story by Lily Weinacht
Wacey Dorenkamp of Bristol, Colorado, jumped his first steer when he was 14. Today, the 18-year-old also competes in team roping with header Sierra Fearno, while serving as the KHSRA Student Body President and Steer Wrestling Event Director. “My motivation is knowing that rodeo is something I’ll do for the rest of my life. I love it, and I think it’s one of the best things in the world to do,” says Wacey. He’s one of the two high school recipients of the 2017 CINCH Scholarship, chosen from students nationwide, and he intends to use the $2,000 toward his first semester at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He recently signed his letter of intent to attend NWOSU on a rodeo and academic scholarship. “I’d like to study pre-med and become an osteopath. I’ll rodeo for coach Stockton Graves, and compete beside people like J.D. Struxness.”
Wacey is the third generation of his family to rodeo, starting with his granddad, Fred Dorenkamp, who steer wrestled, rode broncs, and later owned Dorenkamp Rodeo Company. “My dad and all my uncles have steer wrestled, and I remember going with my dad to practice, so ever since I was little I’ve wanted to steer wrestle. I like the camaraderie between all the guys, who go from hazing to pushing steers for each other. And the adrenaline rush is amazing!” Wacey’s dad hazes for him, and his uncle Joe Dorenkamp, qualified three times for the WNFR in the steer wrestling, along with working the finals as a pickup man in 1992. He passed away in 1993, and when Wacey competes, he wears one of Joe’s buckles – won at the 1975 Silver Spurs Rodeo – in memory of his uncle. “I want to thank all of my family and friends who have been there to support me. My parents, Scott and Nicole, are always pushing me to be better, and I want to thank Kevin Wiseman for always being in the box for me, and the McKee, Solida, Ralph, and Draper families.”
The Dorenkamp family makes their home 30 miles from the nearest town – which Wacey defines as a place to stop for gasoline or food – but it’s a 10 minute drive to Grenada School, where he’s a senior. “Creative writing is probably my favorite subject. I like working with my English teacher, and I’ve been working on short stories for a small chapter book I’m writing.” Wacey has a 4.0 GPA, and he’s also taking dual credit courses at Lamar Community College. He additionally ran track and played football and basketball the last three years, but wanted to devote more time to rodeo this season.
Following school, Wacey saddles horses and practices before dark, with his dad hazing and his mom and cousin, Reilly Tefertiller opening chutes. Wacey’s main horse in the steer wrestling is Macho, a 17-year-old gelding. “My dad started him about three years before I got into steer wrestling, and I’m super happy to have him – he does a lot for me. I’m starting a new horse, Bomber, who’s seven. He’s a lot bigger and faster since he came off the race track. We started him as a hazing horse, but he’s made an amazing transition from the race track to steer wrestling.” Wacey heels on Blue, who also serves as his haze horse.
When he’s not competing at rodeos, whether KHSRA, NLBRA, or KPRA, Wacey works for a neighboring farmer cutting and stacking hay or doing other jobs. His main goal for the summer is qualifying for the NHSFR and winning the steer wrestling. He’s qualified the past two years, going in the trap shooting in 2015 and the trap shooting and steer wrestling in 2016. “I want to go on to college and continue with my success,” he finishes, “and try to win a couple titles in the college ranks too.”
