“I remember thinking, they’re all winners in and outside of the arena, I want to be a part of that team.”
Cooper Lane was four years old when he entered his first rodeo and would never have imagined how that entry would shape the direction of his life. The 17-year-old saddle bronc rider from Keller, Texas caught the rodeo bug watching his older cousin’s rodeo when he was just a tiny little boy. His uncle Justin Lane, who spent 15 years as a PRCA saddle bronc rider and finished 16th in year-end standings twice, encouraged his parents to let him enter the mutton busting at a PBR in Fort Worth. Cooper fell in love with bucking stock that day and rode his way to the finals in the short round that night at AT&T Stadium, where he was inspired by the pro guys and bucking bulls under the bright lights. Then when Cooper was in eighth grade and he met athletes from Team Cavender’s, he had a similar feeling, “I remember thinking, they’re all winners in and outside of the arena, I want to be a part of that team.” He wondered if he had what it took to be a part of the team, a question that was later answered in his favor. Now as a member of Team Cavender’s, he hopes other kids are looking up to this team just the same, “they’re a great group of people and winners, I like being a part of that culture.” His strong faith is what keeps him moving forward, “I want to be on the big stages for God’s glory, not my own… I’ve been putting God first and letting everything work out, and it’s been going pretty good lately.”
Cooper comes from a long line of rodeo athletes, and his parents are behind everything he does. His dad, Brent, has been behind the chutes with him at every rodeo since he was four, and his mother, Pam, “is a firecracker who either gives him a hug when he needs it, but also scares him a little bit.” His uncle helps and coaches him every chance he gets, but “Cooper did most of the work,” Justin said, “I think rodeoing in general teaches kids work ethic,” which is why he encouraged Cooper to rodeo from a young age. Cooper started his rough-stock career like many, riding sheep, calves and steers. Once he started junior high rodeo, he rode bareback and saddle bronc steers but only continued with saddle bronc when he entered high school. “It was always my dream to carry on the family tradition.”
There is not much Cooper does that doesn’t revolve around rodeo. However, he plays safety for his high school’s football team during the school year. As he begins his senior year and looks to the future, he plans to rodeo in college while majoring in business and working hard to win a college rodeo title. He looks up to Brody Cress, a six-time NFR saddle bronc qualifier and three-time average winner, for his professionalism in all aspects of life. Brody and his entire family are close family friends, and he’s inspired by the way Brody prioritizes his athletic ability and put his college degree to use with his business, “Level Up Wellness” which aims to help people better themselves and reach their full potential.
Cooper’s favorite part about being on the road to rodeos, aside from the passenger side naps, “even if it’s a 15-minute drive, I’ll probably sleep for 10,” is getting to experience a life with his buddies that most teenagers could only dream of. They make the most of everything together, from jumping in rivers, picking up friends along the highway, unsuccessfully dodging deer on the road, to showing up just in time for the evening performance after a long day of driving. At his first National High School Rodeo Finals last year, he ended third in the average, but this year found himself fifth at the Texas High School finals, one spot out of a second nationals’ qualification, which has made him hungrier for this sport. He will tell anyone that his biggest challenge in rodeo is getting in his head, “I overthink every little aspect,” which is why he likes hauling with his good friends and members of Team Cavender’s, John Crimber, Jase Stout, and Ethan Winkler who encourage him to keep things simple and striving for his dreams.
