Sometimes you have to fall to realize what you’re made of.
That proved true this year for Ethan Lesiak, a bull rider on the Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team. He’s currently leading the bull riding in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Great Plains Region and is third in the national standings.
“It feels good-especially after last year,” said Lesiak. “I had a horrible year last year. I won a rodeo at Hastings, but I think that was the only one I rode at. I was in a slump, but now I’m back where I need to be and where I want to be.”
Lesiak was injured in April during a competition in Fargo, N.D. It was the first time he had ever been seriously hurt.
“I came off the bull wrong, went to brace myself and tore the tendons in my right elbow,” said Lesiak. “I had to have reconstructive surgery and was out of the game for five months.”
He got on a few practice bulls before the first college rodeo of the 2015-16 season in River Falls, Wis. in September.
“I was definitely a little nervous,” said Lesiak. “I knew how to do everything, but didn’t want to get hurt again or land on my elbow. The first couple times I favored it. Now, I just wear my brace, and I’m fine.”
Lesiak rode both of his bulls and won at Wisconsin, which boosted his confidence. After that, he placed second at the Rail Town U.S.A. College Rodeo in North Platte, got sixth in Ames, Iowa and was second on a return trip to Fargo, N.D.
“After everything I went through, it just makes it that more special to be leading the region,” said Lesiak. “My goal now is to win the region, and then win nationals in June.”
Background
Bull riding comes naturally Lesiak, who was raised on a farm/ranch near Clarks, Neb.
“I grew up around horses and cattle,” said Lesiak. “I broke my first pony when I was 5 and still have that pony today. All my younger siblings ride it.”
He began mutton busting, sheep riding, at about the same time, then graduated to riding steers when he was 9.
“From there, I just kind of worked my way up to miniature bulls then big bulls,” said Lesiak.
He was the Tuff-N-Nuff Miniature Rodeo Association reserve champion in 2009 and placed 16th that year at the Miniature Bucking Bull World Finals in Duncan, Okla.
The following year, Lesiak was champion of the Nebraska Miniature Bucking Bull Association and took third at the world finals in Lincoln.
He began competing on large bulls his freshman year of high school.
“The adrenaline rush is the main reason I do it,” said Lesiak. “There’s nothing that compares to getting on the back of a bull.”
Until college, everything Lesiak knew about bull riding was what he had taught himself through practice and watching professional bull riders on TV.
“I’ve never really been to a clinic,” said Lesiak. “I bought a drop barrel my junior year of high school and rode horses bareback to strengthen my inner thighs and practice direction changes. I wouldn’t hold on to the mane or anything – I wanted it to be all about balance and technique.”
Lesiak qualified for the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association State Finals all four years of high school. He was the state reserve champion in 2012, his sophomore year, placed third his junior year and was the state champ his senior year. Those last three years he also qualified for nationals.
His success caught the eye of Dustin Elliott, MPCC Rodeo Team rough stock coach.
“Obviously, I liked his consistency,” said Elliott. “He’s one of the best in our state. His grades were another factor I took into consideration. Ethan is an impressive scholar. Looking at grades tells me a lot about potential recruits. If they have good grades, it shows me they have dedication in the classroom as well as in the arena, and I’m not so apt to have to worry about ineligibility.”
Elliott recruited Lesiak to be part of the MPCC Rodeo Team. Lesiak received scholarships to do so, including one that paid all of his tuition.
“My goal is to be a professional bull rider, but I’m getting an education for backup,” said Lesiak. “I could get hurt really bad someday, and my bull riding career would be over. I’m majoring in agribusiness and have plans to transfer to a four-year college for animal science. I’ve thought about becoming an animal nutritionist and definitely want to raise Black Angus cattle.”
For now, though, he’s focusing on filling his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association permit. He has to win at least $1,000 at PRCA-sanctioned rodeos before he can apply for a PRCA card.
“I do eventually want to be part of the Professional Bull Riders, because there’s more money to be made there,” said Lesiak. “But, I like to travel and experience other places, and that’s what being in the PRCA will allow me to do.”
The first pro rodeos of the season start this weekend. Lesiak and fellow MPCC Rodeo Team members Jett Peterson, of Parade, S.D., and Aukai Kaai, of Johnstown, Colo., will drive to Brookings, S.D. then another nine hours to Casper, Wyo. to compete.
They will take a break in the spring for more college rodeos. Lesiak said he’s been relying on Elliott, a former world champion bull rider, for support and guidance.
“There’s a lot that goes into rodeoing,” said Lesiak. “I never really thought about that before I got to Mid-Plains. It’s all about what, when and how to enter. It’s a business.”
Passing on that business sense is one of the things Elliott loves the most about his job.
“When I’m recruiting, I’m looking for those kids who want to go to the next level,” said Elliott. “Barring injury, I think Ethan has the ability to go a long way – the NFR, PBR or wherever his dreams take him.”
No matter what his future holds, Lesiak is grateful to have gotten as far as he has. He’s starting to see younger bull riders look up to him the way he admires Elliott.
“I guess my advice to them would be, ‘You just have to work at it. Don’t give up’,” said Lesiak. “Success doesn’t come overnight. Some people are blessed with talent, but they still have to work on the little things – like perfecting technique. Most of all, I think it’s important to have a positive attitude, even if you get bucked off. You can’t ride them all.”
Lesiak’s rodeo accomplishments:
2015
- North Dakota State University College Rodeo Bull Riding Reserve Champion
- Iowa State Cyclone Stampede College Rodeo sixth place
- Rail Town USA College Rodeo Bull Riding Reserve Champion
- UWRF College Rodeo Bull Riding Champion
- Hastings College Rodeo Bull Riding Champion
2014
- Nebraska High School Rodeo Bull Riding State Champion
- Holiday Classic Bull Riding Reserve Champion
- Bull Riders of America Top 25
- Mid-States Rodeo Association Bull Riding Top Ten
- Nebraska State Rodeo Association Bull Riding Top Five
- National Cinch High School Rodeo Academic Team
2013
- National Cinch High School Rodeo Academic Team
- National High School Rodeo Finals Bull Riding Top 20
- Gateway to the Sandhills Bull Riding Champion
- Nebraska High School Rodeo Bull Riding third
- St. Patrick’s Day Bull Riding Champion
2012
- Nebraska High School Rodeo Bull Riding Reserve Champion
2011
- Nebraska High School Rodeo Bull Riding 10th place
2010
- Miniature Bucking Bull World Finals third place
- Nebraska Miniature Bucking Bull Association Champion
2009
- Miniature Bucking Bull World Finals 16th place
- Tuff-N-Nuff Miniature Rodeo Association Reserve Champion