comprehensive draw order for the weekend, please click here.
For more information on the Olds College Broncos, please visit GoBroncos.ca, or follow the Broncos across social media @OldsBroncos.