All Around Senior Boy
story by Michele Toberer
“I wasn’t really expecting to win the all-around title when I got to Guthrie for the National Little Britches Finals Rodeo, because there are so many kids that also do rough stock or bulldog, so I felt they had more opportunities to win it. So, winning the all-around title was surprising, but definitely the most exciting part of the week,” explains Chase Applewhite, the 2019 NLBRA World Champion Senior All-Around Cowboy. Fifteen-year-old Chase competed for his first year in the senior division in team roping, ribbon roping, and tie-down roping, finishing the year as the world champion header and reserve world champion ribbon roper. He placed in the first round of tie-down roping, and although he was sitting pretty good in the average, his short round run didn’t place him as high as he’d hoped to finish. Winning the all-around title helped make up for that.
Chase will be a sophomore at Quitman High School next year and is looking forward to going to the public high school after being homeschooled the past 2 years. He plans to play basketball for the Quitman Bulldogs. His mom, Stephanie Hartwick, is a nurse at Baptist Health in Heber Springs, Arkansas, and his stepdad, Chuck Hartwick, manages the Wood Ranch, where they raise performance and cutting horses. Chase’s dad, Joey Applewhite lives nearby and owns a flooring business, and is very supportive of his son’s rodeo aspirations. Chase has a brother and sister living at home with him still, Hayes Hartwick, 8, and Harley Applewhite, 17; and two older brothers, Cody Applewhite, 22, and Jesse Applewhite, 20, that are out on their own. He and Hayes are the only rodeo athletes of the bunch, and Chase has learned most of what he knows from Chuck, and from his grandpa, Michael Kennedy (Stephanie’s father). “Both Chuck and my grandpa competed as team ropers and really got me into roping. They were both there with me at finals and gave me advice before my runs; it was pretty exciting for them to see me do so well.”
Team roping is Chase’s favorite event, and he enjoys heading on his bay 11-year-old gelding, Dually. “My grandpa bought him for me two years ago from the Wood Ranch, and he has done really well for me.” He won the world champion title heading for heeler, Kelsy Odom, and the win helped clinch the all-around titles for them both. Kelsy, who was also Chase’s ribbon roping partner, was named the 2019 NLBRA World Champion Senior All-Around Cowgirl. Chase and Kelsy have already seen success together in ribbon roping and were the 2017 NLBRA World Champion Junior Ribbon Ropers, before winning the reserve champion title this year while riding Kelsy’s horse, Pretty Boy. Chase also won the 2016 NLBRA World Champion Ribbon Roper title with Brianna Oakley. Chase has started to really gravitate towards tie-down roping since purchasing Rita, a 12-year-old grey mare that he bought from Joe Beaver almost 2 years ago. “I’m really looking forward to next year with Rita and am really working on improving in tie-down since I have such a nice horse.” Chase appreciates the progress he’s made in rodeo and credits his stepdad, grandpa, Uncle Jace Harris, and Jody Wood for where he is today. “They have all helped me a bunch with everything from riding, to rodeo, and caring for horses properly.”
Chase looks forward to competing in college rodeo once he’s graduated from high school, and ultimately would like to work in the cattle industry and as a horse trainer if he doesn’t rodeo professionally.
“The NLBFR was exciting and the Lazy E is my favorite place I’ve ever been to compete. I won the titles, a set of spurs, 3 saddles, 6 buckles, 2 pair of Old West boots, 5 American Hat Company cowboy hats, and about $2,000. It was a great week.”
