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Kallie Agre believes it might be a first. Her mom, Coreen, thinks the same thing. To the best of their knowledge, a Minnesota cowgirl has never won the all-around title for three straight years. That is until now.

A little more than a week ago, at the Minnesota State Rodeo Finals in Hugo, Agre did just that, wrapping up the all-around title for the third straight year. That streak might even be extended because she’s just a junior with one more left on the high school circuit.

What does she get for her title? Besides more ammo to add to her resume, Agre qualified for Nationals July 19-25 in Gillette, Wyoming. She will be one of four local athletes making the trip to the big show.

“I’m still kind of in shock. When I won my first title, it was exciting but I didn’t really expect it. Then when I won my second, it was a big surprise. It still hasn’t soaked in that I just won my third yet,” said Agre. “It was my goal to win it from the beginning of the season, so to reach my goal is pretty exciting.”

Exciting because this title was a little different than the first two. Agre was dealt a big blow at the beginning of the season when her horse was injured. Riding with a back-up horse, she still found a way to position herself at the top, even though she really doesn’t know how she did it.

“I had to find a different horse so I didn’t do that well in barrels and poles,” replied Agre. “I’m really not sure how I was able to do so well. I think I just stepped it up in the events I normally don’t do that well and that helped me.”

Events like goat tying and breakaway calf roping, two of the events Agre considers her weakest, even though she finished second and third respectively in the events at state. Now Agre will get a chance to showcase her talents on a national stage...again.

“I’m only going in goats and breakaways which are my worst two events, at least as far as I’m concerned,” smiled Agre. “I’ve never done breakaways at nationals so it’s going to be different. But, I’ve always wanted to make it to nationals in breakaways, that was another one of my goals.”

Another goal she can cross off her list.

Along with Agre, two more champions were crowned at state, including senior John Buchanan of North Branch, who teamed up with Andy Otto to grab the team roping title. Buchanan and Otto were fifth heading into state before climbing the ladder with three solid runs, running them up the team roping standings, all the way to first.

“We didn’t do that well in the fall,” said Buchanan, referring to the start of the rodeo season which kicked off last August. “This spring, we turned it around. We won the average which got us a lot of points. It helped because we placed high all three days.”

That includes a first place finish on Thursday June 17, the first day of the three-day competition. The team then added to their momentum, placing high on Friday and Saturday to solidify their title, sending them to Nationals.

“It was a lot different for me being a senior. I went in wanting to make Nationals in all three of my events. Once I did well in team roping, I just decided to go out and have fun with everything,” replied Buchanan, who is returning to the National rodeo in team roping. “This year, the main thing is to go out there and enjoy it. I put a lot of pressure on myself last year (at Nationals) because I was roping with a senior. This year, my partners a sophomore so I’m a little more relaxed.”

Relaxed is a term that is shared by Eryn Kuntz. At least, now she can relax. The Center City resident grabbed the goat tying title, also sending her back to the National rodeo. However, this year, her title meant something different. It was the culmination of a goal that was planted in her brain her freshman year. Needless to say, her championship was a long time coming.

“When I first started out, when I was a freshman, I was reserve (second) state champ, right behind a girl who was a three-time champ,” remembered Kuntz. “I lost that title that year, and when I was a freshman and that happened, I told myself that I was going to get it eventually come hell or high water.”

Was she serious? As a heart attack. Consider that while the rest of her senior class at Chisago Lakes was graduating in early June, Kuntz was performing in a rodeo in Fergus Falls! Nothing was going to stand in her way and it didn’t. Leading the goat tying standings the entire season, Kuntz finished off her title run with three solid times at state, finishing with times of 10.6 seconds the first day (second overall), 10.4 seconds the second day (first overall), and 10.2 seconds the final day (second overall).

“I just told myself that I had to make three solid runs and that title was mine,” remarked Kuntz. “That’s what I did. I just knew all along that this was going to be my year. I wanted a state title last year and I finished third. Everybody ahead of me that year graduated so I knew this was it.”

The state title was a first for the Kuntz household as well. Two years ago, Eryn’s brother Steve lost his title late, adding even more incentive for Kuntz to take everything. She did.

“I did it for my brother too,” smiled Kuntz. “Bragging rights were on the line.”

Last, but certainly not least, is Amber Hultman of Center City who also will making to the trip to Wyoming in July. Hultman, last year’s state rodeo queen, took third overall in barrel racing and third in polebending. The top four in each event qualify for Nationals. In addition, Hultman was crowned reserve champion in the queen contest, meaning she will take over if queen Olivia Boll cannot perform her duties.

“I really overachieved my expectations at state,” smiled Hultman. “I didn’t really expect to go in barrels but I did. It was kind of a surprise. I just wanted to go in there and do my best.”

Why was it a surprise? Heading into state, Hultman was 13 in barrel racing- she finished third. For the mathematically impaired, that’s a jump of 10 places in three days.

“I had no idea I even had a shot in barrels. It was unbelievable,” remarked Hultman. “I would’ve been nice to be queen again, but going for barrels and poles more than made up for it.”

MHSRA 2004 Champions

Bareback Riding:

Champion- Matt Piche

Reserve- Ryan Schumacher

Third- Brian More

Polebending:

Champion- Brittany Hamaan

Reserve- Rachel Hammer

Third- Amber Hultman

Fourth- Olivia Boll

Goat Tying:

Champion- Eryn Kuntz

Reserve- Kallie Agre

Third- M.J Jeanotte

Fourth- Julianna Pemberton

Breakaway Calf Roping:

Champion- M.J Jeanotte

Reserve- Kayla Otto

Third- Kallie Agre

Fourth- Courtney Elm

Barrel Racing:

Champion- Rachel Hammer

Reserve- Courtney Elm

Third- Amber Hultman

Fourth- Whitney Heyvaert

Steer Wrestling:

Champion- Chance Carlson

Reserve- Ryan Martine

Third- Kyle Grinager

Fourth- Dalton Ling

Team Roping:

Champion-

John Buchanan/Andy Otto

Reserve-

Nick Coulter/Chris Coulter

Third-

DillonCorrington/R. Schumacher

Fourth-

Chance Weldon/Chance Carlson

Saddle Broncs:

Champion- Tyler Corrington

Reserve- Kirk Nelson

Third- Nick Coulter

Tie-Down Calf Roping:

Champion- Josh Foutch

Reserve- Blake Prestemon

Third- Carl Taylor

Fourth- Ryan Schumacher

Bull Riding:

Champion- Ryan Schumacher

Reserve- Matt Piche

Third- Nick Coulter

Fourth- Brian More

Boys Cutting:

Champion- Andy Otto

Reserve- Tom Davis

Third- Chance Carlson

Fourth- Ryan Schumacher

Girls Cutting:

Champion- Kayla Otto

Reserve- Kelsey Baker

Third- Kaycee Neisius

Fourth- Rachel Hammer

Queen Contest:

Champion- Olivia Boll

Reserve- Amber Hultman

Third- Kaycee Neisius

Fourth- Ashley Roberts

Rookie Cowboy-

Dillon Corrington

Rookie Cowgirl-

Brittany Hamaan

All-Around cowboy-

Ryan Schumacher

All-Around cowgirl-

Kallie Agre

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