Bolich plans weekend shuffle
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
Andy Bolich has a few to make.
The Mt. Spokane graduate who lives in Belgrade, Mont., is entered in the Spokane Interstate Fair rodeo and the Puyallup Pro Rodeo this weekend.
He doesn’t need to attend either since his season is winding down.
His dream of making the National Finals Rodeo disappeared with a mediocre summer, but he is firmly entrenched atop the bareback standings on the Montana Circuit where he is the defending champion.
“What it gets down to this time of year, we go hard all summer and if you’re not in hunt to go to the Finals, you kind of ease around and go to ones that are not too expensive to get to,” Bolich said. “This time of year it’s harder to win, too, because the guys that need to make money to go to the Finals are entered all over the place.”
Of course, money is still the object, but can he make any?
“I’m in both Spokane and Puyallup (today),” Bolich said. “If I think I can make short round and do good at Puyallup, it’s a big rodeo, I’ll for sure come to Spokane on the way back. If I don’t think I have a chance, it’s probably not worth it to drive all the way over there for one.”
Sounds complicated, but it’s really not. He’s entered in the 1 p.m. performance at Puyallup. Spokane starts at 6:45. Bareback riding is the first event at a rodeo, so it’s a potential doubleheader, traffic and the State Patrol willing.
Puyallup is a major rodeo and the top 10 in each event after four performances (two each today and Saturday) return to ride for the big bucks – several grand for event winners – at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Spokane, by contrast, is a one go-round rodeo with performances at 6:45 Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday and event winners pocket about $1,200.
The key is the horse Bolich has drawn in Puyallup: Is it good enough so he can compete with the top riders in the country?
If only it were that easy.
“I’ve got a wedding I’m supposed to be in,” Bolich said. “I don’t know if I’m going to make it.”
Attend Friday’s performance to learn the answer.
Gray, Buechner not entered
There is a great smattering of top cowboys and cowgirls entered in Spokane, but two local young stars are not.
Bareback riders Ryan Gray of Cheney and Rowdy Buechner of Sandpoint, who both made their first NFR last season, won’t be in Spokane for different reasons.
Gray, who is sitting 16th in the PRCA standings but less than $60 out of the 15th and final NFR qualifying spot, is in Lewiston and Puyallup, which have bigger payoffs.
Buechner suffered a broken knee cap in Great Falls, Mont., during the first week of August and his season is over. He has slipped to 30th in the standings.
“It was after the whistle,” said Bolich, who was traveling with Buechner during the summer. “He got throwed off and landed up against the bucking chutes.”
Oakes, Pozzi headline entries
Should they make it – and if they face decisions like Bolich, it’s understandable if they don’t – bull rider Zach Oakes and barrel racer Brittney Pozzi are among the top entries.
Oakes, Bolich’s brother-in-law, is 16th in the national standings.
“He’s entered up hard – he’s on the bubble,” Bolich said. “He got hurt over the Fourth of July and missed three or four weeks. He’s been doing good since he came back, but it seems like everybody else is, too, so hasn’t gained ground.”
Oakes is up Sunday.
Pozzi, who is from Victoria, Texas, leads the national standings. She is up today.