Braudrick and Heinert Experience Success as Both Athlete and Coach
Christi Braudrick and Sierra Heinert are two PRCA athletes who coach rodeo at the collegiate level in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Central Plains Region.
Since 2013, Braudrick has been the head rodeo coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State, where she exhibits a “pleasure in the process” style of coaching, while also achieving her own PRCA success.
“I think it helps you relate to them going through the ups and downs. I tell them all the time, ‘I know how you feel’ because I really do,” said Braudrick
Sierra Heinert is an assistant coach to the Southeastern Oklahoma State rodeo team, where, although she “might not get to rodeo as hard as some other girls” in the PRCA, she considers it part of her purpose to have an impact on her team.
“It’s really important to practice what you preach, and remember that wherever I am, I’m always representing more than just myself,” Heinert said of her coaching style.
Both cowgirls saw the majority of their success earlier this summer. Braudrick split the win with Martha Angelone and Kamie Landolfi at the Vernon Breakaway this May, where they each added $3,439. This is what Braudrick considered the turning point of her season.
“After adding some money in Vernon I was thinking, ‘man, I wish I could go up to the Northwest (rodeos) right now,’” said Braudrick.
Heinert experienced a similar season, winning Guymon Pioneer Days from May 5 through 7, where she added $7,561 after not competing in any 2023 PRCA rodeos prior.
“My win at Guymon was really cool because I was there with my team the week before, then I got to come back and do it myself,” said Heinert.
Although coaching college rodeo can be flexible, both athletes feel that for their teams to be successful, they need to be invested in every step of the process, beginning every August when school starts back up. Instead of practicing themselves in the Fall, they attend their team’s practices, where they offer critiques and share the wisdom they’ve gathered throughout their own rodeo career.
“I personally can’t miss their rodeos, if I’m gonna be out there working hard with them, I want to watch them compete,” Braudrick said. “If I’m not here, what we do won’t work.”
Beyond the conflicting schedules, interesting struggles arise for those who are both the athlete and coach, Braudrick shared that as she attends pro rodeos, she’s often competing alongside those on her team. Viewing her team as an extension of herself, she exhibits a fierce pride of her team whether they’re competing through the NIRA or the PRCA.
“The first couple years, if I beat someone on my team it just about crushed me. I wanted them to win so badly, when I was the one getting in the way of that, I felt really bad,” Braudrick said. ““It was very hard for me to be okay beating people on my team, because I’m so invested in them.”
SOSU's rodeo team, coached by Braudrick, and SWOSU's rodeo team, coached by Heinert, are both set to compete at Oklahoma State University’s Cowboy Stampede, a NIRA rodeo taking place from Oct. 19 through 21.
