NHSRA member, Cole Retchless, header – JJJ Photo
story by Ruth Nicolaus
Cole Retchless loves to golf, and he loves to rope.
The Nebraska High School Rodeo Association member, who lives five miles south of Bridgeport, is a member of his school’s golf team. In rodeo, he heads for Hadly McCormick and he also steer wrestles.
His head horse is an 18-year-old sorrel named Nash, on whom Cole started roping six years ago. His bulldogging horse is borrowed from Jason Johnston, and the 14-year-old black gelding named Fire is the real deal. “He’s good to be around,” Cole said. “The kids can climb all over the top of him. He’s fun to be around.” Two Colorado high school championships have been won on Fire; Cole started riding him at state finals this past summer.
The senior at Bridgeport High School really enjoys his history and government classes. He stays updated on the news and enjoys watching the political debates. He loves studying U.S. history, especially the westward migration and settlement of the country. Many of the pioneers passed on the Oregon Trail within view of the Retchless home, from which Courthouse and Jail Rock can be seen.
His favorite teacher ever was someone who was never his teacher, but who has been very influential in his and many other students’ lives. Coach Glenn Kraay, who retired last year from Bridgeport School, has done a wide variety of things, from traveling to racing pigeons, and Cole loves to sit and talk to him. “I’ve never heard him say one bad thing about a person. He’s a really, really good hearted guy, always down to earth, and good to talk to.”
In addition to being on the golf team, Cole is president of his school’s Student Council and is a member of FFA. He has won District FFA contests in extemporaneous speaking the last two years.
After high school graduation, he hopes to college rodeo, but he is unsure of what college he will attend. He would like to major in agronomy, then hit the pro rodeo trail after college. Someday, he’d like to own an agronomy business in Bridgeport.
For fun, Cole likes to hunt ducks, mostly mallards, and rope with friends. The family has an arena and there are always friends around to rop with.
He has qualified for state finals three years and competed at them his sophomore and junior years.
He has a younger brother, Brody, who is a freshman and is a Nebraska High School Rodeo member.
He is the son of Marty and Amy Retchless.
