Carson-Douglas High School Rodeo club member Spencer Oesterling got into bull riding simply because he saw a friend do it and it looked like fun.
He never imagined where it would take him.
In just his third year in the sport, Oesterling finds himself at the Junior Bull Riders Association National Finals in Shawnee, Okla., this week.
"I didn't even think I'd ever make it to a state finals," Oesterling, a student at Carson High School said recently. "I didn't think I'd be great right away. No one ever is. But things just started falling into place, and before I knew it, I was on my way."
Oesterling qualified for the national competition last month after taking third at the California state finals and taking second in Lincoln, Calif.
He has been on a steep learning curve ever since trying out the sport for the first time at a friend's ranch in Yerington three years ago.
"I saw him do it and something just lit a fire in my belly," Oesterling said.
Practice time has been hard to come by, and Oesterling said he goes into most weekend competitions looking simply for opportunities to get better.
"The actual rodeos are usually my only chance to get on live bulls, so I just try to get as much experience as I can out of every weekend," he said. "It's hard work. If I win, I win, but that's not what I'm there for so.
"Lately, though, it's been working out OK."
He spent the summer on the junior rodeo circuit and was informed late that he'd made the state finals.
"I stayed on two bulls there and at the end of the rodeo, they let me know that I qualified for nationals," he said. "We said we'd do everything we could to go."
That included going out to pound the pavement for sponsors and little extra luck along the way.
in the meantime, Oesterling began the Nevada High School Rodeo season in Ely several weeks ago.
While there, he had the rare opportunity of riding two current PBR bulls. He rode Vertigo during the Friday go-around and rode Whiskey Lullaby on Saturday.
"I lasted about four seconds on each one," he said. "I'm not used to being on such a high-caliber bull, but it was an amazing experience."
Aside from finding time to actually practice, Oesterling has had to stump for financial support to keep up his sport.
"The community has helped out a lot, there were a lot of sponsors that came through for me," he said.
One such boost came when Byron Waite, chairman of the newly-opened Carson River Community Bank in North Douglas County, volunteered a donation to help get Oesterling to the national finals.
"I've been helped out a lot along the way in my life," Waite said. "This is just my way of passing along the favor."
Oesterling said he will also be holding a car wash upon his return for nationals to help close up the loose ends. He also wanted to make sure to thank his parents, Manny and Kori Oesterling.
"Of course, I have to thank my parents," he said. "They go through a lot, do all the driving and keep me going. My friend Mike O'Farrell has been encouraging me and pumping me up with his strong words of wisdom from the beginning too."
Anyone interested in helping Oesterling out can contact him at 885-9594.
He said he'd like to continue riding in college, and hopefully on a pro circuit someday.
"This is something I'm hoping to do throughout my whole life," he said. "It is just an incredible experience."
-- Joey Crandall can be reached at jcrandall@recordcourier.com or at (775) 782-5121, ext. 212.
