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KNEA's Reading Wranglers

About the Reading Wranglers

Ashley Amos
Michelle Bartley
Amanda Gugelmeyer
Chance Harmon
Brooke Inlow
Joe Macoubrie
Michelle Stueve
J.R. Williams

Ashley Amos
Kansas All Around Cowgirl

"Reading is important to being successful, regardless of what you do and how old you are," said Ashley. "You should never stop reading. It furthers your education, helps plan your future and helps meet your goals, whatever they may be."

Ashley is a freshman at Colby Community College majoring in business administration. She graduated from Colby High School where her favorite academic subjects were math and algebra and her favorite rodeo event was break away. "It's a thrill - the pace is fast and furious," she said. An Honor Roll student, Ashley graduated in the top 15% of her class and plans to attend a four-year college and major in business.

Currently reading: Roughnecks
Favorite Dr. Seuss book: Cat in the Hat
Parents: Bob and Lila Amos

Michelle Bartley
State Pole Bending Champion

Michelle has been on the honor roll since sixth grade, and she says it's because she reads. "Reading improves your vocabulary and allows you to use your imagination."

She was freshman class president last year at Emporia High school, this year is active in student council and sophomore board activities. Her favorite class is Algebra II. The All Around Rookie Cowgirl has won the most awards in barrel racing, although she likes pole bending the best because "I think it is the most challenging…" She plans to continue in rodeo, attend Fort Scott Junior college and Oklahoma State University and ultimately, become an eye doctor.

Currently reading: A Thief of Time
Favorite Dr. Seuss book: The Foot Book
Parents: Keith and Linda Bartley

Amanda Gugelmeyer
State Girls Cutting Champion

"It does not matter what you do in life...if you can read you can do anything," Amanda said.

A senior at Lakin High School, her favorite class is English and she's been on the Honor Roll for the last four years. Her favorite rodeo event is girls cutting. "It's a new event for me and it gives me a new challenge…" Amanda plans to attend college somewhere and become successful.

Currently reading: Remember Me by Mark Higgins Clark
Favorite Dr. Seuss book: Green Eggs and Ham
Parents: David and Caryn Gugelmeyer

Chance Harmon
State Saddle Bronc Champion

"I read 'behavior' when I wrestle and when I rodeo," said Chance. "Reading is important in everything you do…you must know how to read to succeed."

Chance is a math whiz and a senior at Decatur Community High School in Oberlin. Besides math, he likes wrestling and rodeo. Saddle bronc riding, like wrestling, is a challenge to improve and keep getting better. He plans to continue rodeo and wrestling in college where he'll major in ranch management.

Currently reading:
Favorite Dr. Seuss book: Green Eggs & Ham
Parents: Ron and Renee Harmon

Brooke Inlow
State Goat Tying Champion

"You can't do very much in life without being able to read," said Brooke. "Reading is a part of everything you do, it reflects on how you speak and your intelligence. It helps your vocabulary which helps your speaking skills. It helps you on tests…and will help you be successful in college."

A senior at Oakley High School she favors math in academics and goat tying in rodeo. She's involved in the National Honors Society, is on the WKEA All-League Academic Team and was on the 2003 NWKL All-Academic Team. She plans to attend college and continue to rodeo.

Currently reading: Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Favorite Dr. Seuss book: Green Eggs and Ham
Parents: Ty and Donna Inlow

Joe Macoubrie
National All Around Cowboy

"Reading is very important to being successful in just day-to-day living," Joe said. "I could never reach my goals if I cannot read."

Joe is a senior at Jayhawk Linn High School in Mound City. His favorite classes are agriculture-related and he's involved in FAA and 4-H. Most of his awards have been for steer tripping and team roping, a sport he likes because it involves two people working as a team. Joe has won numerous awards, including a pickup when he was 14 years old. He plans to attend Fort Scott Community College.

Currently reading: Lord of the Flies
Favorite Dr. Seuss book: Green Eggs and Ham
Parents: Ray and Christine Macoubrie

Michelle Stueve
State Break Away Champion

Michelle said "Reading books helps reading other things. You can learn to react faster, do better at just about everything… You can't do a job or play a sport without some type of reading comprehension."

English is the favorite subject of this Olpe High School senior. An honor roll student, she's involved in basketball, track, cross country, student government, and band. She likes break away events because being good at it "relies on a lot of different things…to see how you do with so many things going on for and against you…" She plans to attend college and major in physical education.

Currently reading: Favorite books by Nicolas Sparks -- Message in a Bottle, Bend in the Road, The Rescue, and A Walk to Remember
Favorite Dr. Seuss book: Cat in the Hat
Parents: Mark and Lisa Stueve

J.R. Williams
State Boys Cutting Champion

"In today's world, with technology and computers, you've got to read," said J.R. "Reading is everyday life for everyone…reading is involved in everything you do, in or out of school."

This Lakin High School junior is an Honor Roll student and says he is, "an American history freak. It's just interesting." Although he has won awards for boys cutting, his favorite rodeo event is team roping because that's what he grew up doing with boyhood buddy, Cody Hatcher. J.R. plans to go to college on a rodeo scholarship and become a veterinarian specializing in horses and cattle.

Currently reading: Huck Finn
Favorite Dr. Seuss book: Green Eggs & Ham ("It's original - it's the greatest!")
Parents: Lonnie and Skisha Kraft

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