Roper Rich, is a world-class bullfighter. He has won many national titles and even a few world titles in the [past few years. Bullfighting is a tough sport. You must distract the bull and put yourself in front of it to help others. When he was a student at Eaton High School from 2016 to 2020, was always known as a star athlete. He played baseball, football, and basketball. During his junior and senior years, he decided to focus on baseball. He spent his time dedicating his time in the gym preparing for the baseball season working with Dean Grable, a teacher at EHS. Grable said, “Roper was a hard worker. Top notch student. Top notch athlete. Great teammate.”
Bullfighting was never a thing that Rich saw in his future. After COVID hit hard his senior year, and right in his senior baseball season, which hit him hard. He had grown up around fighting bulls, as his dad had raised them and when he had nothing else to do, he jumped in and started running from them. Rich said, “The devastated state I left school in opened more doors than I could have ever imagined. My dad had raised fighting bulls my entire childhood and when there was nothing else to do during the pandemic I finally started running from those big mean scary animals.”
He then stuck with it and ended up winning his first world championship and traveled around the country attending different shows. Being on the road for so many years now, he has many great memories and stories. Rich said, “My favorite memory when it comes to bullfighting may be tied. The first I would like to mention is when I drew Bull of the Year in Fort Worth, “Smoke n’ Mirrors.” I had been told many times to not even try to jump the bull because nobody had finished a 40 second bullfight on him, but I just went ahead and backflipped him to show them how cool I am. The other memory that was maybe the most wholesome was winning the Greeley Stampede bullfights for the first year because I wanted everybody that I grew up with and around to know how much I appreciated them coming to spectate me performing something that I love dearly. I couldn’t have done it without every single one of them from my hometown community at some point shaping me.” If you have ever been to the rodeo at the Greeley Stampede, It’s always exciting to hear his name called, followed by hearing Eaton on the loud speaker, filling the whole stadium.
“My life after EHS has been packed full of fun, but my time in high school was just the same. I’m sure that any former teachers of mine would say you couldn’t erase the smile off my face, but that was because I was always so grateful for the time I got to spend around great people. The teachers and all other faculty always made me feel like I had a place when I was and still am a different cat. EHS has helped me since I left by making me academically advanced compared to my cohorts. I was never the gold star in class, but I made sure to watch the star of the class and try to imitate them. Teachers like Mr. Weigle who actually helped me enjoy math and try to be less of an imitator and more of a trailblazer.” said Rich. Many believe that school is just a required thing we all have to do, but Rich is living proof that it’s also a time to enjoy because students never know when it’s gone. Derek Weigle said, “He was wild, but he was respectful. He knew how to have fun, but kept it reasonable for school.”
When it comes to being an EHS student, Rich said, “The advice I would give to an EHS student is stay positive and treat your studies and sports like you would as if it were the last time you’re able to because it is. Always make a new friend and be searching for the things you enjoy because it will come in handy one day.”
Bullfighting is not a normal job by any means. It’s dangerous, a lot of work, and it’s a full-time thing. It takes a lot of preparation for anything and everything. “The future of bullfighting is something that is built on the youth. I do not encourage people to step too far out of their comfort zone to try, but if somebody wants to take it seriously there is always a place that I would provide to help shape a young bullfighter. As a bullfighter there isn’t as much glitz and glam as the other rodeo pursuits because a bullfighter has to be willing to take the role of daytime worker and by dawn wearing a face full of makeup and smile. I believe it is the most fulfilling occupation, so to any youngsters willing to take a leap into the rodeo world, I encourage them to put on a pair of cleats and learn how to work for somebody and sell your entertainment to a rodeo for the crowd to cheer your name when you put a smile on somebody’s face,” Rich said.
Getting into bullfighting isn’t like any other sports. It takes years of prep and mental stability, but biggest of all, a great role model. “I was lucky enough to have a great dad who has been inducted into many different halls of fame in the rodeo world and never seemed to take anything too seriously. It’s not because of his accolades that I looked up to him because he didn’t have them when I was growing up, but because I watched him turn something he loved into a means of a living for his family. Of course he taught me many lessons, but he showed me that if you knuckle up and want to achieve your dreams it’s worth it to smile while doing it,” Rich said.
Roper Rich is an amazing example of what Eaton creates. Not only amazing students that had grit and never gave up, but great people that are respectful and kind-hearted. Rich continues to be a world-renowned bullfighter, but his roots were created in Eaton, Co.
