Qualifying for nationals is a special moment for any high school rodeo athlete in South Dakota, but for the Wittnebel family, the word “special” doesn’t even begin to describe it.
This year, both Kylie and Addyson Wittnebel, sisters from Castlewood, are going to compete at the national’s high school rodeo event. For both competitors, it’s their first time going. But what makes the moment even more rare is that they both qualified in the same event – pole bending.
In high school rodeo, the top-4 competitors in each event qualify for nationals. Kylie finished third in pole bending while her sister Addyson finished in fourth. Addyson just graduated from Castlewood high school this spring while Kylie just finished her sophomore year. For this family duo, the joys of getting to compete at nationals together is priceless.
“I remember waiting for the results. And I had a feeling [Kylie] would get in, and I was just really hoping I would,” Addyson explained. “Getting to go together is just going to be a lot of fun, because we'll get to go and knowing each other. And then, we'll just get to be there to help each other out and spend a lot of time together and compete against each other, at a national level, which is pretty exciting.”
Kylie echoed her older sister’s words and emphasized how big this is for the Wittnebel family.
“It's very exciting and still, little bit processing it, I guess. But yeah, I'm just super excited,” said Kylie. “[The Family] is just really excited that we both made it and it wasn't just one of us. Everyone's just really excited to go to Nationals and that we get to go together, and experience it together, for the first time, for both of us.”
For Addyson and Kylie, rodeo has been a part of their lives since they were young. Their older sister Brittany was big into rodeo, along with their parents. Peggy, their mom, who acts as a coach to the girls today, was involved in multiple events growing up. Their dad Barrett is a former bareback rider.
“We grew up with horses in the family. And I guess, I’ve been riding since I can remember,” Addyson told. “I have an older sister too (Brittany), and I remember watching her and I was just like “mom, I need to beat her.” So I’ve been riding since I can remember, but yeah, I started with 4H Rodeo and I’ve just being rodeoing since.”
Kylie, unlike Addyson, had the benefit of not watching just one sibling ahead of her, but two.
“When I was a little girl, just riding our miniature pony all the time, at home. And always watching Addyson and Brittany at the rodeos. And I'd sit on the bleachers and I'd play with my horses, pretending to do little barrel runs or pole runs, as fast as I could,” Kylie explained. “I wanted to be just like them. I don't know. They're great role models. I looked up to them greatly, and I wanted to be just like them, if not better.”
Kylie competed in Barrel Racing, Goat Tying, and Pole Bending at the state rodeo finals in Ft. Pierre this year. Coming into the state event, she had 27 season points for Pole Bending, which was near the top. As long as she performed well at state, she had a good shot at qualifying for nationals.
“I tried to keep myself focused on the present and not look too far into the future. And so, at the beginning of the year, I did not see [qualifying for nations]. My goal was to make it to the short-go. If I made it to Nationals, that was awesome, and I would be really excited,” told Kylie.
The sophomore from Castlewood didn’t score any points in the 1st Go, but scored nine-points in the 2nd Go. She did indeed make it to the short go round where she added another eight-points putting her grand total for the year at 58.
“The first day, my horse wasn't completely at her highest level, that she could have been. The first day, we had a slow run. So, I wasn't too sure, how that was going to end up,” Kylie said. “But the second day, was a whole second faster. And then, in the short-go, it was way faster too. So I'm just... It turned out very great. A lot better, than I was expecting it to, after the first day.”
Addyson’s experience going into state was a little different than her younger sisters. She competed in Barrel Racing too, like her sister, but with Pole Bending, she had a tougher season, entering the state finals with 11-points.
“I came into the state finals with not very many points,” exclaimed Addyson. “So, I was just hoping that my runs would be good enough to get me there. And I ended up doing pretty well.”
In the 1st Go, Addyson scored seven-points. She then scored thirteen points in the 2nd Go, which put her into the top-10 and into the Short Go round. Addyson added another seven-points to her total in Saturday night’s final round of the event, bringing her total up to 54 on the year and earning her the final spot in Pole Bending for nationals.
“Honestly, I was just thinking, "What a way to go out, with my senior year, is to have the best finals, have the best seasons so far, and make it to nationals.””
With Addyson being a senior, this was her final run at getting to nationals. And not only did she qualify, but she’ll get to experience the moment with her younger sister.
“She definitely pushes me to be better, because she's my little sister. So when she beats me, I take it a little extra,” Addyson joked. “I just hope that I'd do the same to her. And I know, we're always constantly competing against each other, and when we're on such a close, same level and stuff, it's more fun to compete against her. And we always work on stuff together too and drill our two brains together, to try and help each other out.”
Next year, Addyson will go onto Lake Area Tech where she plans to major in cosmetology. While nationals could be her ‘final rodeo,’ she doesn’t foresee a future away from horses.
“Horses have always been something that I can just go and rely on, you know? If I'm having a bad day, they just make it better,” Addyson said. “Kind of like a little best friend. And it's something that I've always been really passionate about and I just... I don't think I'd ever be ready to let it go.”
Kylie will enter her junior year of high school this coming fall at Castlewood. She’s excited for the national rodeo finals, but also understands that in rodeo, she’s going to have to continue to battle again next year as the pool of talent, especially with younger athletes, continues to improve.
“I think rodeo is definitely getting more competitive and kids are definitely trying a lot harder. And to see freshmen and sophomores, competing against the seniors and juniors, who have been doing this for longer than we have, qualify. And I don't know, I think it makes us more competitive and stronger rodeo athletes, to better ourselves. I don't know. I guess, I think it's awesome,” exclaimed Kylie.
Addyson and Kylie have a younger brother Bryce as well, who they’ve deemed as their official rodeo videographer. While he’s all about supporting his sisters, at 10-years old he’s currently into dirt bike riding and other outdoor activities at the moment.
The Wittnebel sisters will travel to Gillette, Wyoming for the National High School Rodeo Finals on July 17-23. With the apex mountain of high school rodeo in the nation on the horizon, both girls are set on just enjoying the moment.
“I think my main goal, going into Nationals, is to do my best and just be happy with whatever I get,” Addyson said. “Because whatever I get, is whatever it's meant to be. And so, I just have to try not get in my head too much. But, yeah. Just enjoy the time.”
“I've had all clean runs all year, and so, I'd like to continue that, throughout Nationals. And to not ride scared,” chuckled Kylie. “Go out there and try my hardest and have fun, because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I'm very excited to go.”
