HUMBOLDT — While Trey Johnson has earned plenty of accolades on the football field and basketball court, his passion lies in the rodeo arena.
That’s why it wasn’t a hard decision for Johnson to continue his studies at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, where he will compete in calf roping for the school’s rodeo team.
Johnson, a senior at Humboldt High School, was honored at the school with a ceremony Wednesday to celebrate his signing a letter of intent to attend NEO.
He was accompanied by his parents, John and Staci Johnson, Kolby Ungeheuer, head rodeo coach at NEO, and Jay Carpenter, Johnson’s rodeo coach at Humboldt.
“We’re excited to have him,” Ungeheuer said. “Trey’s such a great athlete, and his hand-eye coordination will help him.”
Johnson’s abilities as a calf roper — he’s currently the top-ranked high school roper in the state — should serve him well in college, Ungeheuer said. At Northeastern Oklahoma, Johnson will have the opportunity to compete at the state and national level, Ungeheuer. Several NEO alumni have made it to the pro rodeo circuit.
The interest was mutual, Johnson said, even though he was recruited by a number of colleges with rodeo teams.
“It wasn’t a hard decision at all,” he said. “It’s a good school.”
Much of the attraction comes from learning under Ungeheuer’s guidance, Johnson said. Ungeheuer has been among the top-ranked calf ropers across the country.
“Plus, he’s close enough to home that he might be able to stop by and get a home-cooked meal now and then,” Ungeheuer joked.
Like his father, Johnson began calf roping at a young age. He started competing at 9, won three state titles in middle school, and finished sixth in the nation as an eighth-grader. He is the defending state champion roper at the high school level.
“I didn’t do as well at nationals,” he said. “I want to get back.”
The state rodeo finals are in Topeka in June. The national finals are in July at Rock Springs, Wyo.
In addition to aspiring to join the pro rodeo circuit, Johnson will study to become a math teacher.
NEO ropes Humboldt rodeo star
