A recent graduate from Powell will be heading to the College National Finals Rodeo this week. Kyle Cheney, a sophomore at Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kansas, will compete in the bull riding at the biggest event of the year.

“I worked pretty hard,” Cheney said. “I don’t know if it’s really hit me yet … I’m trying to make myself believe that it’s not a big deal to not put too much pressure on myself.”

Cheney competes as a Conquistador in the Central Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, having finished third in the region after accumulating 320 points throughout the season.

Among those 320 points, he won the Fort Hays State rodeo with 79 points this April, while also placing second at the Oklahoma State rodeo in the fall and fourth at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo in April.

For the season he finished third behind Jesse Hopper of Western Oklahoma State College who scored 770 points and Jackson Ward of Pratt Community College who scored 440 points.

According to the college, Cheney is the first cowboy from the school who has made it to the CNFR since 2011, which he attributed to hard work and the support of his coaches.

“The coaches are really good and the stock is good,” Cheney said. “I just know that I have worked my tail off every time.”

During his spare time, Cheney said he has been spending time working both in Kansas and home in Powell in order to practice on his own bulls, while staying in the gym to maintain his health before heading to the CNFR.

Cheney said he’s been performing in the Cody Nite Rodeo recently in order to get back into the swing of competing in a rodeo before he heads down to Casper.

“I’ve mainly been trying to stay healthy and going to the gym,” Cheney said. “I’ve been competing some at the Cody Nite, getting a feel for being in the rodeo (again).”

Heading down to Casper, Cheney will get his opportunity to perform early in the week, with the “Bulls, Broncs and Breakaways” featuring on the first day of competition on Sunday, June 9.

All events will be held at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper and Cheney hopes he isn’t overwhelmed — he has ridden in a national competition before, having earned a spot at the National High School Finals Rodeo in 2022.

“I hope it doesn’t hit me too big,” Cheney said. “I’ll be like, ‘I’m here, it’s time to mean business.’”

Throughout the week, performances will feature slack rounds in the morning on Monday and Tuesday, before evening performances starting Tuesday night and running through the championship performances on Saturday, June 15.

Heading into the competition, Cheney is planning to just take it one bull at a time, while planning to enjoy his time at the event.

“My realistic goal is mostly to have fun and take it one bull at a time,” Cheney said. “Don’t worry about the outcome, put it all towards God, the good and the bad. Just do what I’ve been trained to do and keep my head up.”

All the performances for the CNFR will be broadcast on ESPN3.