story by Ruth Nicolaus
Out of about 1,200 students at Loveland (Colo.) High School, Colton Clymer is the only one he knows that competes in Colorado High School Rodeo Association in the school. When his classmates and teachers find out he rides bulls, they have one of two reactions. “Some kids are amazed, and some kids are like, ‘what are you doing?’” Colton said. “It’s hard for people to understand, who have no clue” about rodeo.
The eighteen-year-old bull rider began his rodeo career in the sixth grade, riding steers.
He’s learned a lot from his dad, Clint Clymer, a former bull rider and bareback rider, and his granddad, Dennis Clymer, who did all three roughstock events. He has attended a lot of clinics, too, in Colorado, Kansas, and Wyoming. “My dad and grandpa taught me what they knew, and I took it and added on to it,” he said.
The most beneficial clinic he’s been to was a Gary Leffew Clinic, held in Brighton, Colo. “I found every bit of his school very helpful.” Colton appreciated the focus Leffew puts on mental toughness. “Rodeo isn’t all about how good you are. If you’re not mentally ready, you could be the best bull rider and get bucked off.”
A senior at Loveland High, Colton’s favorite class last semester was public speaking. He was hesitant to give speeches in front of his classmates, but the class helped him overcome that fear. He enjoyed the teacher, as well, which helped.
Throughout the class, Colton was required to give eight speeches. His favorite was the first round of speeches, where students introduced themselves and explained what they liked to do. He talked about riding bulls and brought pictures to show.
Speech class has also helped his interpersonal communication as well. The teacher taught how to make eye contact so the other person knows you’re paying attention. “I can definitely engage with the other person well,” he said.
His least favorite class was college composition. “I’m not a big fan of writing essays,” he said. Students wrote a ten-page essay. Colton’s essay was a persuasion writing that rodeo isn’t cruel to animals.
While in school, he played tackle football from second grade through eighth grade. He wrestled for three years as well.
He graduated at semester and will finish the high school rodeo season this spring, work with his dad, and rodeo as much as he can.
For fun, he likes to hunt, especially on his grandpa’s property north of Carter Lake. He usually gets a mule deer each year and has drawn elk tags in the past, but didn’t last year. He loves eating deer steaks, hamburgers and jerky sticks deer into steaks, hamburgers and jerky. “It’s pretty good stuff.”
He likes to work with his dad, a farrier. “I’d rather do that than sit in an office.”
His favorite holiday is Christmas, “getting to give other people gifts, and spending time with family.” The best gift he got last year was a bull rope, from his dad. The best gift he gave last year was a leather belt he made for his girlfriend, with a floral pattern and her initials on it. He’s pretty sure she likes it. “She punched a hole in it right away and put it on.”
This fall, he will attend Central Wyoming College in Riverton on rodeo and academic scholarships. He plans on majoring in business and getting a welding degree.
His sophomore year, Colton finished third in the state. Last year, he finished as reserve champion. At the National High School Finals, he hasn’t done as well as he’d liked; his sophomore year, finals were a “learning experience,” he said. And his junior year, he didn’t draw well.
Colton has two older brothers, Jesse and Jeremiah, who did not rodeo, and an older sister, Samantha, who showed western pleasure. His mom is Stacey Clymer.
