story by Lily Weinacht
Tegan Kohles returned to the NJHFR for the second time in his junior high school rodeo career, qualifying in the goat tying and team roping this year. In 2015, he was the NJHFR Reserve Breakaway Roping Champion. This year, he was sixth in the first round of team roping, heeling for Logan Mullin, while he was sixth in the second round of goat tying. The 14-year-old from Hutchinson, Kansas, also enjoyed going to the Nashville Shores Waterpark for the first time with some of his family. In the KJHSRA, his favorite rodeo is state finals. “The night before the short-go, they have a dance, and sometimes a volleyball tournament or Fast Lane roping or something fun.”
Tegan started competing in rodeo when he was four, inspired by his mom, Kyla, who barrel races, and his step-dad, Troy, who team ropes. He’d also love to spend a day with PRCA tie-down roper Tyson Durfey – and his horse. “I definitely look up to my step-dad and mom,” says Tegan. “Troy has taught me everything I know, and he’s always been willing to haul me to junior rodeos and everything to help me get better. My mom is always out there running the chute and making sure all the cattle are ready to go, and she videos me a lot.” Tegan additionally competed in the summer junior rodeo series CKYRA, and enters jackpots. In May, he won the Hutchinson No. 8 USTRC roping, and he’ll continue tie-down roping and team roping in the KHSRA this fall. “My favorite event is probably team roping,” he says. “I like that it’s a team sport, unlike calf roping where you’re by yourself, and it doesn’t matter your size.” He also likes the scholarship opportunities in rodeo, and wants to college rodeo on a scholarship.
Practice happens three or four nights a week, and Tegan is often joined by his sister, Kenzie (8), who competes in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and breakaway roping. “I like that it’s very sandy here, so that whenever it rains, it sucks up most of the water and we can rope a lot more. We have an arena right out our front door.” Tegan ropes calves on his 13-year-old mare, Que, and team ropes on his 6-year-old gelding, Crackhead. “My step-dad trained the calf horse, and he started my heel horse and I finished him,” says Tegan. “We raise cattle and have ten or eleven horses. I feed every morning and every night, and I ride some of Troy’s outside horses.” Tegan also works at his grandparents’ steel rod company welding pins.
A freshman at Nickerson High School this fall, Tegan likes history, especially studying the 1700s and 1800s and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He plays basketball and runs track, and he also enjoys hunting and fishing with his dad. “I love to snow ski,” he adds. “Breckenridge is my favorite resort, but anywhere really is good.”
Tegan feels confident about team roping in the high school ranks, and says he never leaves for a rodeo without a good luck Hershey’s chocolate bar. Eating it is good luck. “I’d like to thank my step-dad for helping me,” he finishes. “I would like to have a 3.8 GPA through high school, and I’d like to make Nationals at least two or three times in high school.”