lcherald.com: Jandreau named National HS Saddle Bronc Champion

By Lucy Halverson
Lyman County Herald

Lyman County cowboy Dawson Jandreau of Kennebec set a personal goal this summer to not only make it to national high school rodeo finals but to win the saddle bronc championship. He qualified for the rodeo and most importantly, he worked his way up and accomplished just what he set out to do-become the 2009 National High School Saddle Bronc Champion.

Dawson’s mother Sindi described the competition in Farmington, New Mexico as nerve racking for herself. “Dawson was very focused. He didn’t get nervous or get ahead of himself, he just took one ride at a time,” said Sindi upon the family’s return home.

Dawson scored a 75 on his first horse, a pretty good score for a high school rider according to Dawson. But, in the second round he got a horse that wanted to run, instead of buck and manged just a 62. In the short go, he drew another horse that didn’t perform well. “He was long and flat,” said Dawson, who earned a 70 point ride on the third ride.

But, in the end, even with horses that didn’t cooperate, Dawson’s total score of 207 was enough to give him the title of the 2009 High School Saddle Bronc Champion.

Dawson brought home four buckles, a saddle, $2,700 in scholarship money, $400 in Wrangler clothing, plus several hundreds of dollars worth of Ariat clothing, horse blankets, a Resistol hat, and more.

Dawson comes from a rodeo family. Both his mother Sindi and his father Marty are members of the Professional Cowboys Rodeo Association (PRCA and the Women’s PRCA).

Dawson has been involved in 4-H rodeo since he was about 8 years old. For the past four years he’s ridden saddle bronc. He’s filled his PRCA card by winning over $1,000 in prize money at rodeos and will be an official member of the PRCA as of September.

When asked what was next after winning a National High School rodeo title Dawson never faltered in his response, “Going to the dome!”

As a young man who just reached his goal in rodeo, he’ll now turn his attention to the upcoming 2009 football season. With just one year left in high school, making a trip to the State football finals with his Lyman teammates is a goal Dawson is prepared to work for, “It’d be really cool,” said Dawson in response to the opportunity to play in the football finals this November.

Following Dawson’s appearance at the 2009 national high school championships, he traveled to Pueblo, Colorado to participate in the National Little Britches rodeo.

Dawson’s football teammates and family friends hosted a welcome home for Dawson and his family Wednesday, August 5 at the Kennebec arena.