By Con Marshall
     Two former Chadron State College rodeo team members were among the event winners at Crawford’s Old West Trail Rodeo on July 3 and 4.
    Tate Petrak of Martin, S.D., won the steer wrestling by flipping his steer in 5.4 seconds, and Clayton Van Aken, a California native who now lives at Yoder, Wyo., was the header on the first-place team roping entry with a time of 7.9 seconds.Â
Petrak earned $639 for his win and both Van Aken and his team roping partner, Cullen Teller of Ault, Colo., earned $1,175.
    Other event winners included Matt Peters of Hot Springs, the tie down roping champion in 10.2 seconds. His victory was worth $714.
   Two bullriders from Nebraska earned the most money at the rodeo. Garrett Wickett of Pierce earned $1,530 for his 83-point ride, and Dillon Micheel received $1,252 for his 79.5-point ride.Â
Wickett and Micheel were the only bullriders at the rodeo to make it to the eight-second whistle. Â
Great fireworks show in Crawford after the rodeo!!! Hadn’t taken in the rodeo in several years because the announcer is impossible to understand. Imagine how good the rodeo would be if the announcer could actually talk!