W
ingspan
Vol. 41 No. 2
Laramie County Community College
March 5, 2007
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Single copies free
lccc.wy.edu/wingspan
Cowboy chases
chases
Cowboy
childhood dream
dream
childhood
By David Mercado
News Editor
Photo by Bree Anderson
I
t’s a deadly game. A 2,000-pound
bull throws its rider 20 feet into
the air, and when the rider lands
hard, the bull turns to trample him
half to death.
Bull riding is an extreme sport in
every sense of the word. While the
X-games can get participants killed in
many different ways, getting mangled
to death by a raging bull is a nightmare
all its own. Who would take such risks
and endure this dangerous sport?
One is Pat Geipel, a freshman in
his first semester at Laramie County
Community College. He is not what
you would expect when meeting a bull
rider for the first time. His calm and
quiet nature is disarming, nothing
like the stereotypical demeanor of a
bull rider, whose personality mirrors his eight second-ride. Rather,
Geipel’s true dedication, commitment
and passion for bull riding makes his
quiet- natured personality fit. Geipel
has trained half his life in the sport he
loves. It not only became a hobby in
his life; it is his life.
“It’s a serious sport. If you don’t
take yourself serious, you’re gonna get
hurt,” Geipel said.
Wingspan Special Supplement:
Community College
Legislative Report
See Pages 28–33
See Cowboy, Page 35
Graduation nears Grades are out
iPhone vs. Zune
Who did it?
The time is now
Multiple changes for year-end event See how the Legislature stacks up Battle begins for rival companies Mysterious nights at local mansion Playoffs breathing down team’s neck
News—Page 8
Opinion—Page 14
Features—Pages 20–21
A&E—Page 26
Sports—Page 34