Willis Point High School head coach Tommy Poynter could hardly believe what he’d just witnessed.

Did one of his guards just raise a 200-pound calf over his head and slam it to the ground?

“It was hard for me to keep my mouth closed after seeing him do that,” said Poynter, who also serves as Wills Point ISD’s Athletic Director.

If Cole Roberts could do that during a rodeo, imagine what he could do on Friday nights.

Roberts has been playing football since seventh grade, but he’s also spent most of his life fine-tuning his craft as a calf-roper.

The high school senior has traveled across the state to compete in rodeo competitions with the Lone Star High School Rodeo Association (LSHRSA), Winners Youth Rodeo Association (WYRA), Texas High School Rodeo Associations (THRSA), Texas Junior High School Rodeo Association (TJHRA) and Elite Youth Rodeo Association (EYRA). 

Roberts has also competed in other states like Florida and Oklahoma. In 2022 Roberts placed in the top five in the LSHSRA’s calf roping and breakaway roping, which won him a buckle, some money, a knife and a couple of saddles. 

“I’m always on the go,” Roberts said. 

In 2021, Roberts competed with WYRA and won the 19 & Under Calf Roping Champion. He also competed in the 2021 THSRA, where he was a Region IV State Qualifier in calf roping. That same year, Roberts also placed in the top five in calf roping and breakaway roping.

Roberts practices calf-roping 4-5 times a week for about 3 or 4 hours. If Roberts gets to go to his practice pen, he can make complete runs, which helps with muscle memory, but if he can’t, he’ll practice roping on a wooden dummy. 

One of his role models is American rodeo champion, Trevor Brazile.

“I just love the way he ropes and how he takes care of his horses,” Roberts said.  

Roberts puts football first because it’s for a select time of the year, whereas rodeo is year-round for him. If he has enough energy, Roberts will practice calf-roping after football practice and then do homework if he has any.

For Roberts, football is a lot more time-consuming because he has to watch plays and study film and talk with the coaches.

“Football is always, constantly on my mind,” said Roberts, who wants to become a fireman after school or continue rodeoing in college.

Poynter says Roberts’ coachability and leadership skills are what make him a star football player. 

“He’s physical, and he’s not afraid to scrap if he has to and get in there with guys much larger than him to try and make plays,” said Poynter, who added what a great kid and student Roberts was. “We never have to worry about off-the-field issues with him. He’s what you would want if you were trying to recruit.”